Hard Judge

Now there you are, you see, that's what I don't like about competing dressage. You can go out and do a test that you know is an order of magnitude better than the test you did last week (same test number) and get a hard judge and get a worse score :-(  Thankfully there were several other horses there who were there last week and it was pretty obvious from all our scores that he was consistently half a mark lower, 5% on the final score. So our 52% today would have been 57% under last week's judge, and that was what we were aiming for.

I am actually chuffed to bits with Jazz. We are going to have to call him consistent at this rate - he was settled, listening, active and best of all - he got half pass!  My half pass scores this time were two 6's and two 5's, one of each for trot and canter. Last week we had 3's and 4's. If we'd  had the same judge these would have been 5's or 6's :-) Just to prove it - here they are! Trot left, his worse one, crossing nicely. Canter right, his better one, sorry it's out of focus but you can still see the crossover I hope.

We had  a few funny moments today. I forgot my spurs. Luckily there is a tack shop on site so SH was duly sent off to buy a blunt pair of spurs and some straps. Back he came with minutes to spare - and one strap had no holes in! I tied it on as best I could and went up to the arena. The girl in front of me saluted at the end of her test. And my spur fell off!!  Cue SH rushing in to tie it back on again as best he could, and it just about stayed put until I left the arena.

I was also very pleased with my riding today. Just before the person before us finished their test, Jazz set on me and dropped his bounce and rhythm. I managed not to panic, wiggled my fingers to get him to relax on the bit and sent him on to unlock him. And it worked. In the old days, either he or I or both of us between us would have ruined that test. Both of us are finally learning how to compete!


I have looked at the video and I am riding with my reins too long and not giving him enough support. If I correct that next time, we should do even better.

Now I must just add that Jazz has not suddenly turned into an angel. He did the same thing today as he did last week when we went to load him to come home. He pulled away, and in a headcollar it is completely impossible to hold him, so I always let go because he doesn't go far, or fast. The more you hold the more he fights to get away. So off he went - about twenty yards. And stands there looking at me as if to say "Huh! I won! You don't get me in there." And I walk up to him and pick up the lead rope and say "well, clever boy, how do you think you are going to get home then?" Then I put a chifney on him, and without me touching the bit, he loads like a little lamb. He just has to make his point first :-)

I don't really care what the judge marked us at, I know we went up a gear today. Best of all, we had a lot of fun.

C