Ok, full report. Novel incoming.
To start off with, I want to say - I would LOVE to attend one of these with no horses in tow, as the opportunity to learn is huge. Alas, being solo and having to supervise Shayney to make sure she didn’t rip her braids out, not to mention getting her ready for the different phases, I wasn’t able to watch many of the other inspections.
Free Jumping:
I walked Shayney around outside for about 15 minutes before it was her turn to go into the indoor. Remember when we practiced the day before, she was perfect? Well, now there were probably 30 people inside, about 20 behind the half wall and about 10 in the arena itself. Shayney was let loose for them to evaluate her gaits at liberty, and she didn’t know what to do. She kept going person to person, and it took quite a bit of encouragement to get her moving around. She was clearly very overwhelmed and confused.
Once she moved around a bit, free jumping began. I handled her for this part. I started off asking for no whips because that’s how we practiced. I brought her to the chute and she went through the first time fine, but quite a bit more hesitant than before - she was jumping straight towards the half wall with 20 people behind it, and in Shayney’s world running straight at a human at close range is always a no-no. They raised the jump and she went again ok. Then they really started jacking the jump up fast - understandable as they have other things to do that day. She whacked the last jump once, then went through at the same height just fine. Then they turned it into probably a 4’ oxer, with almost no spread. Shayney refused it, we let her out of the chute. I asked them not to change it, but to encourage with a whip, and she went over. And that was that, free jumping was over.
The judges were very understanding. I was sort of cracking jokes as it was going… “it always works at home!” type stuff.
Comments were that she hangs her lower legs up front and that she doesn’t extend her hind end behind her - I think the hind end because she was so backed off that she was jumping like a deer instead of more normally. They liked how she was so game and pleasant, how she didn’t paniceven after her refusal (thank god for a really good whoa lol), how she learned after making mistakes and didn’t take the mistake personally. Technique a 6. Ability a 6.5. Overall score a 6.25.
Inspection:
I put her reins back on, pulled off her boots, and handed her off to the handler (who hadn’t talked to me at all about her beforehand). I was not terribly happy with how he set her up, he let her head and neck droop the way “relaxed Shayney” looks - only when the tarps covering the mirrors started blowing around did she perk up. The handler did a good job with her walk, allowing her to really reach and use herself. He ran her big enough at the trot that she broke to a canter and they asked him to do it again. They evaluated her both on a straight out and back, as well as on the triangle.
Comments were as follows. The judge made it a point to stress to everyone that Shayney was a full blooded, Jockey Club registered thoroughbred.
Head - suited to her body - 7. Neck - set on lower than ideal - 6. Saddle position - wither is present but not prominent, saddles will not be hard to fit - 7. Frame - rectangular, long in the back, weaker in the loin - 6. Foreleg - correct, a little soft and long in the pastern but not substantial - 7. Hindleg - more straight than ideal, twists the left hind as she moves - 6.
Conformation - balanced, shoulder big but needs more slope - 7. Typiness, femininity - no additional comments - 7. Correctness of gaits - toes out a little in the front at the trot, could be more free through her shoulder, twisting of that left hind - 6. Impulsion, elasticity - good engagement from the hind, very fluid in the motion - 7. Walk - VERY good, really big overtrack, really uses her body well - 8. Overall impression, development - no additional comment - 7.
Overall score of 7.0. She said, “I am pleased to accept you into the Hanoverian Main Mare Book.” HUZZAH!
Ridden portion:
Apparently they are doing the inspections a little differently in Germany now, where instead of a group of horses doing the test at the same time, they’re done one by one. They allow the next up to be warming up at the same time as the one doing the test. Shayney was last, so when we went in she was with another horse but that horse left and then we were all alone. The test went as follows - Working trot - 20m circle - extend on long side - working trot - change rein on diagonal - 20 m circle - extend on long side - working trot - 20 m circle, pick up working canter - extend canter on long side - working canter - change rein at trot - 20 m circle pick up working canter - extend canter on long side - working trot - 20m circle in center, stretchy trot - walk on loose rein.
Shayney was good. I rode her super forward, especially on the extensions. I would say that one of the trot extensions might have been more quick than extended because I didn’t use my body well enough to slow the tempo down, but the rest of them both trot and canter we really put our asses into it and put on a good show. She really stretched down far for the stretchy trot, and was reaching in her body too. I could hear them saying very good things about her walk as we finished up.
Comments: Rideability - good mouth activity, receptive and pleasant, could carry herself better - 7.5. Walk - very good, uses herself very well - 7.5. Trot - clear rhythm, could use more freedom in the shoulder - 6.5. Canter - a little downhill balanced, but clear in the rhythm and extensions were good - 6.5.
They then presented the awards. The other thoroughbred presented was not accepted into the Hanoverian book, so Shayney was it for high score. Whatever, I’m normally weird about not accepting 1/1 ribbons, but this time I’ll take it and be proud as hell of it. After the awards, the judges approached me to talk about Shayney, and stallions. The one they both agreed would compliment Shayney the best was Despacito, though they agreed that fresh would probably be best for a maiden. Sanceo came up as well. The German judge really thought that finding a stallion with a lot of KWPN blood would help shorten and strengthen her back.
And that’s it!
