Well that went well! The rain stayed away, which was very nice of it since the forecast said it would definitely rain all day, starting at midnight and getting stronger all day.
Ace travelled well, and was unsweated when we got there. We opened the back and went for a bacon sandwich and he was quiet and happy to stand on the lorry while we were gone and other horses were arriving and warming up.
He warmed up in a arena with 2, then 3, other horses and he was no trouble at all. Eyes on stalks, but very quiet and gentle. People passed us and we passed them in both directions and he was not bothered by them. I went up to the competition arena and told the judge he was a first-timer. She told me not to over-react and just let him stay relaxed, which was good.
She rang the bell and we did a test .... of sorts :-) The steering was, to say the least, haphazard; his eyes were popping out of his head at the judge's box and the flower pots with the letters on them, but he did a rough approximation of a prelim 10. Half way through he got mentally overloaded and lost it for a canter circle, striking off wrong, changing legs, disunited, but he doesn't panic. He pulled himself together, then focussed on me again for another three movements. Then he went completely over the top with too many inputs to his fried little brain. He simply could not get his act together for right canter change of rein across the diagonal, and kicked out a hind leg and jumped up and down on the spot. I let him go forward in trot and finished the test, with me grinning, the judge grinning, everyone grinning!
When I came out, another girl warming up asked me how he was bred, and seemed quite impressed by him. But when I read the scoresheet I was ecstatic! Not at the mark, 56% which was more than it deserved, but at the comment of a List 1 (Grand Prix) dressage judge:
"I take my hat off to you - when he allowed you to ride him he looked very special."
I've never before seen a judge call a horse "very special". "Very talented" is what Jazz sometimes gets from the same judge, but I think "very special" is in another ballpark altogether. I shall smile all day.
C
OOO, now isn't that a lovely comment to have on your first outing. The judge must have really enjoyed watching the sympathetic way you were working with him, which allowed him to "be his special self" when he felt confident.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. Sorry I've been absent for a wee while, should be back to normal again now. Catching up on your April threads slowly, interesting stuff on the issues you've had so far with Ace.
Hugs to you and Allan
You knew he was special. Nice to have an eye that is trained for the direction you're heading in acknowledge it too.
ReplyDeleteWell done you and well done Ace
:-)
Ok, now I am really a soft touch...your last comments quoting the judge brought me to tears. I am SOOOOOO happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI love the description of his "eyes on stalks." But then the input overload...been there, done that. It all starts out fairly well under control, but then the effort of concentrating amidst all the distractions just gets to be too much. Hats off to you and to the judge for just giving him space...so to speak.
I have a photo of my Russell the day he won a huge championship at a big show. By the time the awards were presented, he'd been there all day and his brain had started to fry. When we went in to get his trophy, the crowd applauded in another arena and he simply lost it--capriole. (Fortunately, just missing someone's head....) I have the photo of him a moment later and you can actually see the "disconnect" in his eyes. He looked nothing like my kind, intelligent partner. Quite a moment.
I somehow suspect Ace will improve immeasurably over his next couple times out. He just needs some experience.
I am very impressed - you have had him for only a short while and already you are taking him out. Life is too short to sit around and not try stuff. I love the term "eyes on stalks"! And how smart of everyone to allow him to be who he is right now, a young horse, learning his way around. Very, very encouraging and so exciting to hear your horse called "special". I am so happy for you!!! I hope you can sleep!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a fantastic start, I would be particularly pleased with the warm up with others stuff, the confidence in the ring will come. I'd be ecstatic with the judges comments as well, what a really nice, positive thing to say.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely comments and a fab start to his dressage. Well done you both:0)
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