Thoroughbred Transformation Expo - Day 1

The Thoroughbred Transformation Expo is kind of a local version of Retired Racehorse Project. It is open to all thoroughbreds though and is divided into open and restricted divisions. Open is horses >3 years from their last race. You could enter two of the following disciplines: Hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, working ranch, or freestyle. It was a reasonable price ($400 for two disciplines and stabling the whole weekend) and there were promises of prize money and division prizes. Ben and I entered eventing and dressage. 

Friday morning Ben and I hauled down to the Horse Park, mostly in the dark. It was a chilly start but by the time I was tacking up it was warm enough I swapped the long sleeve show shirt for the short. I had braided him the night before and tested out his slinky and fly sheet combo overnight for the first time. It worked quite well. My braids left a little to be desired because I slacked on pulling his mane, but the slinky held what was there in place well.

Wonky braids and Christmas lights. We listened to Bach piano inventions while I braided this time.

Pretty sunrise

Ben warmed up really, really well. I felt a bit like he was maybe too relaxed and soft and maybe a smidge lacking in power. However, with how our lengthenings had gone on Thursday in the cold and wind (very little trot lengthening shown, lots of other things though!), I was okay with that (I was also correct). 

We did first level test 2 first. Man are straight dressage tests LOOOOOONG!! We were doing first 2 & 3, but I just ran through first 3 twice at home and then tried to dump it from my brain until I needed it again Sunday. We were supposed to have a 30 minute break between first 2 and training B, and I was going to refresh myself on the training test at that point. But the dressage ring was late and the eventing ring was on time, so we went straight from one to the other. I'm happy to report I did not go off course and only had one moment in training B where I thought "What the fuck am I supposed to do next??"

The first level test was overall super nice. He was soft and pleasant and accurate. We got some great feedback and things to work on in the comments. 

I wanted to hug her for the comments

Then we moved on to training B. Other than one lengthening that just plumb didn't happen, it was lovely as well. Ben, bless his heart, felt a bit confused going from one dressage test into another, but never got nappy or cranky. But that might've also contributed to the lengthening that wasn't. I also didn't set him up in the corner well at all.

The judge said to me at the end "I'm sure you know, but I have to take a point off each movement for his tongue. But he is absolutely lovely". I thanked her and thanked her for commenting on other things. 

We are nothing if not consistent, a 67% equivalent in both rings. 

Then we (Ben) set up Ben's stall by spreading shavings. He got some hay and water and his braids pulled and then got to chill for a while. 

Loves to wallow 

And rehydrate his hay 

I took him for a walk in the afternoon, and he spent a solid 3 minutes staring around. Not in a spooky way, I think just trying to figure out what TF came next. This was already weird, two dressage tests then a stall. But there's cross country in the distance...

Frozen mid step trying to sort it out

More pondering

Other than getting a little freaked by the trail horse obstacles, he was much more mellow at the horse park than he was at Rocking Horse when we stabled there. I caught him mid nap in the middle of the day when I got back from walking the cross country course. 

We ended up with a 3rd in the open dressage division for the day, which was good enough to move us along to the finale class on Sunday. The top six horses in each division (restricted and open) got to go on. For dressage all the open horses did first level and the restricted horses did training level. For eventing, only open horses could do training level, but otherwise it was a mix of starter through training with all horses doing all three phases unless there was an elimination. Ben and I were actually the sole training pair though. We got a fifth place for our eventing dressage test in the open division. I could really get to like this ribbon for each phase thing.