It was not the best weekend for me and Gadget. We arrived at about
6:00 p.m., and had time to unload, unpack, and tour the beautiful show grounds.
Gadget warmed up very nicely. He felt loose, forward, and soft. In retrospect,
I should have probably put him together more and tested the collection.
However, not wanting to pick a fight, I chose to use the evening to loosen and
build his confidence.
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| Gadget snacking during an early morning walk at the show. |
We rode late in the day on Saturday in front of Judge Lowey.
The test did not feel great, and I anticipated scoring around a 57%. Instead we
got the lowest score of my career with a 50% and last place. I was devastated.
It didn’t help that my next test, second level test 3, scored only marginally
better with a 53%. I was able to rationalize the score for the first test
because we always struggle in the first ride – a combination of both our
inexperience in the show rings and nerves. However, the second low score hit closer
to home, and I felt panicked. I took a walk and then eventually a drive around
beautiful Middleburg to let myself cry it out. Watching my tests later that
evening did nothing but make me feel less excited about the second day of the
show. I was just very disappointed.
I texted an upper level rider friend who gave me a new warm
up plan for the next day: small circles and walk – trot transitions. She
advised to get him up in the warm up and forget schooling the movements. Having
no better ideas, that’s what I did.
Gadget felt more settled the second day and much steadier in
the contact. The first test felt decent. It started to rain during my test, and
my rubber reins got a bit slippery. I completely dropped Gadget in the
counter-canter, and we broke to a trot. We got a 58.9%. The next test felt much
better, but I think I needed more impulsion in the collected trot and canter.
We got a 57.5 on that one.
All in all, I did not accomplish any of my riding goals at
the show. However, Gadget was truly a gem. Mentally, he has really matured this
year. If I can get us a bit rounder and more uphill (easier said than done), we
may actually be competitive next year. I have all winter to work on it. I also
really appreciated Hani this weekend. I am very competitive by nature, and my
riding means a lot to me, so I take it to heart when I don’t do well. I am not
a fun person to be around when I’m wallowing in my own self-doubt and pity.
However, Hani seems to take it all in stride and stays supportive and mellow,
which eventually brings me back to reality. I’m so lucky to have him.
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| My two loves sharing a moment. |
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