My Show-For those who may care...

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I trained a little (14.3) App. for a friend of mine a few years ago for low level dressage and those were the types of things he just never got the hang of because HE wanted to be a western pleasure horse. Unfortunately he has bone cancer and is unrideable now so I never got to see if he could come around. Don't get discouraged if he can't learn it, just enjoy what he can do...

I am soooo sorrry about your friend's horse. That is horrible. Is your friend ok?

I am enjoying Buck while I can ride him. He is a blast to be around, meaning he is such a sweetheart and loves attention. We aren't going to any big shows. I don't want to do that. We are a good match. I don't plan on jumping anything bigger than say 2'3 and not going higher than any training level dressage classes. He is fine for that. Only reason I can't get the impulsion from his rear is that when I ask for a little more umph out of him his head comes up in the free walk. So I have to go with either or here. Next month I will try having the head come up and see how the judge scores me. I really am just doing it for the fun of doing it. I am not a "die-hard" competitor for the shows. Just interested in seeing how I do. I like dressage because I like how you know exactly how you did and what you need to work on when you get your scores.

[GenuineRisk]

I'm so proud of you! Yay!

And so envious you get to ride 4 times a week! I had my one lesson last night.

I was in my hometown over the weekend and my uncle is taking care of a horse for the woman who watches his horse when he's out of town. She's not a rider, but her grandmother was and the horse was her grandmothers. Loveliest little (14'3", maybe?) fleabitten grey QH. And sweet! My uncle says as soon as her saddle arrives he'd be happy if I'd give her some exercise next time I'm in town. Um... how soon can I get back?

He also has a big TWH that could use some exercise, too, but apparently the big guy does walk and fast walk and that's it. Never learned how to pick up the canter.

[Buffymommy]

OK, had a show yesterday. Got third in all of my classes. BUT the two people ahead of me were trainers on young horses (who are probably worth $30,000 a piece).

I did improve in the first dressage test (scored a 64% up from a 61% last month). With an awesome second circle and a nice moving free walk. So our impulsion in the free walk has improved.

We did worse by about .5% on the second dressage test because Buck decided to be a stinker in our circle and decided to throw a tiny "buck" in when I asked him to bend into his turn. We did get a "NICE PAIR" in the judge's comments section. The scribe for the judge was Freddy's owner, she said she really liked Buck and I. She said "You ride him girl" and laughed when Buck did the little buck because I gave him a little swat with the crop and called him a "Stinker". (I don't think the judge heard me because we were on the opposite side of the ring and I said it loud enough for only Buck to hear.) But we only got scored a whooping "5" for that circle and it was a double coeffient so I actually lost two points. Also "STINKER" as I was referring to him until our jump class also decided to not stop to a walk before the ending halt at "X" so we did a "working trot to X and then stopped and saluted" instead of a halt through medium walk. We got a "6 for that instead of the "8" we got last month.

Jumping was very much improved. I hit about three rails but they all stayed up and we were the fastest ones around the course. I had lower dressage scores and the two ahead of me went clean too so again Third place in the combined. Buck was awesome in the jumping so he ended up getting all of the carrots my husband brought with him. I even brought some home made treaties from some of the girls at the barn (they were selling them for charity for the ASPCA for help with some rescued horses). So Buck got those too.

Well, thanks for listening and for the good wishes.

[Downthestretch55]

Nice going Buffy!
Good to hear that you and Buck are doing well.
Stinker...huh? They ALL are! lol

I went to the farm today to give Shot o' Bourbon a little work, but dang! It's so hot that I didn't dare take her from beneath her cool shady tree.
Looks like Big Daddy Ray is "in" on Friday. Stay tuned.

Ride 'em hard...ride 'em fair and firm.