An Eventful Dressage Show

I originally didn't have any shows scheduled for July, so I decided at the last minute to enter the dressage show put on by the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine. This show was also affiliated with the Southern Maine Dressage Association. It was going to be a really hot day, so I was glad my ride times for both tests were early, and I would be done by 9:30am. 

Once I got Otis tacked up and myself dressed, I walked him around the grounds and to the warm up ring, it was empty so I figured I would take advantage. Once we got in there, Otis started acting like a brat, and then I heard my name announced as next! The show was running quite a bit ahead of schedule because of a few scratches. Instead of waiting until my actual ride time, I decided to just go ahead in, and do my Intro B test. That turned out to be a really good decision because Otis was AWESOME! No bratty attitude, no naughty behavior, he just went to work, and we did our test! I was so proud of him, and felt so good about our ride!

Usually I would have let Otis have a break before our next test, but they were running so ahead of schedule that I just stayed on, I needed to finish warming up and get ready for Intro C. Well.. while we were trotting around the warm up, Otis decided he had been far to good in our Intro B test. He spooked big time (at nothing of course) and I fell off!! I couldn't believe it, I was sitting in the dirt watching him buck and run away!! Luckily there were some really nice people standing near the entry of the warm up, and they caught him before he escaped. They were even nice enough to dust me off and help be back on. It was so nice of them to help me out. I was not impressed at Otis' behavior, so back to work we went. I took him over the trailer to grab a drink, and let him get a drink as well, and back to the warm up we went. I got some nice trot and canter circles out of him, and decided to call it good and walk him around the grounds until it was time for Into C. 

Otis was just as good, if not better in Intro C! His trot felt really good, much more extended and forward than it usually is, and his trot to canter transitions were much improved from last month in both directions. His walk is still way too slow, but that is something that I am working hard on at home. I exited the ring and went back to the trailer feeling really good about both of our tests. 

After getting Otis untacked and hosed off, and myself in some more comfortable clothes, it was time to wait for the results. I ended up with a  score of 62.5% and a fifth place ribbon in Intro B, and a score of 58.5% and a third place ribbon in Intro C. I was very disappointed in our scores to say the least. I felt so good about both of our rides, and was kind of deflated when I saw the score sheets. I just reminded myself to be proud of my horse, and to know that even if the scores weren't as good as last month, the rides felt better. Each judge has different opinions, and they aren't always going to match mine. 

I am just so happy that Otis has improved so much these last two shows (even if I did end up on my butt in the warm up arena). It reminds me that my hard work is finally paying off!