8/28/05 Kasza's First Dressage Show

I took both Kasza and Angel to their first dressage show. It was quite a success. Kasza was pretty nervous about all  the trailers and other horses, but I felt quite secure when I was on her. I figured if she ever did decide to bolt, I was safe up there and we'd just go through anything we came to. Her scores were very nice. Both were over 60% and we got a 4th and 2nd. She goes where I ask, but the corners can be a little questionable. A lot like driving a boat. She never neighed under saddle, but did call to Angel when I'd leave her back at the trailer and take Angel to show.

Walking her around to show her the grounds. She didn't like standing around, but was happy to walk all over with me.

 

Checking out the arena border. I explained to her that she shouldn't run into it and pull it down.

Waiting for them to move the water truck. The horses weren't too bothered by it, but I was too nervous to walk her by it and see what happened.

 

Don't you hate it when your trainer's right? She came in time to school me for my second tests, and mentioned that I was riding crooked and my left leg was longer than my right (and adjusted my leathers for me). Hmm, that was when I was on Angel, I guess I was doing the same thing on Kasza.

Getting ready to go in the ring. Tons of tension in both of us.

 

What an entrance. If she tried a little harder, her head could be parallel to the ground.... Not our best look.

We'd both settled a bit as we walked off from X.

 

Here we're more relaxed and I even have my toes pointing forward.

Our walk across the diagonal. She lengthened, but didn't stretch down much. I'm sure I'm doing too much with my hands, but I tend to exagerate everything with her.

 

Coming up on the circle. She's got a lot of suspension in that trot. With both horses in a saddle, I put the flatter one on her. I ended up moving around up there a lot more than I'd like.

Finishing up our circle.

 

Almost the end of the test, and we were finally starting to feel in synch.

She's good about halting, and tends to stand square. This is our entry for our second test.

 

She's not always on the vertical, but she softens and was relaxed and forward.

Coming around the circle. She's loose and forward, but we could have more bend.

 

Heading across the diagonal. One thing that helped her scores is that she has an even tempo. Her trot tends to stay the same speed, no matter what her head is doing.

Starting our walk on two diagonals. She's reaching forward with her head, now I just need to get her consistently reaching down.

 

Making sure I know what to do next. I can't believe I forgot my test when I was riding Angel. Oh, and amazing to see the right toe point forward for even a second.

We still have moments where I signal for a left turn and she considers going right. It's easier when you're out on a trail, and going right would mean running into a tree. Then she sees the point in listening.

 

Here I just let her move out. Last diagonal and the breeze felt great.

I guess she appreciated that I let her out on the diagonal because she came right back to me and listened for the turn up centerline. Yep, there's that longer left leg again. My trainer didn't catch it for the saddle that was on Kasza. I've had some hip problems, and it's sad what now feels normal to me.