Short version: On Saturday I will ride a horse named Hugh Jackman into the dressage ring. It will be my first dressage show in 30+ years --and his (at least) 100th. I know my tests (Thank you COTH gurus for suggesting Intro C and Training 1).
Other stuff: I have brand new white breeches, an appropriate shirt and stock tie (thingy --hardly a stock tie --uses Velcro). My black coat is clean and I have new black gloves (I’ve practiced with). I’ve polished my ancient Dehners to a shine. Have a hairnet, a back up hairnet and a black velvet helmet that fits. All or loaded in the truck along with a “dressage skirt” to cover said breeches before mounting.
My ride times are 10:21 and 10 31 one rider between my two classes. I think this is good as I won’t need to get off/on or untack. I’ll just walk HJ around and watch the other rider.
Today HJ is off (yesterday he practiced for the last time our transitions and salute) . He’s spot on. Perfect everything IF I do everything right. If I don’t relax my hands when I ask for the canter from the trot, he shakes his head. I MUST remember to relax --and that’s going to be tough. I will clean my tack today. I practiced braiding HJ’s forelock yesterday. I also gave him a fresh roach. He has a beautiful neck. Bath tomorrow . . .THEN . . .
Because the venue is only 10 miles from my farm, I will haul HJ over as practice is allowed on FRIDAY after 3 IN THE RINGS. Both daughter and trainer (he helped me 4 times with HJ) say unnecessary as HJ has seen just about every venue in the universe between 6 years of racing and 8 years of 3-Day around the US. I will feel better though if I know where things are (like the bathroom) and where to park my trailer. The organizer said I can put HJ’s water and hay in the stall Friday, so I won’t need to deal with that on Saturday (he won’t be in that stall long --just while I dress and while I wait for results. We’ll do our meander around (might just walk) and then I’ll take him home. He’ll rest better here and so will I.
I am a bit on the fence as to if I should haul him tacked (saddle on). I do this most of the time --always when I fox hunt and generally when the kids used to show. It’s just easier to put gear on in our barn and there’s 0 chance one will forget something essential. I have a lovely sheet that can fit over everything to keep him tidy and the saddle clean on the short trip there.
Saturday, show day, I plan to hit the barn (behind my house) at 7:00 (feed, worry), load HJ at 8:00 roll out of my driveway between 8 and 8:30 --and be at the show grounds at 9:00. I will unload Hugh, sort him in the stall --leave DH to watch him --then at 9:30, dress. I plan to be in the saddle at 9:45 (I am bringing my own mounting block --HJ is 18.2). We will do our usual 20 min warm up and be ready to roll at 10:21 --oh, and I will watch the riders ahead of me to see if I can indeed ride both ways around the ring past the judge’s booth.
As the rider ahead of me does a final salutes, I will ride in, say good morning to the judge, my name, and my test. I will continue to trot around to the left then when the whistle blows, I will turn and trot to the right, entering the ring with a slightly right bend as HJ’s first turn is to the right. I will keep my eyes on the judge until I finish the 3 second halt and salute. The we trot off . . . .and the test begins.
Other trivia --HJ came to me at Thanksgiving 2021. He was no longer suitable for DD jumping program (boo-boo knee). We struggled to click --he’s a giant and an OTTB. I saw him as a fire-breathing dragon and he saw me as a potentially cruel owner (guessing). It took me until April to finally get on his back. He scared me. I finally did. We tried some things --found out he really loved Dressage. Started slow with a walk, then took him to the saddle fitter, had a lesson or two (canter was a challenge --his cues were different than my cow pony). Finally I started looking forward to riding him daily (5 days a week). He moved to first on my list each day (usually ride two sometimes 3).
I entered the local show --and now we are really going. Hugh and my combined age is 86.
Keep us in your thoughts! I will post pix AFTER --and yes, this is a really small show, but to me it is the biggest show I will ever attend.
