I’m not finding the joy thread, so figured I’d start this. I’m just bragging, not looking for advice, and hoping everyone else will, too!
My trainer of 9 years passed away January 2022, and his wife and I have been moral support for each other. We have started taking lessons with a trainer out of town, and schooling at shows to get ready to compete.
I had my first rated show since my trainer’s death this past weekend, showing my girl 1-3 for the first time. Even filling out the entries is emotional because my trainer and his wife bred and sold me my mare, so putting his name on entries touches me. He’d worked out payments and a price WELL below what he was told to sell her for by experts because he wanted me to have her.
We aren’t perfect, have lots of progress to make, but I’m proud of how wonderful my girl is. Our goal was to get our first score for regionals, and first test we for that with a 67. I rode the test VERY conservatively, because she had some tension, so I figured make it an easy test for her to start out back in the show ring.
Second test she was tired and I spent the whole time working hard to keep her going. I didn’t fully succeed, but we got a 71 with many more 8s than I’ve ever had on a test! It was also my first time getting an 8 rider score - I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten over a 6.5, which is frustrating when riding horses I’ve trained and my 6 or 6.5 is the lowest score on the test, as if the horses are doing it on their own.
First test:
Pics from test 2:
I just don’t think Brandon and I can pull it together to even come close to what you two are achieving. Congratulations. It’s long deserved.
cried happy tears like a baby after I got my test.
