1/13/08
Miaren Showing at Intro

I've been laid up, and Emily has had Miaren for the past month.
This weekend was a schooling show, so they went in the two intro
classes. Miaren was great about the whole thing.
He was eager to be around the other horses, but listened to Emily
and only once pulled strongly to try and talk to another horse (Emily didn't let him).
His score sheets were great. Alternating calm and obedient almost every line.
They got a 3rd and a 2nd with seven horses in both classes. His scores averaged
around a 60, and we know what they need to work on, but calm and obedient
is more than we hoped for his first time out.


 
He'd never trailered in a step up slant load, but Emily figured things would be fine when she found him in there the previous day while she was getting ready to load a different horse.
 
He's building up some muscle along the top of his neck with the work that Emily's doing.
Walking over to mount up.
 
He found the warm-up ring fascinating.
He was definitely 'up' starting out, but was a gentleman the entire time.
 
Emily let him get used to the area by trotting around.
It's a balancing act, now that he gives to the bit. She didn't want to let him get rushy, but if she gave him more rein to start, that's what would happen.
 
It took a little time, but he started to take up some of the rein she wanted to give.
Of course he's new to all this, so we can't expect his head to stay steady all the time.
 
We were very pleased to get this at the trot.
Then at the walk he was also relaxed and listening, so they went wandering around.
 
Checking out the arena.
We always wondered if growing up with a confident Shire made him feel that nothing could hurt him. He's so brave in new situations.
 
Entering at A.
Emily was so good in the tests. We knew they were more for training than showing, so she'd try to get him to reach for the bit and encourage instead of going in like it was a formal performance. It worked well for both of them.
Not much stretch at the walk, but he was relaxed enough that we know once he's worked on it and knows what we want, he'll be happy to reach down more.
The judge didn't seem impressed with his gaits, but we know riding him that it's an easy trot that feels like it can go on forever.
Closer to centerline than I've been for almost all of my first intro tests.
They didn't really have a first halt at X. I could see Miaren eyeing the judges, and he so likes people. I think he wanted to go see what was on their desk. Emily tried very hard, but a sideways halt at G was the best she got.
Every halt after that was square, and by his last halt he got an 8. He's a quick study....
Warming up for their second ride. It's amazing for us to see what he's grown into.
He's about 16-16.1 hh, but not as wide as any of my other guys.
Standing in the pasture he's not as cute as my draftier horses, but under saddle he can look pretty adorable.
Trotting around to enter at A. During the warm-up, Emily said he was trying to make it clear that he'd rather be in the arena where everyone would be watching him.
A little more relaxed entering this time.
Finishing up a circle.
Again no stretch, but we know he'll get there.
I'd guess partly tired, and partly relaxing. We'll take it.
Emily says at home the lessons can't be too long. He gets distracted and bored. Of course the windy days and his horsey friends making faces at him don't help.
At the show, he handled arriving at 8:30 and leaving at 11:30 and staying focused while ridden. I think distractions aren't nearly as much of a problem for him as getting bored.
Emily did a good job of making it all look so easy.
For a reward, after the class, she gave him a canter outside the warm up area. Maybe by next month's show he'll be ready for a Training Level test.
He gets his leads, and feels balanced, but needs to slow down a bit.
We can picture him having so much fun on a cross country course.