I originally wanted to do BN at Camelot this year, but then I didn’t jump Nilla at all – let alone school XC – from November until 1 week before the event, so I thought that might be asking a bit too much. And I figured we could still have fun at Intro even if it’s not as challenging.
This event was supposed to be a two-day, but they ended up having low entries and decided to make it a one day. Schooling on Friday and Sunday were still included though. With no showing to occupy us Sunday, I decided to throw Levi onto the trailer and school him Friday and Sunday.
We left bright and early Friday morning to make the long drive and have plenty of time for schooling. It’s only a 3.25 hour drive in a car, but with a trailer, it takes about 4 hours. And we usually do a pit stop at Wal-Mart to use the bathroom and grab lunch. I hate Wal-Mart and never shop there, but they always have huge parking lots so they’re a safe bet for a place to park when traveling with a trailer. The ponies got carrots and a chance to stretch their necks. Nilla refused to put her head out though.
Schooling
Once we arrived, parked, and unloaded the ponies, I got Nilla tacked up to go schooling. The weather was crazy. The wind was whipping the trees back and forth. It was so bad, a bunch of the jumps’ flags had been broken off by the wind. The water was even rippling. Of course, Nilla was lit. I really should have taken a video to show just how intense the wind was. You can see a bit of the flags flopping and grass waving in this gif.
We met a few fellow showers out schooling and their unanimous opinions were “I hope this wind dies down before tomorrow.” Nilla is generally excited about jumping and especially XC so I don’t know how much the wind was making it worse, but it certainly wasn’t helping. There was a lot of awkward over-jumping and “playing” afterwards.
post-jump playing
I really could have used my neck strap, which I had sadly forgotten. I really just had to ride defensively, and keep my hands up anticipating her antics both over and after the jump. One of the things I really wanted to do was school the water since Nilla hates water. And it was good that we did as she slammed on the brakes and refused to go in the first time. She eventually went through, but had to express her opinion:
She was nice and eager to the jumps. At this lower level, I really don’t have to worry about her going over the jump. I just have to worry about staying on as she awkwardly tries to hurl me out of the tack.
I swear I’m really not this bad of a rider. When she’s not jumping like a rabid deer, I do look better. I don’t disagree that I need to fix my potion regardless, but I am an amateur with very limited opportunities to jump. I’m working on it.
Nilla was super excited to be out jumping though. Outside of the water she dragged me to everything and hurled herself over enthusiastically.
My plan had been to tire her out on XC and then run through our dressage test, but she doesn’t tire quickly and she was now just more excited by the jumping so our dressage practice was a disaster. This will not be my plan in the future.
this looks like dressage to me
A night spent literally rearranging her corral to stuff her face with fresh grass did have a restorative effect. Nilla was calm and listening in warm up. Until I made the mistake of stopping for a moment to change my vest for my jacket and she decided we were done. I think part of the problem was that we were schooling in a set up dressage court so when we stopped she thought we’d finished the test and that was it. And she was not okay with doing dressage anymore. Dressage was done so far as she was concerned.
Except it wasn’t and we had an actual test to do.
Dressage Test – BN B
Format: movement, judge’s comment, score, picture, and my thoughts in the picture caption.
Movement 1: Enter working trot.
Judge’s comment: “very straight entrance”
Points: 7
She looks like she likes this. Really she is facing her stall and thinks maybe we’re going there.
Movement 2: 20m Circle at B.
Judge’s Comment: “needs bend R”
Score: 6.5
(No picture of this circle was taken so here’s a shot from after the circle going past A)
Movement 3: Change rein KXM
Judge’s comment: “falling in on turns”
Score: 6.5
why did my husband not notice my collar was up?
Movement 4: 20m Circle at E
Judge’s Comment: “better bend in this direction”
Score: 6.5
this is better?
Movement 5: Working Canter Between K and A
Judge’s Comment: blank
Score: 6.5
6.5 seems generous, but this is actually good for us
Movement 6: 20m Canter Circle at A
Judge’s comment: “falling in to circle”
Score: 6
Nilla is still looking over towards the stalls
Movement 7: Between B and M, Working Trot
Judge’s comment: “rushing”
Score: 6.0
I wouldn’t call it rushing. It was more like Nilla completely ignoring my request to slow down because we were heading towards the stalls and then me dragging her into trot at the last moment.
Movement 8: Change rein HXF
Judge’s comment: ” needs to bend in turns”
Score: 6.0
No picture
Movement 9: Between F and A, Working Canter
Judge’s Comment: “obedient”
Score: 6.5
Never before and probably never again will Nilla get “obedient” as a dressage comment
Movement 10: Circle Right at A
Judge’s comment: “tipping in, tempo quick”
Score: 6
You mean dressage isn’t a race?
Movement 11: Working Trot Between E and H
Judge’s Comment: “fairly smooth”
Score: 6.5
My brain: “Just tense everything and stay as upright as possible”
Movement 12: Medium Walk at C
Judge’s Comment: “relaxed
Score: 6.5
No picture
Movement 13: Free Walk from M to E
Judge’s Comment: “needs to stretch down, but good relaxation”
Score: 6
before seeing the pictures, I was annoyed by this comment and thought we’d done much better, but now I agree. It felt better than it looked.
Movement 14: Working trot at K and down centerline
Judge’s comment: “overshot centerline and distracted”
Score: 6.0
Nilla turned down centerline and started braying. I was not amused.
Movement 15: Halt at X (Braying)
Judge’s comment: “stepped right”
Score: 6
Nilla: still screaming. Me: still not amused
Collective marks:
Gaits: 6.5 “Lovely Trot!”
Impulsion: 6.0 “Leaning on rider’s hands @ times”
Submission: 6.5 No comment
Rider: 6.0 “Try to balance without holding reins up”
Final Score: 37.3
I’m pretty annoyed about the “holding the reins up” thing. When I was taking lessons with Laura, she kept telling me to hold my hands up higher and I kept insisting that my hands were too high and not supposed to be this high. I’m officially not doing that anymore.
I’m going to end this post here since it’s already super long and I’ll finish up with stadium and XC tomorrow.
I love THAT first picture entering the dressage ring- that is so lovely. the commentary and photos really tell the story. There are so many opinions on ‘hand up’ thing. I think it’s useful in moments if the horse is being a giraffe to get them to lower but not in a test and not all the time.
It’s probably more useful than I want to admit, but I hate riding that way.
I think that was okay. Dressage is HARD and she is lovely! I see moments of brilliance in there it is coming. And remember the next judge will have totally different opinions. Hey at least it wasnt raining 🙂 Cant wait for the next post (HA deer is just what she looks like in some of those photos jumping WHEEE)
At least it wasn’t raining indeed. I think I would have cried if it had rained. I’ve reached a really unhealthy mind state about rain at this point.
I really like the way you formatted this. For someone so new to it all it really helps. You two look really good. She didn’t stick her tongue out at all so that’s good too.
The new bit is great. We have so few tongue issues with it.
She is definitely the most gorgeous “rabid deer” I have ever seen.
She definitely wins for looks. Not so much ability.
Love how you did this post! I think for the most part your photos did seem to caption the judge’s comments. Even if she was a little… not wanting to dressage, Nilla still looks gorgeous. I really like the one of the walk, while she’s not stretching down, she does look really happy and relaxed.
She was surprising relaxed for that moment of the test.
You guys look sharp!! And fwiw, literally every dressage judge I’ve ridden Charlie with has written suggestions on what to do with my hands, and they are all different and mostly not at all in alignment with where my trainer wants me to be at this point in Charlie’s trainin. C’est la vie!
That’s true. But I personally hate having my hands that high so I’m switching back.
I know you probably didn’t mean to have your coat collar up, but I love the look.
I was not happy about that when I realized after leaving the arena.
What a good mule mare!
She tries. Sometimes.
I LOVE her expression in that first photo as you entered the ring…though I get the gravitation toward the stall. That’s how Q is when I ride her at home, gravitates toward her friends. Always. Nilla’s expressions about her stall throughout made me chuckle a lot because I recognize that in my own mare. And I’m totally with you on the lack of amusement while my animal is vocal. “OMG just stop,” is what I always think to myself.
All things considered, not a bad test. And she *is* cute, so that makes up for something? Haha
Shes atleast very cute!
That is her main feature.