I scribe a fair bit and I would not interpret that comment as “you aren’t good enough for your horse.” With the marks he gave you he was probably having to search pretty hard to find something to say that would help you improve because it sounds like there wasn’t much to criticize.
I loathe the word “butthurt.” Would it not have described the same feeling to say hurt, discouraged, bothered, nagged by, concerned about, anxious as a result of, annoyed by…butthurt is just rank and I am so ready for it to go the way of the Dodo.
Add me to the group that thinks the comment, together with the score, is more of “it’s looking really nice, don’t lose what you have by doing what I see so many ammys do as they try to advance.”
That’s the millennial in me :lol:
It’s an efficient way to describe feelings of being “overly or unjustifiably offended or resentful” (source Oxford dictionary - Shakespeare recognized the English language is fluid! I also have no problems with the word moist). :lol:
Resentful has a place in the world, as most does. Butthurt is…just not a word we need to hang onto…
I got a 66 on a T-3 test on my older, but green mare at showing. Comment was similar, I read it, worked on it during the next warm up ( kept poll up, nose out) and got a 70 plus on the next ride. Most judges are trying to give you some feedback to improve. You are sitting on a horse that could be a huge scoring horse, and already is. He probably was giving tips on how to possibly get an 80 percent ride
I love the term.
to each his own.
Lovely horse.
I never actually saw her go behind the vertical. A bit in the second canter but she was strong in that v2nd canter. Running a bit so your stronger hold caused her to be not as poked out in the nose. But at least she doesn’t go behind the bit!
what a fun future you have!
When you have a really good ride, judges have to dig for something to comment on. I’d take it as a compliment.
removing deets
You got a great score so that alone should tell you that you don’t suck. It’s a partnership pure and simple. It’s also great to have a judge obviously love your horse. As one who rides an unconventional sort, you should consider it a blessing; but, just so you know we’ve all been there. In 1995 I rode in a first level test on a horse I had owned only one month. The judge wrote in my comments (I still have the test), “horse capable, rider incapable”. I was butt chapped but I did use it as fuel to get better! I actually earned my bronze on said horse a few years later. I also went on to earn my silver on a different horse that I had backed and brought up on my own. Later, many years later, I rode under that same judge and received much better comments (different horse) and actually won a dover medal; so, while I would have appreciated a better delivery, her comments did actually help me suck it up and become a better rider. Always look for the silver lining. As long as you ride what you love and love what you ride as I do, it really shouldn’t matter but turning a less than constructive comment into fuel for the right fire…well you’ll have the last laugh. Good luck and keep on ridin’
It also may be that the judge has seen many nice horses at this level only to see them become cranked in and incorrect if they are pushed to quickly (and incorrectly) up the levels. I see it more as a warning not to be tempted to do that just because the horse is talented.
Isn’t that a sweet way to encourage someone who has mentioned lack of confidence and yet is smart enough to use a term that describes not only feeling wounded but feeling like they are suspecting the judge’s words needlessly wounded them - but insecurity causes them to feel wounded anyway. Self-deprecating woundedness, if you will.
Not a word I have chosen to use, but it is so much more than the sad little substitutes you suggested.
OP - you’re doing fine and getting great advice on this thread
Dressage will make her feel far more butthurt more often than I will, it’s dressage
Perhaps a judge’s kindness in in inverse correlation to the quality of a test?
I’m starting to event my mare, and we havent broken 60 on a test yet. My last was a 56, and the judge wrote very kind comments (“Good effort! Unfortunately just too tense today. Keep going, mileage will help.”), I think I large part because I gave her very little to work with. :lol:
Wanna trade?
In all seriousness, though, congrats on a lovely ride on a lovely horse! And good for you for reaching out here for some perspective. Best wishes going forward!
Really nice serpentines with correct geometry! The horse appears to go slightly BTV whenever you are turning in addition to in the entry. Or maybe your nose band was uneven but the white lining was the giveaway for me.
I’d interpret the comments as “this is a really nice horse, be careful”. Btw it looks like you lock your elbows so that may be causing the moments of btv.
good luck!
Except when she balked out of the halt, she went way behind the bit, left you with nothing, then rooted. Poor wording perhaps from the judge but he may have narrowed in on this one’s favored evasiveness, which is truly one of the most difficult evasive patterns to fix, and tried to raise the alarm bells before maresy gets a chance to try it out when the work becomes truly difficult.
Lovely animal, btw, and think you grasp the nuances of “butthurt” better than others, perhaps.
I learned a trick from my new coach that changed my life.
Do you ever work out?
My coach taught me to think, “lat pull down” instead of shoulder back, chest out…yadda yadda.
your scapula(s) poke out.
When I think lat pull down it magically fixes my entire upper body and i only have to feel the one move.
It flattens my back, brings my shoulder back, brings my chest up, puts my elbows at my sides and lowers my hand ( I tend to get high with my hand).
You guys look awesome. Fix those few issues and go kick ass with the test at Finals.
Your horse is going to score high due to movement alone. Take advantage of that.
You guys float together.
^ That lateral pull down which raises and opens the chest will bring the nose up and out a smidge. This is good. Even at this level a stride or two of sitting, will help stabilize your halt. Bent elbows have a purpose, don’t let them lock.
Great ride, lovely mare.
Vocabulary is always important.
While I think you are doing a great job and have a very nice horse. I agree with what the judge was saying because I can see potential future issues with the curling. I tend to give judges the benefit of the doubt as it is a very hard job and think he was trying to warn you about pitfalls. However, it could have been said more tactfully.
The reason I agree with the judge as most of the time the horse had a very slightly closed throat latch and she looked like if not ridden correctly, she could start curling. If you look at 56 seconds it is in a v-shape. It should be in more of a U-shape as seen near 3:39 seconds and continues after the stretchy trot circle.
This could also be caused by the horses age, lack of strength, or new partnership. At this time, I would just keep it in the back of my mind and just keep riding her over her back so that she is stepping underneath herself and it will not be an issue.
Also, I am very sensitive about this subject as I have an Azteca gelding (mainly Lusitano) who has the potential to curl. This is something we have been guarding against the entire time I have had him (2.5 years). So far, so good on my end. I am also an adult amateur trying my best.