Back in the Rated Ring

This last Saturday TC and I competed in our first rated show of the year! We rode 1-1 and 1-2. Despite me really wanting to have a rated show at Training level this year, it worked out better to grab two First level scores at this show for All Breeds.

It was my first outing in my own rig! My hitch was too low, so Peony and Andy let me borrow their BP hitch for the weekend and then I'd be in the bay the next day to pick up another hitch. So thanks, guys! Literally could not have gone to the show without it.

I was super nervous about parking the trailer since I tend to get way over enthused about turning it and end up nearly jackknifing it constantly, but I figured someone would be at the show to help me if I got it real messed up. I'm nothing if not way over confident with my abilities at this point.

I was also nervous about TC being a loon because of the storm that was passing through just before the show. Excuse me, it is summer now, right? No more storms!

He's the best

All of those nerves were totally unfounded!! TC was AMAZING and I managed to not get myself into any trouble with the trailer. I'm really not sure what I'm more excited about.

My ride times were kind of late, so I took my time getting ready to go. I hooked up the trailer early just in case it took me a while, but it didn't, so I was able to clean my bridle really thoroughly and double/triple check my list of things to bring.

Once as it was time to go, TC loaded up well and we were off! I was a bit uncomfortable at first but the trailer hauled great and I managed to not hit anyone parking it at the facility. TC came out and was really curious to wander around, so we explored for about thirty minutes. He's getting better and better at new places. He was a bit up at first, but wasn't that spooky and seemed mostly excited to be there.

Always blocking me from the camera

Warm up was held in the covered arena, which had mirrors (yay!) but was kind of spooky (bleh!). TC warmed up okay, he felt super in the bridle but he also felt a bit explosive. You know when you just... know... there's something in there even though the horse is being really freaking good? Yeah, that was it. And sure enough he squealed and bucked at one point, then squealed and just like... spazzed on the spot at another point. We recovered though (well, my back is a different story, I posted both tests), and were able to go out in the court adjacent to the show ring and do a bit more warm up. Out there TC felt GREAT and we did the minimum, then headed in.

There were two judges for this show, I think they anticipated being able to run two rings but there weren't enough entries. TC was very interested in the judge at E. He wasn't spooky about it, but just very curious as to who those people were and why they were under that tent. He kept glancing at them as we trotted around and then came up centerline. He couldn't stay very focused, so he came in on centerline kind of crooked, didn't halt square, and then stared at that judge while I saluted. Judge at C felt left out so we got a 5.

We got a 7.5 from both judges on our stretch circle, 7s on our walk-trot-canter transitions, which are always rough, and just a whole lot of 7s everywhere else. A few 6s/6.5s occurred when I totally forgot what letter my lengthening was going from and nearly missed it, and our centerlines could use some work. Or at least, TC could stay more focused on them.

Collectives were a bunch of 7s for both judges. Comments were that we were a nice pair and that TC was a handsome horse that appeared willing (lol I'm glad we give off that appearance). Overall score was a 68.61%, both judges were within .5 points of each other, so that was cool!

TC held this posture while I saluted, this is just after that
moment when I'm trying not to burst out laughing

Getting ready for the second test was kind of a shit show. I lost the backing of my gold medal pin, which I knew would happen eventually since it's been loose. While I was figuring out how to get it to stay on with no backing, the loose button on my jacket popped off too. Damnit! I managed to safety pin the button on and that worked out just fine, then I tied some yarn around the back of my gold medal pin and I can't believe it stayed on! Both need dealing with but at least we got through it without having anything pop off.

For the second test, I didn't go back to the covered warm up, just went to the neighboring court and had about five minutes to do some leg yields. TC really doesn't require much warm up for a second test.

First 2 was great too! I felt like I lost a bit of rideability at the canter though. I think that was just that he was getting tired. But still, we grabbed an 8 from one judge on our right leg yield, got some 7s on our lengthened canters. The only major downside was that I got an error because I went to the wrong letter in my second trot lengthening. I HATE these damn weird three-quarter length lengthenings. Just let me go corner to corner, damnit!

Collectives were again a bunch of 7s. Comments were super nice though, judge at C said "very steady and balanced horse overall, nice team," which made me really happy. Judge at E said "lovely horse, appears willing." The judges disagreed a tiny bit on the scores, Judge at E gave us a 67.2% and judge at C gave us a 69.4%. Damn those errors!

Canter lengthening, these were shockingly scoring pretty well
for a movement that he couldn't do until recently because he
would squeal and take off with me in them. 

Hauling home was a breeze. TC loaded up great, I managed to turn the rig around without hitting the cars that had parked, in my opinion, a little close. TC came out of the trailer well at home and I managed to park it in it's spot (I have to back in between another trailer and a tree) without hitting anything or jackknifing the thing. I think I have it all figured out!

Now that I've had the trailer out, I have a few things in mind that I want to stock in it. Like extra lapel pins. And a sewing kit for loose buttons. And a mirror to tell if I've lost any buttons or pins recently.

But not to complain at all- the whole show was stellar, I'm SO excited about how it went, I kind of can't believe it. We've only had two lessons together since the last show! And bonus, I felt like I had my actual horse in the show ring, which was not the case all last year.

We of course have a ton to work on, but for right now I'm just really excited.