Levi’s Camelot Schooling Horse Trials – Dressage

I went into this entire weekend with very low expectations. Up until a month ago I had been planning to take Nilla and do B.N. Prior to Tuesday I had literally never taken a dressage lesson on Levi and Levi had only ever done one lesson with my husband at Eventing Camp. He’s done XC twice ever: once with me and once with my husband. So obviously the next best course of action was two sign up for a 2 day event.

Thankfully, it was Camelot and we were just doing intro. My entire goal for the weekend was to not get eliminated. In a desperate attempt to remedy my lack of preparation, I did do 1/2 of a dressage lesson with Kate the Tuesday before the show.

We trailered in and schooled XC on Friday then spent the night at a hotel (we learned our lesson about heat last year). Saturday morning, we were up early to drive to Camelot and get ready for dressage. Luckily for planning and driving purposes, but unfortunately for heat, my dressage time was at the very end of dressage: 10:30.  I got on around 9:45 to warm up and Levi was being pretty good. He was very excited and very up, but he was behaving. Although he was quietly squealing every time I asked him to canter, he mostly kept his brain in his head.

insert squealing here

He even relaxed and chilled out for a bit. Then we had to trek over to a different arena for our test (the usual courts are under construction) and Levi went a bit nuts. He was so amped up, I couldn’t get even him to stand still while we were waiting to go in and I had to get off to tighten his girth and change into my jacket. And then we had to go in and try to do dressage.

It was not pretty. And thanks to Nicole, I have video.

1. A Enter working trot. C Track right

Judge’s Comments: Acc. CL straight Horse not round Against hand in cor.
Score: 5.5

At least we we’re straight?

2. B Circle right 20 meters working trot

Judge’s Comments: Unsteady – getting better in topline
Score: 6.0

3. KXM Change rein

Judge’s Comments: Nice deep corner. Try to keep your hands steady. Back hollow
Score: 6.0

4. E Circle left 20 meters working trot

Judge’s Comments: Some resist. Not steady. Horse needs to come over the back
Score: 6.0

5. Between K and A Working canter left lead

Judge’s Comments: little rough but accurate
Score: 6.0

At least there’s no squealing

6. A Circle left 20 meters

Judge’s Comments: Unsteady connection
Score: 6.0

7. Between B and M Working trot

Judge’s Comments: Above bit
Score: 5.5

8. HXF Change rein working trot

Judge’s Comments: Hollow. Unsteady
Score: 5.5

9. Between F and A Working canter right lead

Judge’s Comments: Prompt depart but hollow back
Score: 5.5

10. A Circle right 20 meters

Judge’s Comments: Rushed. Not round. Hollow back.
Score: 5.5

At least he’s uphill

11. Between E and H Working trot

Judge’s Comments: little abrupt
Score: 6.0

12. C Medium walk

Judge’s Comments: (no comment)
Score: 6.5

13. M – E Free walk. E – K Medium walk

Judge’s Comments: willing. Not consistent but did show difference
Score: 6.0

14. K Working trot.  A Down centerline

Judge’s Comments: Late, but ob. accurate CL
Score: 6.5

15. X Halt, Salute

Judge’s Comments: Halt – moved
Score: 4.0

The 0.25 second period of time he stopped moving

Collective Marks:
Gaits: 6.5
Impulsion: 6.5
Submission: 5.5
Rider: 6

This judge was very generous. Our final score was 41.5, which is pretty bad, but I’m also sure we deserved a lot worse. I don’t blame Levi. Sure, he was amped and acting up, but I didn’t ride him very well. And I asked him to do something we haven’t spent enough time practicing. He’s a good horse and he tried very hard for me. And as I mentioned on Instagram, we actually weren’t in the last place I was expecting. We were 2nd out of 3 after dressage.

Shockingly, we are not in last place after dressage. #eventing #dressage #blmmustang #horsetrials

A post shared by Olivia @ DIY Horse Ownership (@diyhorseownership) on Aug 19, 2017 at 4:48pm PDT