On Sunday we took Nilla to a schooling show at RDLA. I didn’t feel like I should do Intro again as I’ve won at that level and we should be moving up in the world. However, BN scared the crap out of me. The dressage test wasn’t my concern, but the jumping for Intro was “2ft max – mostly xs” while BN is 2’3″-2’6″. That’s a big increase. At least it is to me since I so rarely jump and Nilla’s ability to canter a jump is questionable at best. The two shows that got cancelled on me had Elem divisions in-between Intro and BN, which I really wanted to do as practice before doing BN, but they got cancelled and RDLA only had Intro and BN.
Conversations with my husband the week leading up to the show:
Me: We’re going to lose so badly
Husband: No you’re not
Me: I’m terrified of that jump (points to small 2 foot practice jump in our arena)
Husband: Ok, well, you don’t need to win everything
Me: It’s like you don’t even know me
Anyway, we finally get there and it turns out I’m the only one in BN. Seriously. There were only like 12 people entered in the show, a bunch were doing only dressage, 3 doing Intro, 2 Novice, 1 Training, and just me in BN.
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| Walking around before the test |
Well, I still wanted to do my best for the dressage test since it was judged so we went off to have what I thought would be a long warm-up. Nilla had other plans. I think the 9 mile trail ride we did the day before had worn her out. She was actually being lazy and poking along instead of her usual leaping into canter all over the place. There were no histrionics, no bucking, just nice quiet work. So we ran through the test once and walked over to watch other people do their test. No sense in wearing her out if she was behaving.
The BN A test is the easiest dressage test I’ve ever seen. I think it might be simpler than Intro. At least Intro has 2 halts and two changes of direction. BN is basically trot, circle, canter, circle, walk, change direction, trot, circle, canter, circle, trot, halt, done. So I was really confused watching the person before me who was doing BN (dressage only, not the CT) and was all over the place. The horse was well-behaved and the test looking smooth, it was just taking place at weird points. For example, she did E-F for the change rein instead of H-X-F. I actually had to pull out the test and make sure I was remembering it right because I started to think maybe I had memorized the wrong test.
We finally got rung in and this was Nilla’s opinion on doing dressage:
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| Enter at A – Stick tongue out |
I thought the test went really well for Nilla. She was calm and relaxed for the whole test. I think it was probably some of her best canter work. I told my husband afterwards that I thought it was really good for Nilla, not good for a normal horse, but great in the world of Nilla. And the judge must have agreed because we got a 32%.
Now, I don’t think we deserved a 32%, but I’ll take it.
I have some questions about this comments though. The judge had already left when I got the test or I would have asked her because I’m really confused. Her comment for #9 (trot circle at E) are “tongue” and “position diagonal.” The tongue part is obvious; I think I’m going to make a scrapbook of tongue comments on dressage tests. But the diagonal part is confusing. Diagonals aren’t judged in regular dressage. Maybe someone who does eventing can chime in here, are diagonals judged in eventing? I honestly just don’t pay any attention to my diagonal (because I think they’re bs and studies have shown they’re bs and I could rant for an entire post on this so I’ll stop). I know how to fix my diagonal if I know that I need to, so I ask you readers, do I need to start fixing it?
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| Also, is this not the correct diagonal anyway? |
Moving on, the judge’s main comments were that we needed to “work to develop a more level balance in canter work.” I also got croup high for each canter circle and in the collective marks. Obviously that’s something we need to work on. But here’s the thing. Nilla is conformationally croup high. This is why I use a crupper even on flat. Obviously we’ll continue to try to refine her canter, but I doubt it’s ever going to be “uphill.”
Gratuitous tongue shot:
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| Good Mule! |
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| What are my hands doing and why? Nilla’s expression re: the above |
I think that's a recent upgrade to eventing tests re: the diagonal. At least I remember fairly recently reading that they were considering making that a factor. "Position diagonal" is a weird way to phrase that you're posting on the wrong one though. Regardless, you guys look great in the pics!
How did you introduce her to the crupper? My saddle always slides forward on my round pony with a forward girth groove…I've been wanting to try the crupper for a while but I'm not sure how she will react!
I just put it on her and she never cared. I started with lunging thinking she might blow up, but she didn't care. I think she had probably had one on before as it's pretty standard gear for mules. I know endurance people use them to without issue so it may just be a non issue to your horse if you try one out. You could also try the total saddle fit girth to keep the saddle from sliding forward.
Yeah, the wording is weird so I wonder if that's not even what she was talking about.
congratulations on a nice test! I wouldn't have worried about the diagonal either.
Thanks. I am definitely planning to continue not caring about diagonal, but I could remember to fix it during a dressage test if I knew I needed to.
You guys look awesome- I LOVE that coat, especially against Nilla's coat.
Thanks. I really like this coat and I've been waiting for a chance to use it. The show organizer also came over to compliment me on it.
That looks like a nice, respectable canter! Congratulations.
Thanks. It's pretty good for Nilla.
You guys look fantastic – congrats on the solid score! Seems like the judge likes how you've brought her along so far. Also I might be wrong but I think posting diagonals *do* count in both regular and eventing dressage now.
Ugh. I remember asking one trainer about it and being told it could only could against me in the collective for rider position. Another told me to just sit and ignore all of that. I just looked up the rules and per dressage rules "A change of direction in rising trot implies a change of diagonal, but it is up to the rider to determine where that change should occur. If no change is made, there is no error and no deduction is made unless the balance of the horse is adversely affected." So I suppose the judge could claim I was adversely affecting her balance. I may just start sitting dressage tests.
Hey, Olivia! We worked at Camp Rim Rock together! I don't know how I stumbled onto your blog through someone else's, but I love reading about all your ponies! Ok, that's a lot of exclamation points.
I read the scribe's scribble on that comment as "posting diagonal " which makes way more sense. I know from scribing myself that your writing goes downhill fast sometimes. I love your coat! What kind is it?
OMG "posting diagonal"! Why didn't I see that? That makes so much more sense. Anyway, Hi!! I haven't heard from you in a while. Are you still eventing, do you have a blog? I'm glad you found me. I still have fond memories of that summer. I would never want to work there again, but the other counselors were great.
I really learned something today I didn't even know that being on the wrong diagonal wouldn't be judged in riding at all
Haha. Clearly I'm not a good hunter rider.
I will have to try lunging her with it first, thanks! I tried the TSF girth but had to send it back…horse hated it (but TSF has amazing customer service and let me return with a full refund!). I have a synthetic anatomic girth now that she hates slightly less but the saddle still slides forward…the struggle is real lol!
The new TSF girth has a neoprene option maybe check that out. But definitely try a crupper, it's a good solution.