Trailblazers Dressage @ Kingswood EC

Both tests were 2014 Trailblazers qualifiers, we had already qualified in May at Field House, but I didn’t register my win, so we had to re-qualify.   She warmed up well in the indoor school for the first test (Prelim 1), but in the outdoor she was distracted by the stack of show jumps outside the arena; I rode her forward and managed to maintain her attention.  The test was ok – I didn’t feel that she went as well as she has been going at home the last couple of days – but this is the first time she has had the drop noseband on since riding her in the hackamore – I have been riding her in the flash and maybe it suits her better?  Will have a play at home.

The test was going fairly well until movement 8 – the free walk on a long rein.  The movement is to ride a ‘V’ shape on a long rein through K-B-H, Finn decided that there were gremlins in the flower pot at B and spooked, disrupting the rhythm.  the judge’s comment for that movement was “slight spook at B, but good over-track and stretch”.  I was pleased with how she recovered and regained her attention after that.  The Judge’s comments were: “Active test all on correct scales so far.  Now needs to work more thru the back and neck to develop suppleness and lightness of forehand.  A nicely presented test”.  I was really pleased with the marks – straight 7’s except for the spook which gained us a 6, and 69.47% overall – the highest mark I have had from this judge.  We must be improving!

I am still a little bit cross about the second test: felt we were sabotaged (again)?!  As we started our test, a random person was walking up and down alongside the arena talking (shouting) on the phone in a very loud voice and gesticulating wildly.  Finn was very distracted by this and consequently was a bit tense and spooky.  I managed to keep her clam until movement 9: the free walk on a long rein where she spooked by the F marker at the woman on the phone waving her arms about!!!  After I had finished my test (the woman conveniently finished her phone call at the same time), I called to her and was about to let her know my thoughts on her behaviour.  However, the judge got out of her car and gave the woman a telling off!!  The judge said that it was not a level playing field, it was unfair to me and that no-one else had to contend with this (she seemed as cross as I was).  She told Lynsey that she was considering stopping the test – sending the woman away – and asking me to re-start.  I was furious after I had put Finn away when I saw who this woman was with – mentioning no names, but this is not the first time this person has done this to me……….

Again, I was so proud of Finn for coming back to me and listening after her fright, we got a 5 for the FWLR (worth double points of course!!), but got back up into the 7’s and even had an 8 for the following movements; clever girl.  The judge’s comments were: “Lovely test, very well ridden!”

At the end of the class I approached the judge to thank her for her support, she made some very nice comments about Finn and the way I handled the situation and my positive riding, she also said that it was a shame we weren’t doing the Novice test as she would have enjoyed judging us again.  I made some comment about not being able to do a Medium trot and she commented that some of the trot in my Prelim test was getting on for Medium – there is hope for us yet.

We qualified in both tests today – just need to get my act together and register now!