Enter at A or go away!
The thing with back yard dressage is that it's easy to have fluid standards without any accountability. A rider can tell herself that things are good when they are easy and there's no one to answer to or challenge these notions. The show can be like the exam, a test to prove the work.
I had been working with this 6yo Lusitano mare since February, and mentioned before how she'd start every session in 'fight or flight' mode. There is no quick fix or substitute for the hours spent offering her relaxation into longer reins, gently pushing her hindquarters underneath her body, and walking miles over uneven ground under no pressure. I took her for a couple of off-property trail rides to gauge her instincts in new surroundings, and decided to take her to a low-key show at Westar Farms. It helped that her stablemate Gracie came along for her rider's first dressage outing. She finished right behind us in the ribbons. Congratulations Ali!
The mare was wide-eyed and tightly bonded to her buddy, but I was proud of how she stayed connected to me in the show ring. We finished with two scores over 63%, a few 8's here and there, and Reserve Champion of Training Level. Go Jo!
I had been working with this 6yo Lusitano mare since February, and mentioned before how she'd start every session in 'fight or flight' mode. There is no quick fix or substitute for the hours spent offering her relaxation into longer reins, gently pushing her hindquarters underneath her body, and walking miles over uneven ground under no pressure. I took her for a couple of off-property trail rides to gauge her instincts in new surroundings, and decided to take her to a low-key show at Westar Farms. It helped that her stablemate Gracie came along for her rider's first dressage outing. She finished right behind us in the ribbons. Congratulations Ali!
The mare was wide-eyed and tightly bonded to her buddy, but I was proud of how she stayed connected to me in the show ring. We finished with two scores over 63%, a few 8's here and there, and Reserve Champion of Training Level. Go Jo!
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