Finally - our first test !

[velvet]

Well, I finally committed and entered a competition. (I have only been talking about it for two years!)

It was only a pony club event- and I was riding un-competitively - because it was a combined training day, and my big mare doesnt 'do' show jumping and my young fellow is yet to be graded !

I was pretty happy with the young boys performance, I was expecting him to react in a not so great way to being in the roped areana, and 'lose' all concentration, but he had moments of relaxation in the test, which is all I could have asked for (he is a pretty up tight cheeky little fellow even at home!) There is lots of romm for improvement, but I am very happy, it was a great first test.

My big mare (who has been shown for the last three years quite succsessfully) has not had enough work, I was almost going to pull her out the night before - without work, she gets stiff, and a bit resistant. Our test was in an arena with flower boxes - OMG!! Generally speaking she is a lamb, and usually much to lazy, well not yesterday- I struggled to maintain her attention throughout the test. I think it felt worse than it looked though. She still did each movement as asked, I think I just know what she is like when she relaxes and is working well, so I was dissipointed, but more with myself than her, it was only lack of preparation! Still, I now have somewhere to start and improve upon.

It was a first time for both my younger sisters too! - I was very proud of them both- and there ponies, they did wondefully, and remembered there tests. the older of the two came third, and her pony was working at about 5% of his potential, (he was very distracted- it was his first time too) So I am looking forward to the upcoming events we are planning to go to for the pony dressage with her and with my young fellow.