I joined all the memberships (USEA, USEF, USDF, KCDS, and probably a few more) and registered for my first recognized dressage show at Valley View Equestrian Center in Stillwater, OK on March 26-27. I registered us to ride Training Level Test 3 and First Level Test 3 on Saturday and First Level Tests 1 & 3 on Sunday (just because the training level tests would be at the end of the day and get us home super super late). Bronze medal, here we come!
I spent a month getting ready and riding as much as I possibly could, not an easy feat with bipolar Midwestern weather. The week before the show, I spent the weekend body clipping Dezi- she looks sleak! We had a farrier appointment on Thursday and one of our thoroughbreds was freaking out, so the farrier asked me to hold for him. As the farrier went to lift his front leg, the horse went up and forward, right at me. I put my right arm up in a protective motion so quickly that I think I pulled something. It still isn't back to normal, but it's getting better every day. After the farrier left, I made sure to pack all my dressage stuff (it felt like a significantly lighter load than what I needed for an event) and headed home to do some laundry (because horse show laundry hasn't been touched all winter).
Friday morning, I got to the barn early. It was still pretty cold and with Dezi being body clipped, I didn't want her to freeze in the trailer, so I put white shampoo on her legs and shampooed and conditioned her tail. We met up with our hauling buddy, Annetta, around 10 and headed out! We got to Stillwater around 3pm, set up the stalls, and then had a quick warm-up ride. Dezi was awesome! We mostly rode in the outdoor arena (which would be used for warm-up on show days) and then did a short ride in the indoor (where the dressage tests would be ridden). It is a beautiful European dressage arena with high walls and lots of mirrors perfect to watch yourself as you ride to see if you're doing everything right. We went out to dinner at a sushi/hibachi restaurant with our crew (Chris, Annetta, me, Marie, Elizabeth, and Molly) and then I headed back to the barn to braid Dezi so I wouldn't have to feel rushed to do it in the morning. After a late night, I headed into the camper for some much-needed sleep, which was awesome until Chris decided that warmth is overrated and opened all the windows in an attempt to freeze me out. I figured out that if I cacooned myself under the covers and breathed, my breath would keep me warm. I would need to get some more blankets before Saturday night.
My first ride was First Level Test 3 at 8:30 on Saturday morning. Chris and I woke up around 6:30 to feed and start getting ready. It was much colder than I expected it to be, and I didn't bring a coat (just a really heavy hoodie that I ended up needing to wear almost all weekend), so the morning was rough. I got ready and was on around 8am for a long walk and short warm-up. There was a moment during my warm-up when I couldn't feel my fingers at all. We went in for our test, and it went pretty well! We had a couple of mistakes. Things like still needing to work on leg yields so they're more consistent, working on pushing her through the corners, and our lengthenings could definitely be better, particularly keeping my leg on when I ask for collection after out canter lengthening. (she may or may not have gone down to trot momentarily during each of those). All things I knew might not be perfect this weekend. But we ended up with a respectable 62.2% (a qualifying score for regionals, if I known to pay extra money prior to the class, which I did for my next 2 possible qualification tests later in the show) with fair judging and comments.
We watched lots of other riders, including everyone who was there with us, and even did some real-time judging. A lot of the people with us are working on their "L" judging liscense, so they watched tests and Marie had them calling out real-time scores and the comments they would have made. It was very interesting. And those grand prix horses. They're absolute beasts! We also went out to grab some food- Chris was craving a Braum's cheeseburger and I needed a diet coke. When we got back to the barn, I borrowed a few blankets from Annetta so that I would make sure to stay warm that night. Yay for forward thinking!!
Our second ride of the day was Training Level Test 3 at 3:30pm. I like the training level test. It reminds me of a novice dressage test in eventing. No lengthenings or 10 meter circles or leg yields. Just transitions and stretchy trot. Dezi was a bit excited- I think she thought it was time to jump. Usually when we go to shows, there is one dressage test and then jumping, so she didn't get the memo that this one would be different. She was very forward and happy to go fast. No need for a whip during this test! We rode it well, though. I really focused on my geometry and having good transitions. We ended up with a 66.724%. A qualifying score for regionals!!
After the show was finished, there was a competitor's party where we celebrated Annetta achieving the final score she needed for her bronze medal. It was complete with someone using a saber to open a bottle of champagne! And lots of delicious hors d-'euvres. Chris rode Gemma and demonstrated the 5 flexions of the horse (poll-fingers, neck-reins, shoulder-thigh, ribcage-seat, and haunches-lower leg), I walked Dezi and wrapped her, and then I spent a quiet evening next to her stall. I shut down the barn and then headed to bed- this time with plenty of blankets to ensure that I stay warm all night!
My first ride on Sunday was First Level Test 1 at 8:45 and there were only 3 riders between that test and when I would need to ride First Level Test 3 again. We woke up at 6:30 again to feed and walk the horses and then I started getting ready. Dezi was feeling good. Again, probably ready for jumping. We went in to our test and it all came apart. I don't know if I was tense or if she was rebelling because we still hadn't jumped at all, but all of a sudden, half halts weren't a thing. She gave me the finger throughout almost the whole test. We managed to pull it together, but it certainly wasn't pretty. We ended up getting at 64.148% and then proceeded to do as many canter halts as possible in the warm-up ring as possible to prepare for our next test and re-install a half halt. She started listening, maybe because she was finally getting tired, and we headed in for First Level Test 3.
I had Marie read it for me, because with all our transition work in the warm-up ring, I hardly had a chance to review/remember it. We did OK. Still had trouble with our usual spots...leg yields, lengthenings (but Chris says those got better and better as the weekend progressed- not bad considering I forgot to start practicing them until the Tuesday before the show), and the canter collection after the lengthening. I was determined to keep my leg on and not let her break to trot from canter until I was ready, and I think I succeeded. Again, not super pretty, but we got it done. We ended up with a 62.629%. A qualifying score for regionals and another score that would count towards my bronze medal (except that there was only one judge for both days of this show, so only one counts)!
We packed up all our stuff and watched the other people in our group ride before we headed out! We got to Chris's house around 8 and I was in bed at my house by 9:30pm. Another good horse show weekend in the books. I feel like I learned a ton about dressage and about me and my horse. It was so interesting to be around people so passionate about dressage. Here's hoping it will solve all my problems!
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