Carole had me riding "Missy" on a regular basis. We were doing well and making progress.
I would get to ride her in the schooling shows at the barn.
Riding and participating in shows was a great and fun experience. I learned a lot.
I worked on not just riding skills, but how to get her ready for a show: grooming, bathing, braiding, and cleaning tack .
As with any experience, there were great moments and learning moments.
Shows
I was able to reassure her and help keep her calm in classes.
There was one trail class where I had to take a rain jacket off a pole. At first she was nervous. It took a few times to get her close enough. I did get it and held it in my hand. She moved slowly but surely to the other poll where I placed it. Good
There were times I would of course error.
One trail class I watched a rider before me go. I had looked over the trail chart before.
I went in and did as the one before me did. I got to the end of the course and felt like something wasn't right. I halted to the judge and left the ring. Carole came up to me and asked "Do you know what you did?" I replied confused, "no". She told me I had done the course backwards. The girl before did. "Ugh".
Carole told the judge.
When they called the ribbon winners the girl and I were actually called for 4th and 5th place.
We were both surprised we got a ribbon after doing it wrong/backwards.
But thankful.
Another time, I had worked on quarter turns in a couple if my lessons. Quarter turns are when one turns your horse around on one spot.
The next show the trail class had a square to circle in. Two of the poles were placed so there was a smaller space.
I fudge up that obstacle, by just trying to circle around. Missy ended up stepping out because I asked too much.
Ugh. I was a little mad at myself for that.
I had just did quarter turns the last couple of weeks. I had it. Dah.
I made sure it didn't happen again.
In fact, the next trail class was one of our best.
We were ready and in sync.
Trotted through cones. Transition to canter. Hop over low jump, and slowed down at cone. We approached the square. I was set to do full 360 turn. I had her stop at the center of the square. Then we smoothly, slowly turn around on spot.
We stepped out of the square and trotted to the last cone.
It felt really good.
I went up to Carole, and asked if she happened to have seen it. I knew she was busy with students.
She said, "No. How was it?"
I told her, "It felt really good".
She said, "Good".
We make good efforts through the season. We won ribbons.
As the show season got near to the end, people there felt I was good for Reserve Champion of the show year in the Walk-Trot division over 18. .
There was one more show.
We did so good that I made Champion in the Walk-Trot division over 18 for the year end awards.
The barn celebrated awards at their yearly end of season banquet.
No comments:
Post a Comment