We were up bright and early the next morning to get the ponies braided and ready for dressage. Levi’s mane is in this terrible in between stage where it’s too long and thick for normal braids and too short for a running braid. I am trying to grow it out to full length again so I wasn’t filling to thin it out. I tried a few dutch braids on Friday and disliked them. The next morning I initially tried a french braid which looked really pretty. My back was killing me so I had my husband braid his own horse’s mane. He’s never done that before and I was offering some tips and advice from my chair when I looked over to discover that Levi had rubbed his braid out already. Dammit horse! Of course at this point I had less than 20 minutes to fix it so I threw in some horrible puffy braid things and called it good enough.
Pretty great for his first time braiding ever
These braids make my eye twitch
My husband went at 11:18 and then I went at 11:57. I brought Levi up with Eugene because it’s a long walk from the stalls to the dressage arenas and there wouldn’t be time to go back and forth in between. And also because Levi looses his mind if he’s separated. I left him with Kate holding him while I went to take pictures of my husband’s dressage test. When I got back, I was told he’d been molesting her student’s dog.
Levi just wants to be friends
Before I get to my husband’s dressage test, I want to take a moment to talk about how far this little Mustang has come in the last year. He used to spook violently at judge’s booths or anyone standing near the arena. Now look at him:
This is why we go to a million schooling shows
On to the test.
1. A-X-M Enter working trot at M Track left
Judge’s Comments: “Obedient turns needs better connection short end”
Score: 7.0
2. E Circle left 20 meters
Judge’s Comments: “Needs better stretch to bit and bend”
Score: 6.0
A little curled
3. Between K and A Working canter left lead
Judge’s Comments: “Willing. Needs better bend”
Score: 6.0
4. A Circle left 20 meters working canter
Judge’s Comments: “needs bend and balance”
Score: 5.5
5. Between F and B Working trot
Judge’s Comments: “Willing but needs better connection”
Score: 6.0
6. Between M and C Medium walk
Judge’s Comments: “Needs better stretch to bit”
Score: 6.0
7. H-X-F Free walk
Judge’s Comments: “Nice energy. Should stretch neck and stride more”
Score: 6.0
he’s not much for lowering his head
8. Between F & A Develop medium walk
Judge’s Comments: “Stretch to bit”
Score: 7.0
9. K Working trot at E Circle right 20 meters working trot
Judge’s Comments: “Some good connection. Needs better stretch and bend”
Score: 7.0
needs to sit back
10. Between H and C Working canter right lead
Judge’s Comments: “1st half: above bit needs connection. 2nd half: nice.”
Score: 5.0
admittedly, not the best depart
11. C Circle right 20 meters working canter
Judge’s Comments: “Needs bend and balance and connection”
Score: 5.0
12. Between M and B Working trot
Judge’s Comments: “Needs better connection especially after transition.”
Score: 6.0
It’s almost like connection is important or something…
13. K-X-G Onto centerline
Judge’s Comments: no comment
Score: 7.0
14. G Halt through walk, salute
Judge’s Comments: “Needs better connection”
Score: 6.0
could we get a different comment maybe?
Gaits: 7.0
Impulsion: 6.5
Submission: 6.0
Rider: 6.5
Final comments: “Needs steadier connection and bend and balance in canter work”
Finals score: 38.1! This is the best score they’ve received at a rated event and left them in 11th out of 15.
Then it was my turn. We warmed up for a bit with Kate and it was going pretty well. Then I went over to the arena to find out they were running about 15 minutes late. Levi doesn’t have the energy to keep going for that long so we hung out until we were a few horses out. Then we went back to work and Levi was pissed off about that. We had to reestablish correct leads and Kate had to remind me not to get mad at him.
I wear my vest during warm up
1. A-X-M Enter working trot at M Track left
Judge’s Comments: “Inconsistent in stretching to contact”
Score: 6.0
why stretch when you can giraffe
2. E Circle left 20 meters
Judge’s Comments: “Needs correct bend poll to tail on circle”
Score: 6.0
3. Between K and A Working canter left lead
Judge’s Comments: ” croup high in depart”
Score: 6.0
Indeed
4. A Circle left 20 meters working canter
Judge’s Comments: “a little hollow + highhead”
Score: 5.0
Don’t care. At least we’re on the correct lead.
5. Between F and B Working trot
Judge’s Comments: “Braced in downward but then some nice stretch”
Score: 6.0
6. Between M and C Medium walk
Judge’s Comments: no comment
Score: 7.0
7. H-X-F Free walk
Judge’s Comments: “follow with your elbows”
Score: 6.5
I made a concerted effort to move my elbows more than usual. So much for that.
8. Between F & A Develop medium walk
Judge’s Comments: no comment
Score: 6.0
I failed to shorten my reins enough here
9. K Working trot at E Circle right 20 meters working trot
Judge’s Comments: “Keep him straight on long side. Circle needs bend.”
Score: 5.0
Since when does pulling on the inside rein not count as bending?
10. Between H and C Working canter right lead
Judge’s Comments: “croup high in depart”
Score: 6.0
It’s the correct freaking lead! On the first try. It’s the little victories.
11. C Circle right 20 meters working canter
Judge’s Comments: ” Lacks contact. Above the bit.”
Score: 5.0
I mean, the majority of his body is below the bit. Does that not count for anything?
12. Between M and B Working trot
Judge’s Comments: no comment
Score: 5.0
I thought the judge had to leave a comment if the score was below a 6?
13. K-X-G Onto centerline
Judge’s Comments: “Prepare for your turns”
Score: 5.5
14. G Halt through walk, salute
Judge’s Comments: no comment
Score: 6.5
Gaits: 6.0
Impulsion: 5.0
Submission: 5.0
Rider: 5.5
Final comments: “Test will improve when horse consistently stretches forward in the bit + is much more active behind and really WORKING.”
When Kate asked what my goals for the test were I said, to not have any errors (cantering while we should be trotting, trotting while we should be walking, etc) and to get both leads correctly. Even Kate was a bit skeptical about the chance of us having a clean test. I think she was trying to prepare me so I wouldn’t murder him after the test.
pats for a good boy
When we finished, I knew it was a terrible test, but I was happy with him. He did everything I asked even if it wasn’t pretty. Before I could start commenting, Kate was like, “I can see what you’re going to say. That you got away with it because you didn’t demand anything.” It’s almost like she knows me. She was right though. Even if it was a terrible test, I met my goals and I shouldn’t complain. We got a 42.8 and were 11th of 14 coming out of Dressage.
I think Eugene looks great and good boy for going past all that mess by the judge’s booth. I am not sure I WOULD Have gone by that. Spooky! LOL
And I think Levi looked pretty darn good too. Like there are some decent shots where he is not being a flailing idiot but is being a nice horse. Maybe you didn’t want to demand anything of him but I can see it coming. I would be very happy with that test. Sure it may not have been brilliant but I think that getting the leads and him staying quiet and mostly well behaved is HUGE.
Good job both of you (and I despise braiding….this is why i do not show recognized, besides me being cheap as hell LOL)!
Technically you don’t even have to braid at a rated show. It’s not required, just expected. My husband complains bitterly about the whole braiding thing as well, but he wants to keep Eugene’s mane long and not roach it. I don’t normally mind braiding when I have time and my horse doesn’t rub it out moments later.
Eugene is a whole different horse – wow. Great work. And well done to your husband on the braids. I’m pretty sure my husband would just cut the mane off if I asked him to do such a thing lol!
And I’m still giggling at your comment about the majority of his body being below the bit!!
I told my husband he could cut Eugene’s mane off, but he likes it being long so it’s his own fault.
Nice job! Both of you! I can’t believe how far Eugene has come! But, Levi… it may not have been the worlds most spectacular test, but I’d list it as a success! It’s a step in the right direction. Not fighting, not wanting to kill him, and both of you walking out of the ring alive and relatively happy? I’d say that’s a huge accomplishment!
I’m counting it as a success too: we got the leads, there was no unplanned cantering or jigging.
I’m with Sara. Goals are goals and meeting them is the point, even if they’re not super major difficult and perfect ones. Baby steps/ keep the bar low/ set your self up for success. Correct leads and going the correct gaits at the correct times sounds like victory to me. And Eugene keeps impressing us all. I think he’s going to have a great season.
Sounds like a pretty decent day overall! Eugene is killing it! And Levi did what you asked, so that’s definitely a win. The rest will come. He still looks handsome even if his head is in the air!