Just Beginning

Goggles had his BN debut on Saturday with AT in the irons. The initial plan had been for him to spend the week while I was out of town at their farm and then come home with me when I got back. But then Debby happened. Goggles pulled a shoe Friday evening and was scheduled to get it back on Monday, but that was when Debby was the worst. TBH, it turned out to be a bit more of a storm than I expected. It was extremely slow moving, so we ended up with rain and wind from Sunday evening to Tuesday morning with the worst of it early Monday. This meant that he didn't get his shoe back on until Wednesday. At that point it just made the most sense to leave him until the morning of the show. Also, unbeknownst to him, he wasn't going to go back out with Ben once home, so it wasn't going to be a super relaxing return home for him either. 

Ben and his new friend "Romeo" who is actually a friend. No bites, no kicks, no drama. Just two dudes hanging. 

Mooching for treats 

So Friday he got his mane pulled and got bathed. Then Saturday I picked up a friend and her horse right down the road from AT's and then loaded Goggles up. We've traveled with this friend before and while he enjoys company (and puts in a small protest when he loads solo into a trailer), he absolutely does not participate in buddy drama. It makes him a pretty excellent companion. Goggles marched right in to the trailer at JT's. 

Once at Majestic, Toby and Goggles munched hay and drank water pretty contentedly on the trailer together with Goggles only occasionally trying to eat Toby under the head divider. I took Goggles off the trailer at the same time as Toby and stood around with him. He ate until Toby left and then stood and stared. Which is MUCH BETTER than the kite flying option he has occasionally chosen. 

I think his withers grew again? He's looking more uphill these days. 

AT had three horses in the BN and Goggles was the last one, but they were essentially back to back for dressage. Then she had a short break and then the rotation started again for stadium + XC. I tacked Goggles up and hand walked him to the dressage warm up. I had his rope halter and line over my shoulder just in case, but he actually had all his brain cells installed. He wasn't super duper relaxed, but he was responding and not going up in the air or standing on me, a major improvement from trying to hand walk away from friends at previous shows. 

As they went in for their dressage test, the skies looked pretty threatening. I was reallllly hoping it wouldn't open up in the middle of the test because he HATES getting rained on. I mean, he would've dealt, but we were going for a soft back and some bending and giving, and I know that would've all gone straight out the window if he started getting rained on. Fortunately it just provided some relief from the heat and did not rain, which carried on through most of the day until we were actually leaving with horses on the trailer. 

His test was lovely, he stayed soft and relaxed and really tried the whole time. He even got a 7 on his left lead canter circle! As soon as they halted and saluted, he periscoped up and craned his head/neck to stare at the horse in the arena next to him, he is such a busy body. The test was good enough for a 35.9 and 5th place out of 9. Definite progress!! 

I hosed him off and let him graze for a few before putting him right back on the trailer. Toby was hanging out tied to the trailer and even without him on, Goggles marched right on and started eating hay again. He did have another moment when Toby left for stadium, but he mostly settled after a few. Then Toby came back to change bridles and boots before XC and that time when he left Goggles cared even less. Good! See, he always comes back! 

Times were scheduled relatively close together, he dressaged at 11:10 and then had stadium at 1:15. He was tacked up and ready to meet AT after she finished her second stadium + XC ride. They headed to stadium and popped a few jumps and then headed in. He was super for the round, mostly very rideable, although he didn't lift up quite enough to one half halt and knocked a rail on a small vertical. But overall relaxed and happy again. 

Then they headed over to XC and hopped over the warm up jumps once and then headed off. Again, he was just super! They front loaded the course with horse spooky jumps (blue and white cabin for #2) and rider spooky jumps (trakehner for #3). He did eye the blue and white cabin, but AT said DO IT and he did, jumping it a bit awkwardly, but going. He had a steady relaxed rhythm the whole time and looked confident out there. Really cannot ask for more! 

Overall this was a GREAT show for him. AT does such a good job giving him a calm, confident ride with the right balance of get your shit together sir and praise. He is responding really well, and I'm excited to get back out there with him. 

I think this came at the right time, the first two shows at Majestic, in dressage in particular, he was having a hard enough time just functioning, so he couldn't have dealt with any more pressure. So it was just fine that it was me in the irons, just helping him deal as much as possible. But this time he was ready for more pressure and could handle it without his brain exploding, so having AT ask for more bend and a softer back was perfect. 

It was a great day for the whole crew - two division winners and solid rounds from everyone else. Goggles' 35 and one rail was good enough for 6th! Our friend went and grabbed ribbons while I finished packing up as the rain was threatening, and she came back with a 5th place ribbon. Since the skies opened up as this was happening, I didn't bother going to exchange it. Goggles had a minor fit when Toby got off the trailer, but seemed to calm down once we were back on the road again. If things go according to plan, they'll get to be trailer buddies for Stable View Oktoberfest at the end of September.  

Home and desperately curious about Ben and his new friend. "I HAVE TO GO SEE, STOP TAKING PICTURES AND LET ME OU!!!"