So today I braved it and took both horses to my riding club dressage. I decided just to ride one test on each, prelim 10. I had super times, almost first and last so I had plenty of time to swap them over.
Last night Kerry kindly helped my plait up Lucas which made things easier.
Both boys loaded perfectly this morning and off we set. Corky was on first and despite some coughing (just ordered more NAF Respirator to fix that) and having 3 weeks off he gave me a nice test. Lucas was a little upset but seemed to settle thankfully.
All was going too well!
Rachel kindly helped me swap them over and off I set on Lucas - or thought I was. Turns out Corky the angel pony who is usually the easiest travel/competition pony ever hates to be left on his own! He got super upset and in the end I had to ask Rebecca to stand with him which seemed to do the trick. Will be looking for ideas of how to settle him down in future.
Thanks to Becca Lucas and I headed off to warm up. The rain had come on quite heavily by this time so the warm up was very busy. Lucas was very excited and forward so a few people looked slightly concerned as we bounced round the warm up. I actually thought he behaved really well and this continued throughout his test. He did everything I asked and there was no spooking to be seen. He didn't pick up a very good mark from the judge but I was very impressed with him. He just needs to get out more and more to practice and then will become more relaxed.
All in all a good day but I need to work out how to safely take them both together in future without corky getting so upset. I think I'll try distraction with either a lick-it which he loves and if that doesn't work then maybe a companion pony.
Nothing is ever simple with horses!
Last night Kerry kindly helped my plait up Lucas which made things easier.
Both boys loaded perfectly this morning and off we set. Corky was on first and despite some coughing (just ordered more NAF Respirator to fix that) and having 3 weeks off he gave me a nice test. Lucas was a little upset but seemed to settle thankfully.
All was going too well!
Rachel kindly helped me swap them over and off I set on Lucas - or thought I was. Turns out Corky the angel pony who is usually the easiest travel/competition pony ever hates to be left on his own! He got super upset and in the end I had to ask Rebecca to stand with him which seemed to do the trick. Will be looking for ideas of how to settle him down in future.
Thanks to Becca Lucas and I headed off to warm up. The rain had come on quite heavily by this time so the warm up was very busy. Lucas was very excited and forward so a few people looked slightly concerned as we bounced round the warm up. I actually thought he behaved really well and this continued throughout his test. He did everything I asked and there was no spooking to be seen. He didn't pick up a very good mark from the judge but I was very impressed with him. He just needs to get out more and more to practice and then will become more relaxed.
All in all a good day but I need to work out how to safely take them both together in future without corky getting so upset. I think I'll try distraction with either a lick-it which he loves and if that doesn't work then maybe a companion pony.
Nothing is ever simple with horses!
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