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July 22, 2021

NDPC 2021 - Saturday

Although it wasn't super hot at this show, it was stuffy in the little indoor, and when they waived jackets Saturday morning, I was all over that, championship show be damned (I am also the first person to take my shirt off every day at CrossFit, in case you were wondering, lol).

Also my jackets waived shirt is bangin', if I do say so myself. PC: Leah

Saturday was a rinse and repeat of Friday schedule-wise, with my ride being 8 minutes later than the day before's ride. But on Saturday, I gave myself an extra 10 minutes of warm-up so I could do a bunch of walk-only stretchy suppling work and focus on my own body before CGP tuned in.

Several minutes into that walk work, my earbud started inexplicably playing 123456 by Fitz and the Tantrums. Erika heard it too and was frantically trying to figure out how to shut it off, but I was feeling it. Really can't think of a better song to start playing in the moment.

Hyped up, ready to go
I got my eyes on the prize
I'm sick of feelin' the lows
I wanna roll with the highs
I took a different path
I did it all on my own, so

And I'm hopin' that my dreams come true. And I'm hopin' that I'll make it with you. PC: Leah

When CGP connected, she said, "Wow, that looks a lot better than yesterday already!" and she made a comment about how my hands needed to be solid/firm but my elbows needed to be softer. Immediately, I could feel my lats engage and the circle of energy from the hind end feeling happen, and I knew where I went wrong yesterday. I spent the rest of the warmup thinking "anchor into the saddle, engage the back chain" and what do you know, I stopped pulling on him.

Leah, Erika and Mary peer pressured me into buying these awesome ELT breeches at the mobile tack shop and I have no regrets. PC: Leah


The warm-up was longer and more intense than I usually go for, especially on the second day, but oddly enough, I never felt like I was in danger of running out of horse. In fact, I never got that feeling in the show ring either, even toward the end of 2-3.

PC: Leah

That feeling carried into the show ring where we just freaking brought it:

PC: Lisa

I mean. The shape of him looked like a totally different horse from Friday.

Goodbye, underneck! PC: Leah

 

My own improvements were pretty awesome. I intentionally took a deep breath at least 3 times during the test. I thought one movement ahead and prepared for each one. I was anchored in the saddle and (for the most part) not pulling. And it paid off. 

We got 7.0's on a 10m trot circle, on the right TOH, on a medium canter, and on counter canter serpentine (with the comment "nice jump"). Among the lower scores, we notably got a 6.5 on a trot lengthening, which, thankyouverymuch, we will take that!

PC: Leah

As we turned down centerline toward the final halt, I couldn't stop smiling. I never smile during rides, but  I knew I'd figured something big out that day. 

That said, I also knew it would only be rewarded with a score one or two percentage points higher than the day before, but I knew the lessons I took away from that test would change the game going forward, and that honestly mattered more than anything in the moment. All I ever want out of Dressage is to feel progress, and I certainly felt it on Saturday.

 PC: Leah

After 3.5 hours of waiting for the rest of the results to come in, when my giant class was done riding, we found out we had placed 4th out of 9 AAs in 2-3 with a 62.5%. And when the averages were calculated for the two days, we had placed 6th to take the last neck ribbon by the slimmest of margins. (0.5%)

Leah with Maid of Honor duties!! PC: Erika

Hyped up, look at us go
We could shoot for the stars
Gonna start a parade
Say the future is ours
It's a beautiful day
We did it all on our own, so

(Except we really, really, REALLY didn't do it all on our own!)

Framily!

29 comments:

  1. Congrats!!! How awesome to get so much progress out of a ride at a show, and a BONUS neck ribbon!

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    1. Thank you! The neck ribbon definitely is a bonus.

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  2. Amazing! What a great outing and love the epiphany on day 2. Congrats to you both!!!

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  3. Excellent!! So great to hear that the day 2 ride went so much better.

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    1. Thank you! It really did. I'm so glad we redeemed ourselves.

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  4. Your ride Saturday was just... 🤩 I'm so excited for you and Connor and how alllllll your work is paying off in such a big way!

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    1. Ahhhh so glad you could be there for it!

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  5. Yay!!! Congratulations on having a big breakthrough AND earning a pretty neck ribbon!

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  6. what an incredible feeling -- even better to be rewarded with such great scores among stiff competition! congrats!

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    1. It does honestly feel good that we had to work so hard for it and that the class was so big. As you go up the levels in the Midwest you don't always have big classes to compete against, so this felt especially good!

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  7. Okay I’m definitely crying a little bit!! So so happy for you and thrilled to get to be virtually “by your side” through all you’ve accomplished!

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    1. Awww thank you so much friend! Stick with it, you and Dino are right there with us!

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  8. Huge congrats! Awesome tests and love the neck ribbon!!

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  9. You can really see the improvements in his pictures now vs previous. Congrats on the great progress!

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    1. - the900facebookpony (blogger still hates me)

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    2. Thanks, "Unknown", lol. It definitely felt good to see the difference in pics between Friday/Saturday, it's rare that I get to see that big of a difference in 24 hours.

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  10. Awesome!!! I'm so happy you were able to learn from the previous day and that it all came together for you! LOVE the neck ribbon, and I love the last picture with Connor and all of your fans and helpers!

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    1. Thank you! There is a great blooper of that picture where Connor is looking at the crew like "Who let these crazy idiots in here with me?" lol

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  11. Omw neck ribbon!!!!!!! Super well done <3 Connor looks so great!

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  12. Congrats! Sorry playing catch uo on blogs :)

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  13. Awesome! I am so happy for you!

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