IDS Show, 1-3, September 2017:
IDS Show, 2-2, September 2018:
Showing posts with label 2016 season. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016 season. Show all posts
September 29, 2018
April 19, 2017
2016 Year End Awards
At the show last weekend, Liz and I finally managed to sync up so she could give me the Indiana Dressage Society year end awards she picked up for me at the banquet I couldn't attend in November. I was just expecting a single ribbon for Reserve High Percentage First Level Adult Amateur, but...
It ended up being the biggest satin haul of my life!
The red ribbon and the platter are for the Reserve High Percentage award, and the fifth place ribbon is in memoriam of my dismal Championship test that caused me to sob every time I thought about it for a week or two. But, that's what gave me the drive to really buckle down over the winter, so no hard feelings, giant pink ribbon. You can stay.
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| "K thanks" |
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| Also this bronze IDS pin, although I am genuinely not sure what this is in recognition for. |
Obviously I won't be eligible for the adult amateur awards this year after declaring as a pro to take the Majyk Equipe sponsorship, so it makes it that much sweeter to have earned these last year.
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| #goodlookinganimal |
(The funniest part of Liz giving these to me at Heartland was walking through this schooling show, which gives out understandably small ribbons, holding these giant ribbons. People kept staring at me to the point where I felt I had to explain myself. Probably crushed some dreams when folks realized no, they weren't handing out three foot long tassled ribbons.)
January 5, 2017
2016 Goals Review
I was in a strange place for goal setting last year. I hadn't yet fully committed to the idea of an all-Dressage season when I wrote my goals, (In a lot of ways, I'm still not fully committed to that.) and I still had hope that Connor and I would event by the end of the year. I also wasn't experienced enough (at all!) to know what to shoot for in Dressage.
So, how did I do? From my 2016 Goals post on January 7, 2016:
- Show rated First Level Dressage
Success! Surviving and finding success at a rated Dressage show is definitely my biggest accomplishment of 2016.
- Show unrated Second Level by the end of the year
Failure, on purpose. I had the opportunity to stumble through a Second Level test at a "hide them behind the barn" show at the end of the year that wouldn't show up on our permanent records for any association...and I decided against it. It would have been unfair to both of us to push for that just to make this goal when we weren't really ready to do well at it.
- Take him to a schooling jumper show so Mary can show him
There's a very good and adult reason this didn't happen: after I set my goals, Mary got a great summer internship in Florida in her chosen field (UX). She did make it back in September so we could take this picture though:
- Trail riding with Connor's breeder and Dr. Marks
50% success! We did haul over to Lisa's for a pony sleepover and went trail riding, but unfortunately, Dr. Marks couldn't make it.
- School XC enough that Connor gets bored at BN...maybe...hopefully...
Failure. We focused so much on Dressage and hardly jumped at all. I'm realistic in that if/when we return to eventing, it will be at Starter. He hasn't completed an event since the beginning of 2015, going BN now, even with a lot of schooling, is too much to ask. Plus, positive experiences, etc etc.
All in all, this was a good year. It had its share of ups and downs, but we're ending the year having shown more times than ever (8 shows total!) and with a sound and happy horse. On to 2017!
So, how did I do? From my 2016 Goals post on January 7, 2016:
- Show rated First Level Dressage
Success! Surviving and finding success at a rated Dressage show is definitely my biggest accomplishment of 2016.
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| Our haul from our first rated show. Also my all-time favorite photo of us. |
Failure, on purpose. I had the opportunity to stumble through a Second Level test at a "hide them behind the barn" show at the end of the year that wouldn't show up on our permanent records for any association...and I decided against it. It would have been unfair to both of us to push for that just to make this goal when we weren't really ready to do well at it.
- Take him to a schooling jumper show so Mary can show him
There's a very good and adult reason this didn't happen: after I set my goals, Mary got a great summer internship in Florida in her chosen field (UX). She did make it back in September so we could take this picture though:
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| WORTH. IT. |
50% success! We did haul over to Lisa's for a pony sleepover and went trail riding, but unfortunately, Dr. Marks couldn't make it.
- School XC enough that Connor gets bored at BN...maybe...hopefully...
Failure. We focused so much on Dressage and hardly jumped at all. I'm realistic in that if/when we return to eventing, it will be at Starter. He hasn't completed an event since the beginning of 2015, going BN now, even with a lot of schooling, is too much to ask. Plus, positive experiences, etc etc.
All in all, this was a good year. It had its share of ups and downs, but we're ending the year having shown more times than ever (8 shows total!) and with a sound and happy horse. On to 2017!
December 31, 2016
A Quick 2016 Year in Review
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| Luging! |
January
I realized I wanted to focus on Dressage and sent in the entry for my first show at First Level, a schooling show in February.
February
Connor lost his damn mind at the show, we got into a terrifying trailering incident, and taught FBR to braid.
March
I bought a saddle, Connor got his teeth done, and I started wearing white gloves in lessons so my trainer could see my wayward hands better.
April
My mom met America Pharoah, and work generally kept me from riding - and posting (I only posted 9 times in April.)
May
I reviewed some underwear, rode 1-1 (67%) and 1-2 (64%) in a schooling show, met Kate!!, and rode the famous Ramone and his reining sidekick Mouse.
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| What Ramone thought of me on his back |
June
I watched Connor's full sister perform an Intermediare test at the HHP, and hung out with Paddy, JenJ, Sean and Taran while they were in my state for a jousting competition. While there, I: slept in my truck, wore a tunic, did a scotch tasting under the stars, put cabbages on tent spikes, had lattes made by Sean and Lucia every morning, and watched JenJ teach a class on 1500's Dressage...I think that was the best week of my 2016.
July
Connor and I took an epic weekend road trip that started with a Nancy K lesson, then moved to a sleepover at his breeder's complete with trail riding and baby ponies, then went to the Hoosier Horse Park where we showed 1-2 (73%) and 1-3 (69%) - and had Karen stay the night! Oh and bonus: I had a tire delaminate on my trailer and a cop fixed it with zip ties.
August
I did some points chasing and Connor lost his mind over a tablecloth, and we got both of our Bronze scores at our first rated show.
September
Equinpilot came to meet Connor and ride him, my mom took a lesson on Louie, and we got the rest of the scores we needed at Harmony in the Park.
October
Our championship show did not go well, Connor ate so much salt he stocked himself up, and I bought and half-sold a Devoucoux that cost a miraculous $1100.
November
I put Connor in full training and took a riding vacation. I finally got around to writing about meeting Bob Baffert.
December
My trainer and I went in on a Pixio Move n' See and it totally changed the way I blog.
Have a safe and happy New Year's, and Connor and I will catch you in 2017!
October 9, 2016
Show Wrap-Up: IDS Championship Show
I'm so behind, again, on reading and writing blogs. And laundry! Horse show + busy work week = everything gets pushed to the wayside. I'm getting caught up on all of them today though.
Our championship show went...fine. But I was also pretty broken up about it.
See, we ended up getting a perfectly respectable 62% on 1-3, only one point off our high score for the season on that test. I came out feeling pretty good about it, I knew we wouldn't win, but it didn't feel bad. We ended up 5th out of 5, which, whatever. There were some nice 2nd level horses in that class.
But then I got my test. The judge's comments and some really harsh scoring made me feel like, at least in terms of what I can get out of Connor without my coach, I haven't made a shred of progress at all this year. I mean, we got 4/4.5's on both shallow loops, and that was with good geometry and impulsion, and no breaking. The judge had very little positive to say. Because I didn't feel bad about the test I rode, the harshness of the comments caught me off guard and hit me really hard.
I cried. I talked to JenJ a lot. I told my trainer I wanted to put Connor in full training/lessons next time she had availability. The judge made it clear that my riding was a big part of Connor's problems, and she's not wrong. I don't think she was wrong on any of it, and my trainer said the same thing after reading the comments while still being supportive of me and positive about what we would accomplish this winter.
As she is so good at doing, my trainer didn't say a word about the past at my next lesson after that show, but came out swinging with a game plan that she immediately put into action and restored my faith in myself and our Dressage journey. That's a subject for another post though.
Our championship show went...fine. But I was also pretty broken up about it.
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| My mom and grandma came and took pictures, but I don't have them yet, so here are some old pictures you haven't seen yet. PC: My mom |
See, we ended up getting a perfectly respectable 62% on 1-3, only one point off our high score for the season on that test. I came out feeling pretty good about it, I knew we wouldn't win, but it didn't feel bad. We ended up 5th out of 5, which, whatever. There were some nice 2nd level horses in that class.
But then I got my test. The judge's comments and some really harsh scoring made me feel like, at least in terms of what I can get out of Connor without my coach, I haven't made a shred of progress at all this year. I mean, we got 4/4.5's on both shallow loops, and that was with good geometry and impulsion, and no breaking. The judge had very little positive to say. Because I didn't feel bad about the test I rode, the harshness of the comments caught me off guard and hit me really hard.
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| My Grandma and her dog Linus in the bleachers before my test. |
I cried. I talked to JenJ a lot. I told my trainer I wanted to put Connor in full training/lessons next time she had availability. The judge made it clear that my riding was a big part of Connor's problems, and she's not wrong. I don't think she was wrong on any of it, and my trainer said the same thing after reading the comments while still being supportive of me and positive about what we would accomplish this winter.
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| Good pony hanging out before his class. |
As she is so good at doing, my trainer didn't say a word about the past at my next lesson after that show, but came out swinging with a game plan that she immediately put into action and restored my faith in myself and our Dressage journey. That's a subject for another post though.
September 24, 2016
Show Recap: Harmony in the Park I
While a ton of photos of 1-1 will wrap up this post below, I only have a few pictures of 1-2 from Harmony because the weather during my test wasn't exactly conducive to photo taking:
This was taken after I had already done my first test. Most of that fell during my warmup. Let me tell you, warming up with water dripping down the brim of your helmet in soaking wet clothes is not fun.
It was my first time showing in truly inclement weather, and I was desperate to keep my CWD from getting more wet than it had to. Yes, I know leather can get wet and be fine, but seriously, I sold half my worldly possessions and rode bareback for 3 months in order to afford this magical piece of French leather. I can't afford to replace it, so I am going to be stupid particular about taking care of it.
So I warmed up in the waterproof rideable CWD saddle cover, and the heavens opened up. I was soaked through, and the cover was soaked as well, though not slippery at all. I didn't think there was any way the saddle was dry under what felt like standing water under my butt, but when I pulled the cover off right as I went into the ring, it was dry as could be under there. So, two thumbs up, CWD!
1-2 was, as it has been most of the year, the second highest 1-2 of the day and maddeningly mediocre from my perspective. We scored a 66.8%, with a terse judge writing mostly one-word comments that she wanted "more" from everything.
The thing is, I agree with her, and I specifically wanted to work on getting him on my aids at this show before championships in two weeks and score the 70% I know we're capable of at home, with my trainer.
Since he wasn't tired at all after 1-2, I decided on a nice long warmup for 1-1 so I would have all the time in the world to try all the things I knew to get him straight and "switched on" so I could then give this judge "more."
Spoiler alert: It did not work. PC for the rest of the photos in this post to Lisa Brezina, except where noted.
The thing I notice in all of these pictures (and noticed under saddle too, but could not fix) is that his withers are never straight. He's leaning in the entire thing, which of course means he's both not straight and not on my aids. And my position is enabling him. This is not new. But it's so annoying that I felt it every step of that test and could not fix it.
He still loves the stretchy trot:
Motorcycling:
Bit check is always interesting with this horse, given his phobia of people walking straight up to him, but luckily he didn't take offense to this older gentleman.
I was pretty down after that test. I knew I didn't get done what I wanted to get done, I knew it wasn't as good as it could be, I knew it was the fault of my poor position, and seeing the pictures that confirmed it made me sad. I was grateful for them, this is where we are, but at the same time, I felt like a terrible rider for not being able to get my position sorted out enough or warm my horse up well enough to get him on my aids. The score wasn't bad, 65% and 3rd of 3, but I was beating myself up over it.
But not the pony. He was a good boy. What a trooper!
This was taken after I had already done my first test. Most of that fell during my warmup. Let me tell you, warming up with water dripping down the brim of your helmet in soaking wet clothes is not fun.
It was my first time showing in truly inclement weather, and I was desperate to keep my CWD from getting more wet than it had to. Yes, I know leather can get wet and be fine, but seriously, I sold half my worldly possessions and rode bareback for 3 months in order to afford this magical piece of French leather. I can't afford to replace it, so I am going to be stupid particular about taking care of it.
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| Old photo of the saddle cover in action |
So I warmed up in the waterproof rideable CWD saddle cover, and the heavens opened up. I was soaked through, and the cover was soaked as well, though not slippery at all. I didn't think there was any way the saddle was dry under what felt like standing water under my butt, but when I pulled the cover off right as I went into the ring, it was dry as could be under there. So, two thumbs up, CWD!
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| Such a well-designed object |
1-2 was, as it has been most of the year, the second highest 1-2 of the day and maddeningly mediocre from my perspective. We scored a 66.8%, with a terse judge writing mostly one-word comments that she wanted "more" from everything.
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| PC: My mom. |
The thing is, I agree with her, and I specifically wanted to work on getting him on my aids at this show before championships in two weeks and score the 70% I know we're capable of at home, with my trainer.
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| This is Connor saying "Why are we doing this...why am I so wet..." PC: My mom |
Since he wasn't tired at all after 1-2, I decided on a nice long warmup for 1-1 so I would have all the time in the world to try all the things I knew to get him straight and "switched on" so I could then give this judge "more."
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| We practice like we show: since there was standing water in the show ring, I made him do that in the warmup too. Bonus: all the DQ's avoided the standing water like the plague, so we had the area to ourselves. PC: Connor's breeder, Lisa Brezina |
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| Lisa's favorite photo of the day, just as the storm was moving out. PC: Lisa Brezina |
Spoiler alert: It did not work. PC for the rest of the photos in this post to Lisa Brezina, except where noted.
This test started out with the worst halt we've ever done. He swung his hindquarters sideways. It was bad.
The thing I notice in all of these pictures (and noticed under saddle too, but could not fix) is that his withers are never straight. He's leaning in the entire thing, which of course means he's both not straight and not on my aids. And my position is enabling him. This is not new. But it's so annoying that I felt it every step of that test and could not fix it.
He still loves the stretchy trot:
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| We practice in lakes because we show in lakes. Former eventers FTW. |
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| Good pony. |
Bit check is always interesting with this horse, given his phobia of people walking straight up to him, but luckily he didn't take offense to this older gentleman.
I was pretty down after that test. I knew I didn't get done what I wanted to get done, I knew it wasn't as good as it could be, I knew it was the fault of my poor position, and seeing the pictures that confirmed it made me sad. I was grateful for them, this is where we are, but at the same time, I felt like a terrible rider for not being able to get my position sorted out enough or warm my horse up well enough to get him on my aids. The score wasn't bad, 65% and 3rd of 3, but I was beating myself up over it.
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| FBR was supposed to be painting fence at the barn that day, but due to the rain, she got to come watch! |
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| Being majestic between classes. PC: My mom |
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