Champagne Run Mini Trial & Spring Run Horse Trials May 2009
I have decided to combined the two sets of results into one section because we only had three rides for the two shows combined. Champagne Run was first and Vasi too Jade as their
first time at Beginner Novice. All seemed to be going great with a nice dressage warm-up. What didn't go as planned was that Jade would not think too highly of the mirrors and the ring in
the indoor. She went from being soft and supple in warm up to being nervous and stiff with her head sky high in the ring. Vasi worked her tail off to get that test finished nicely but in the
end they scored a 41. Not bad for her first BN score but not great for the scores that day. Next came XC, we walked the course twice and didn't see anything that would be an issue. Again a
great warm-up. Out of the start box and to the first jump looked great. At the first jump Jade had plans that Vasi did not and they parted ways unfortunately eliminating them. However,
because the organizers are so nice they let her remount and finish the course which she did. They also let her do stadium. She had such a nice round going and the cranky pony came
out again and tried to pull a last minute run out. Vasi's quick action stopped her before she could run out but they did have a stop. She got right over it the second time and finished up the
course. It was a great learning experience for Vasi, that even if she thinks the jumps look easy she has to pay attention and ride to every one because Little Miss Jade might not think they
look so easy or she might just be feeling fat and lazy. :-) I was so proud of Vasi's attitude at the show, she never once got down and looked at as a way to learn and improve for the next
time! So mature!
Stephanie and I went to Spring Run this past weekend taking Wilbur and Rio. Stephanie and Wilbur were doing their second USEA BN and Myself and Rio were doing his first USEA
Training level. Rio and I went first and I thought he had one of his best dressage tests. I was disappointed with our free walk, it is always great and instead of lengthening the walk he
trotted a step to give us a 4 instead of our normal 7 or 8. He also didn't quiet get the lengthen of trot but got great scores on his medium walks, trots and halt. He ended up with a 38.5,
which I was pleased with. That started us tied for 12th in a division on 21! He then did stadium which had some challenging parts. First jump was a vertical right past the in gate then to a
down hill oxer related distance line hard right turn to a vertical, another hard right turn up the hill to a triple (Vertical 1 stride oxer 2 strides oxer). He got through all that no problem but ended
up getting tired toward the end and to jump number 7 he lost impulsion coming up the hill and snagged the back rail of the oxer with a hind foot. Bummer. Still he jumped very well. We
remained in 12 as quite a few people had issues with this course.
Stephanie did her dressage in the afternoon. It was so fricken hot I don't know how she could stand to wear her jacket but she did and they looked great. She has been working hard at
home and it showed. The trot work had such improvement I could hardly believe it. The canters still need some work as well as making those 20m circles actually 20m. The judge gave
her a 42, she had hoped for better but alas in their 2nd BN even not too shabby! It started them out in 13th. Stadium came next and Stephanie seemed confident. In warm-up Willie was
being a bit funny, actually taking off after the oxer, tossing his head and attempting to buck. Not like him at all. Well I suppose he decided to test Stephanie because after their first jump
that was perfect he turned for the 1st oxer in the outside line and just decided to stop. Again so unlike him. Stephanie couldn't believe it and actually smacked him with her crop, and got
him right over the second time. She then rode to each and every fence. She came out angry but in the end thanked Willie for the wake up call that taught her even with a horse the never
stops in stadium you have to always ride to each fence!
Day two brought the fun....XC! In warm -up Rio as feeling his wheaties, he was strong and jumping huge. I wasn't going to complain, having too much horse on day two isn't something I
get out of him often. We went to the start box and he actually took off at a gallop for the first jump. I was thrilled. The first jump was a breeze and we continued on. Jump 5 was a ramp that
had a good size drop on the other side, he took that no problem went down into the woods and came out toward 6ab the coffin. There were a ton of distractions near this complex seeing
that it is right next to the entry gate of the farm and they had the day shippers parking there. Rio got a little ADD looking around. I got him paying attention enough for part A of six he took the
1 stride before the ditch and then noticed the ditch, stopped looked into it and realized it what it was, with a smack on the hind-end he left from a standstill. He got through the rest of the
course issue free...the second coffin didn't cause an ounce of an issue. With 3.8 time penalties he moved up to 9th. I was very pleased with him. We found out that tons of horses had
issues with that 6AB, even horses that have been competing at Training and above.
Stephanie and Willie went later that day and had a GREAT warm-up. I sent her off to the start box and left to wait for her to come past. When she did I was so thrilled...she was actually
moving at a good forward pace. What a great change. She had three nice fences right in front of me and then I caught her at the water. She convinced Willie to get in after he thought twice
and once he was in the water he wanted to take a sip and roll, but Stephanie got him moving and came out of the water went right to the jump and finished up nicely. With only a few time
penalties and no jump penalties they moved up to 8th and into the ribbons! She is two for two at USEA competitions. Very impressive.
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