Butterball and I did the December Majestic Schooling Show on Saturday. Google photos reminded me a few days prior that four years ago was the Majestic Schooling Show that Jolais and I did together. That marked my return to eventing as an adult (other than one POP show in vet school).
What a cool mare, I was very lucky to have the ride on her for a bit! Anyways, Butterball and I had a delightful time at the show. He continues to be just the most pleasant kiddo. We've been really working hard on our dressage at home, focusing mostly on my own position because whaddya know, he goes better that way. I've been trying to make sure I am centered and balanced at every moment. He's definitely the smallest horse I've ridden consistently (the mare pictured above was 15.2 which is the closest). My balance can influence his negatively very quickly if I start throwing myself around and doing weird things when asking for bend and transitions. In addition to putting that piece in place, I've been working on a slight shoulder fore feeling most of the time to help with canter transitions and general bend. We've also been practicing smoooooooooth transitions, no slamming down into the walk. Initially I started working transitions to improve his sharpness, but his reponse to aids improves the more balanced he is, so my own balance and the shoulder fore actually has him more responsive. The transitions have been very helpful in keeping his back up and swingy.
Photo credits to Lisa Madren.
And we got to show all that off on Saturday. The only part that wasn't as good as it has been at home was the 4-5 strides of walk at A. I didn't prep him enough which I found irritating because we've gotten that move really nicely down most of the time. Our canter work was still by far the worst scores, but I think the saddle may be playing a role in that. It is far too close in front and I think lifting up in the canter is made much harder by it. It is now off to Forestier (again) for repaneling since they didn't do what the fitter asked the first time.
Anyways, small saddle gripe aside, the test got us our best score yet, a 30.3, which put us tied for 5th.
The last halt comment, shoulders left, was very interesting to me. I had felt that as haunches right. Something to mull over as we continue to work on the halts. We've been doing haunches right/shoulder left into our halts at home, so it made me laugh a bit to myself as we did it at the show.
Stadium was not one of our better rounds. I think, after watching the video, I'm going to blame it on the saddle. He was behind my leg and looked cranky. We only had one rail, but had several ugly jumps.
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| Thank you Hillary for the video! |
XC was great though, we had so much fun blasting around. He was a bit sticky to the first so I tapped him and he took it seriously.
i love all the pictures!! sounds like a great day, i'm always so jealous that you guys get such excellent riding conditions just as we're all kinda hunkering down and resigning ourselves to winter LOL! good luck with the saddle situation tho, bleh
ReplyDeleteI had to buy the 5 picture package this time, he's just so cute!! And yes, we are very spoiled by our winter season. Remind me of that when we're on month 4 of highs in the 90s lol.
DeleteWhat a cutie he is! Good point made on how much our balance can affect the littler horses in particular. My youngster isn't small by any means, but he DOES slam down into downward transitions. I'll have to play with my balance through those when I can.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I've been thinking about with the down transitions came from a Peter Gray lesson I got to watch. Essentially, take ten steps to do the down transition instead of two. Think slower and slower with the trot until you step into the walk. He joked that no judge had ever commented "too gradual" on a transition.
DeleteI hope that helps some too!