In mid August, we headed to Quentin, PA for the WPDA competition. This time even Wilson, my very energetic labradoodle, got to make the trip. We had a fabulous weekend!
The weather was perfect and the footing in the competition rings was wonderful. Gadget warmed up so beautifully on Friday that I was afraid to do too much. On Saturday, I realized the warm-up ring has a fairly significant grade to it. Of course I am used to riding in the the jumping ring at my barn, which also has a grade, so I knew which movements are better schooled up the hill and what I can get away with schooling down the hill. Our first class was 3-3 in front of Judge Ida Norris, and we had a really solid test! In fact, we won the class with a 65% I was so pleased that we are finally able to put together a nice first test, as usually that is a throw away test for us. Our next test was 4-1 in front of Judge Vracko and we scored a 66% and high point at fourth level! To end day one with two blue ribbons and a high point ribbon, felt so amazing and I was so incredibly proud of my little horse.
The second day had a couple bobbles. I rode 3-1 for the first time this year, and I went off course. Despite that, we won the class with a 66% and then came in second in 3-3 with a 71%!! I couldn't believe we earned our third score in the 70s at third level!! Gadget felt very ridable in each test and we had a great weekend among our WPDA friends. Wilson was also a blast to have at the show. He carried his bell boot everywhere that he went, and enjoyed all of the attention from all of the competitors.
After this competition, Gadget and I were ranked 12th in the country for adult amateurs at third level! We are also leading the all breeds standings for the Performance Horse Registry. Again, it is all so surreal after all of our struggles.
We are now putting our focus on regionals in October. We both feel comfortable with the 3-3 test, but we still have some work to do on our turn on the haunches and some transitions if we want to really maximize points. I am thrilled to be going to regionals for the first time, but I now have a hunger to ride in an awards ceremony! I would love to finish in the top eight placings so we can take part in the victory gallop. That may be a bit over ambitious, and I certainly won't be too disappointed if it doesn't happen, but I can't help but set my sights high after how well Gadget has been going this season.
The weather was perfect and the footing in the competition rings was wonderful. Gadget warmed up so beautifully on Friday that I was afraid to do too much. On Saturday, I realized the warm-up ring has a fairly significant grade to it. Of course I am used to riding in the the jumping ring at my barn, which also has a grade, so I knew which movements are better schooled up the hill and what I can get away with schooling down the hill. Our first class was 3-3 in front of Judge Ida Norris, and we had a really solid test! In fact, we won the class with a 65% I was so pleased that we are finally able to put together a nice first test, as usually that is a throw away test for us. Our next test was 4-1 in front of Judge Vracko and we scored a 66% and high point at fourth level! To end day one with two blue ribbons and a high point ribbon, felt so amazing and I was so incredibly proud of my little horse.
The second day had a couple bobbles. I rode 3-1 for the first time this year, and I went off course. Despite that, we won the class with a 66% and then came in second in 3-3 with a 71%!! I couldn't believe we earned our third score in the 70s at third level!! Gadget felt very ridable in each test and we had a great weekend among our WPDA friends. Wilson was also a blast to have at the show. He carried his bell boot everywhere that he went, and enjoyed all of the attention from all of the competitors.
After this competition, Gadget and I were ranked 12th in the country for adult amateurs at third level! We are also leading the all breeds standings for the Performance Horse Registry. Again, it is all so surreal after all of our struggles.
We are now putting our focus on regionals in October. We both feel comfortable with the 3-3 test, but we still have some work to do on our turn on the haunches and some transitions if we want to really maximize points. I am thrilled to be going to regionals for the first time, but I now have a hunger to ride in an awards ceremony! I would love to finish in the top eight placings so we can take part in the victory gallop. That may be a bit over ambitious, and I certainly won't be too disappointed if it doesn't happen, but I can't help but set my sights high after how well Gadget has been going this season.
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