Trailblazers 2nd Round Dressage – Championship Qualifier @ High Cross Equestrian Centre

Our second time visiting High Cross, last time we were here was 20/04/2014, for the 2014 Trailblazers 2nd Round. A lovely spring day today – and we even got a surprise visit from Mr Cook!

I decided to enter only the Qualifier test for today, as I had no caller and didn’t want to end up with a hybrid test by going wrong and mashing up two tests together!

We arrived in plenty of time and Finn had her massage pad on before we went down to warm up – she was definitely feeling quite relaxed and worked in well.  I rode in Ibby’s Albion saddle today, which puts me in a better position: I don’t have to fight the tipping forward that I get in my own saddle. The person parked next to me offered to call my test for me, so I felt able to focus on riding and not remembering where I had to go.

I was very pleased with the test, we had a dodgy first canter transition (to the right) with a buck thrown in for good measure, but overall she was very rideable – I’ve been working on her accepting my leg more so that I’m riding her less from my hand; she felt lighter and more attentive so I was pleased.  A mistake into halt meant that she stepped back – so we were penalised with a 5.5 for this.

The judge’s comments were:  “A lovely mare with a willing attitude.  Be careful that she does not drop her poll and go downhill, keep her hind end under and motivated.  Well done!”

It was tight at the top of the leader board with the top 4 on 66% – we were a smidgen behind the leader – happily this means we have qualified for the Trailblazers National Championships again this year!  Roll on July……