So last weekend was possibly the best preparation for our first event of the season ever! Pity the Scottish weather wouldn't behave as well :-(
Corky and I made DB debut last Saturday - our poor dressage marks have pushed us out of the placings out eventing on many occasions so we have been working very hard. I am very competitive (with myself) so with a bit of encouragement from my instructor Karen, I signed up for BD and decided to really test and push myself when it comes to dressage. It’s hard when Corky is quite a naturally downhill TB and I’m a very forward rider lacking some of the dressage skills required but we have tried and tried to improve. We hit a point a few months ago when I was finally not mortified every time I waked up to check our scores – progress! This weekend saw another big step. After using my annual bonus to buy a proper dressage saddle I felt extremely motivated to go out to our first BD show. Corky has been trying so hard at home so I wanted to show off how far he had come. We headed to Rockrose to ride two prelims – after a lady shouted at my in the warm up to ‘always walk on the inside track only’ I was a bit put off but determined not to be intimidated. Our first test was probably just above average for us (scoring 63.5%) – it was outside next to where everyone was warming up. We still came in 2nd place but I wasn’t satisfied with our test as I knew we could do better. Our second test was indoors in the long arena. I’m not sure why but it went much better, Corky was lovely and relaxed working forward into the contact and we scored a whopping 68.4% - I was over the moon and Corky finally showed off what he can do. Also another second place! We went home happy with two qualifying sheets.
Corky and I made DB debut last Saturday - our poor dressage marks have pushed us out of the placings out eventing on many occasions so we have been working very hard. I am very competitive (with myself) so with a bit of encouragement from my instructor Karen, I signed up for BD and decided to really test and push myself when it comes to dressage. It’s hard when Corky is quite a naturally downhill TB and I’m a very forward rider lacking some of the dressage skills required but we have tried and tried to improve. We hit a point a few months ago when I was finally not mortified every time I waked up to check our scores – progress! This weekend saw another big step. After using my annual bonus to buy a proper dressage saddle I felt extremely motivated to go out to our first BD show. Corky has been trying so hard at home so I wanted to show off how far he had come. We headed to Rockrose to ride two prelims – after a lady shouted at my in the warm up to ‘always walk on the inside track only’ I was a bit put off but determined not to be intimidated. Our first test was probably just above average for us (scoring 63.5%) – it was outside next to where everyone was warming up. We still came in 2nd place but I wasn’t satisfied with our test as I knew we could do better. Our second test was indoors in the long arena. I’m not sure why but it went much better, Corky was lovely and relaxed working forward into the contact and we scored a whopping 68.4% - I was over the moon and Corky finally showed off what he can do. Also another second place! We went home happy with two qualifying sheets.
The next day was the complete opposite really showing off Corky’s versatility. We headed up to Gleneagles for a run round their 90cm hunter trial course. The weather had been quite wet so the going was soft and slippy. As we have ridden round the course so many times I decided till to run but just to cruise round. That was easier said than done as Corky was extremely keen! He absolutely flew round the full course including a very confidence drop, skinny and step up then round to another drop to a ditch. Our only error was chipping into the last and clipping his front leg again. I think it was a mix of excitement and keenness to finish from both of us so a good lesson to learn – don’t lose concentration until you are through the finish line! I was so pleased with our run I thought we would definitely be placed. I ended up waiting almost 2 hours for the scores only to find out we were 30 seconds too fast – first time for everything!
Either way I was pleased with our run and felt amazingly prepared for Forgendenny the following week – our first BE of the year. Unfortunately the Scottish weather had a differently idea and with the persistent rain we are all facing, meant the organisers having to abandon the event. Very sad for a new event but fortunately they are due to run again in July so we will definitely be there then.
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