Eugene is actually the reason we go to all the shows. While I like taking Levi for exposure and fun, he’s not really competitive. Nilla just needs training; she’s the same at home and at shows and at this point it’s not worth taking her to shows unless it’s for fun. Eugene, however acts very differently at home than he does at shows. He’s not bad, he just gets very tense and giraffes more than usual, which really hurts his dressage scores. We’re trying to take him to as many random, cheap schooling shows as possible to help him get over it.
Last time we were here the judge was very favorable to my husband and Eugene, but their main competition was another dressage horse and some other less schooled horses. This time around the other horses were nice, true hunter horses. And Eugene was his usual giraffe-y self.
They got 2nd of 3 in 18+/AA Hunt Seat Equitation and 3rd out of 3 in Hunter Under Saddle. The following picture is terrible as a picture because it’s really hard to take shots of moving horses in an indoor with an iPhone, but it’s a good example of the difference between Eugene and the other two hunter horses. This is not to say that we want Eugene to look like a hunter, but he doesn’t look like a dressage horse either. 
As I said in my previous post, my husband did the 18″ Hunter Hack, which was run simultaneously with my class so no pictures, but they actually got first in this class (out of 3). Hunter Hack allows for a more forward pace than regular hunters so Nilla and Eugene often do better in these classes.
One great thing to see with this show was just how well Eugene did with jumping. He’s basically had all winter off from jumping since our arena has been closed for most of the year. The last time he did a course was at our previous D’Alanzo show. He went in and got right down to business and looked happy to do it.
They also did the 21″-2′ Hunters and Eugene got 2nd out of 2 or 3 (we can’t remember). He was nice and forward, but had a few wiggly lines. They ended on Low Hunters (2’3″ -2’6″) but really all 2’3″. The footing was pretty good for how wet it’s been, but still a bit sloppy in places and the management had warned they might cancel the higher jumpers. They even coned/poled off a few sections. My husband had originally planned to do some higher classes, but we didn’t want to risk an injury and stopped at the Low Hunters.
In the final class they scored 3rd out of 4 despite dropping a rail as one of the other horses was more rushy and knocked a few (although he didn’t drop any, he did hit a bunch). We were both still surprise that a dropped rail wasn’t worse. Eugene actually only hit the first one because he wasn’t paying attention and once he realized the jumps were high, actually picked his feet up (as you can see above). This is a frequent problem with Eugene and my husband really needs to get after him about staying tuned in and not getting distracted. But, this is why we we got to these shows. And we plan to attend a bunch more this month.
It’s the only way to do it- just keep going until he realizes that he will survive. 🙂
He’s definitely getting calmer, but he’s still tense. That may take some time.
He is still a handsome fella even when impersonating a giraffe.
Thanks. He’s a cute horse. He just needs to learn how to horse.
The only way to get him better is to practice — which is exactly what you’re doing! Don’t ever be discouraged in hunter under saddle classes. Even when the horses are similar the judging varies WIDELY. It’s super, super subjective.
Yes, the hunter judging is always too subjective to me. But in this case he was very clearly not the good hunter horse. But we’re just there for the miles.
I have to ask, what is that vest your husband is wearing? It looks similar to the air bag vest things that I’ve seen at the Olympics but I’ve never seen anyone wearing anything like that outside of there.
Looks like a HitAir air vest. Lots of people wear them on XC, both for schooling and competition. It is, indeed, the airbag kind.
It is a HitAir vest. I wear either the HitAir or a actual XC vest every single time I ride since I broke my back in a riding accident a few years ago. My husband starting wearing one back when Eugene was still barely broke and has carried on with it.
That makes sense. I’d probably be uber careful if I’d had that bad of an injury as well.
I LOVE that you can get your hubs to go to shows!!
He actually dislikes showing, but knows Eugene needs the practice if he wants to do well in eventing.
⬆︎ Finding a horse tolerant husband is a prize, but one who rides and shows too… You hit the jackpot lady!
I am very lucky.
aw they’re such a great pair tho, Eugene looks like he’s doing great!
He’s really coming along.
Wow! Eugene is really figuring out this jumping business! Look at those knees!
When he bothers to pick his feet up, he does look pretty good.
Sounds like a good plan. Annie is usually the same horse regardless of where we go. Houston was a nut bag for most of the adventures he went on his first year with me 😂
Eugene looks like he has come far sicne last summer. I’m glad to hear that he’ll be getting more practice at shows in the future and I hope they go well for him.
Despite being blurry, I love the comparison shot of Eugene and the other horses. Definitely some stark contrasts. It’s really awesome you’re able to get him out so much to give him the experience to learn and be better.
Yes, Eugene definitely stands out in the hunter rings.
I really like Eugene!