Oh well done Ace! 11/10

I got a late entry to the dressage today and Ace and I have done two prelims, and scored two 65%s, in  affiliated classes,  for tests that he's never done before and that I learnt in the lorry on the way there :-)   The only objective today was to use our new "let him go" technique to see if we could stop him spooking at the letters.


IT WORKED !!!


I am so thrilled. He was all ready to be silly, especially as someone had left a big box of jump cups right by B, his least favourite letter. But he was such a good boy, even though it was cold and windy.

Now, I explained to the judge before I started that I had spent two years so far trying to despook him, and that the only thing I found which worked was to release the reins. So tell me, WHY did she feel that an appropriate comment was 

"needs to be more secure in rein contract so has more steady head".

No shit Sherlock, you don't say!!!!

Next time out I hope that I will be able to ride him forward more without ruining the steadiness that he found today, and then his scores will be even better. He wasn't placed today, the classes were both regional qualifiers with people hunting for qualifying points on horses that are probably working at medium at home. I don't know what satisfaction if gives them to do that, it's not my thing at all.

We tried the heat lamp in the lorry today, hand held, but he was absolutely petrified of it. I wonder why it would have that much of an effect when he is happy under four of them at home? I'll work on getting him used to it before we go again. Woody's turn next week.


C