Northern Dancer up and down. How is El Prado for temperament and sport?
1 Like
My lovely “Raz” turns 14 today! I have additional baby photos <3
We have increased to two lessons a week; we are preparing for two horse shows in May!!
We will start by doing the 21" hunter equitation division. I remember doing the CET as a teenager so this is a weird feeling that Im just as nervous or more nervous to do this. I have gotten less brave with age, haha! If she’s good with the 21" hunter eq, there is a 0.65m jumper eq class which I would absolutely die to do for our second show.
This horse show is one I sponsor with “top thoroughbred” prizes and these shows are on their development circuit, but as they do rated shows as well all their jumps, decor, and amenities are all just beautiful.
I am then having surgery in June and will be off of riding for two long (show 
) months, so she will be put in full training with my coach and I will have to be happy with giving her treats and kissing her nose for a little while!
Lately she has been a lot less anxious on the cross ties, and as always so easy to get on. I appreciate her for little things too; standing quietly while I fiddle with gates, picking her feet up for me before I even ask her, how brave she is over fill. We have been jumping little 3 stride lines, trot in, and landing with a calm canter. In between the jumps she gets a little high with her head and scoots a bit, but that’ll just take time. I dont expect her to be perfect but shes so right for me. I just finished a miniMBA which sucked up time like you wouldnt believe (and my real MBA will be this fall) and she was always so gracious when I got on after not being there for a few days. Just an absolute match made in heaven.
I cant wait for it to stop freezing and thawing and freezing and snowing here- I’d love to hand graze her and maybe attempt another trail ride one day, but it’s literally disgusting mud or sheer ice here currently(Ottawa Canada).
I have picked a show name for her: “A Good One” It sounds like her dad’s name, and plays homage to a very special thoroughbred I had who passed away named “One Please”.
OK I’ll stop my babbling. Enjoy these cute photos of her!
26 Likes
The white on her forehead seems so much smaller now that she’s grown. And look at that whorl! Right in the middle denoting a sensible nature. 
She’s such a cutie, even as a baby she has ‘wise eyes’. 
2 Likes
Things have been - interesting.
We had a really bad ride on Wednesday, so we’re no longer feeling like going to a show so soon. We’re still going to maintain two lessons a week, however.
It was just so disheartening. All we were doing was jumping a line followed by a pole on the ground, at which she had a meltdown. She stopped at the pole- AT A POLE- and in doing so jerked my back- I am so sore. My coach says she needs more confidence at the canter. That’s entirely fair.
I want to get out there more and work harder than I have been- work and life gets in the way a little which is hard. Its rough being an adult ammy sometimes :P. I fell down the stairs on saturday and wacked my tailbone- slippery socks are dangerous. But sore as I am I still hope to get out there today and tomorrow; then Im off on a trip for five days and my coach will be riding her thankfully.
I really dont know what I would do without her- my parents moan that I have a coach: they see it as my wasting money- but thankfully I can waste it my way haha.
Anyway, here’s hoping for better rides in the future. We might show in september, possibly. Im not holding my breath though- what matters most is her confidence and happiness really.
8 Likes
Tell them that pro athletes and olympians have coaches 
11 Likes
We had our first dressage show today. I ended up WINNING MY FIRST CLASS(!?!?!?!?), getting second in the other and third in the equitation, and reserve champ over all.
She was spectacular. I am ashamed I did so badly in the eq- I pride myself on it because it’s what I did as a teen (CETs, Maclay) and there were only three people in the eq(as opposed to the 25 in our tests division) so to come in last… Oof.
I had a private moment and cried. Silly as I’d done so well all day- absolutely no reason for tears but emotions aren’t always logical. We will work hard this year and see what next year brings.
We are going for end of the year points in our division for this circuit- I’d really love to get an award this year for our hard work. I was always the supportive, cheerleader that always had four faults myself growing up so the chance at a year end high point is an insane dream to me. Id love that so so much. But it’s not what’s important. What’s important is that my horse was wonderful, sweet, hard-working, safe, and perfect. I win just owning her.
Next show is the 21st. Hopefully we will do just as beautifully as today.
I have my eq class on film if anyone wants to critique it
19 Likes
Dont fret over there only being 3 in that Eq class and coming 3rd. Think of it as only two riders were better then you, you may have been the same third of there were 15 in that class so let it go.
12 Likes
No I don’t want to critique you, I want to CONGRATULATE you!
Maybe you could share a pic of you both in your show clogs 
9 Likes
Beautiful photo! The colors are amazing and you both look wonderful. I think your horse is showing off his ribbon 
How did you stay so clean? My horse would have dribbled green slime on my white pants.
1 Like
Um, I do have to point out ‘the finger’ on your left hand. 
6 Likes
Up close I was a goobery mess lol I am literally bleaching everything as we speak 
Hahahaha oopsies!!!
3 Likes
And the equitation that a dressage judge is looking for is somewhat different from what a jumper equitation judge is looking for (good riding is good riding, but the tight leg of a jumper rider is different from the draped leg of a dressage rider, etc.).
6 Likes
What might help- I rode in my all purpose saddle. I’m considering buying a dressage saddle, since I do feel like I want to do this for real with her. My coach has a few for sale that I’d love to try out- but it’s a big purchase (especially during show season)
I bought into my parent’s farm! I will be paying half the mortgage and half owning it now. It is a hobby farm with a house(where my parents live) which is perfect for Shiraz to retire to in the future(with a friend of course.) It needs some fixing up now, but we did have horses there 5 years ago before I wanted to be more competitive. I loved having them “home.” But this also means I now have a mortgage, lol, so a new saddle might not be in the cards for a little while.
I had the most comfortable dressage saddle a few years back but sold it. Dumb of me! I should have seen the future and realized I was going to LOVE THIS SPORT AGAIN due to finding the right pony.
11 Likes
Love to see someone finding the right horse. She’s very cute! Have fun with her.
2 Likes
Guys I bought the darn saddle lol.
It’s a stunning saddle- a ridgemount! I have it under payments (bless my coach honestly)
It’s insanely comfortable at the walk and canter. I still cannot sit the trot in it, but I am practicing a lot. My coach told me for now I ride better in the jumping saddle so we showed in that this past Saturday.
This weekend’s show was nice and close to our barn and has the same judge as last show- a huge perk as she has kind comments and marked really fairly. I was more nervous of this one as I wanted to do as well or better than I did last show- but I cant think that way I have to just go do my best and enjoy my pretty pony. A better goal I had was to not go off course this time, which I didn’t!!
We got a second in the dressage equitation which was huge for me out of 8 and I am delighted. We won both or tests with a 70% and a 69% and got champion! I won a saddle pad which I never have done before so that was really neat!!
We are doing 5 shows this year; two are already done, two more dressage, and a hunter(!!!) show. The hunter show is at the cross rails level because that’s just where we are with jumping her right now, and I’ll hear no guff about being 33 in the cross rail division haha. The most exciting part is that there’s a wtc hack in that division, so it’ll be our first time cantering at a show. Excited for that- her canter has gotten so much better. We’ve been working hard.
My coach wants to move me up to training level for my last show of the year (or possibly earlier). I do not feel ready to canter in the dressage ring, but I trust her judgement. She’s not one to rush anyone along so the fact she’s saying it means something.
Lastly, I ordered a custom white fly bonnet with gemstones (I’m sorry I’m still a child lol). I can’t wait for it to get here I think she’ll look spectacular with it and the white dressage pad together- very clean and posh. I’ll show it to you guys when I get it and post the store then; the lady was very nice and the prices were reasonable! I also bought a dressage bridle with the blingy crown piece- I am living my dream life from when I was seven I swear. I love that a little bling is allowed.
OK, enough out of me- will update after the next show! Wish me luck
13 Likes
Have you tried Intro C, yet? It has a VERY LITTLE BIT of canter. I would start there and see how you feel. You don’t even have to do a complete circle, but you get a taste of it.
9 Likes
thats a very good idea, but only some of the shows have this intro test available, the rest are CADORA tests which dont have something similar to a little bit of canter- I’ll try to track down if the last show on my list, Huntleigh equestrian centre, uses USEF or CADORA.
Ah, gotcha! My fingers are crossed for you.
1 Like
