Smurf done good! (Green Acres 6 July)

[quietann]

So.... My first ever three-phase was today... Elementary level on my friend's gelding Trump-It. He's an older TB/Hanoverian cross who's been more or less retired from Novice. And I am a somewhat timid re-rider.

We had fun! He was great in the dressage warm-up, and then turned into a slug during the actual test, and I was so focused on "where am I heading, what do I do next?" that I didn't push him forward. Sigh. 39.4 on dressage thanks to this.

The real issue with Trumpie is dealing with his tendency to refuse unfamiliar fences. He is partially blind in one eye, and wants a good look at everything. We've been working a lot on this, and I have found that he goes much better if I talk to him *constantly*... He gets a lot of "C'mon, let's go!" before a fence, and always a "good boy!" when we land. Apparently I entertained some of the jump judges and spectators because I was so enthusiastically praising him.:lol:

We had NO refusals. None, not one, and very few spots where it felt like he might refuse. He wanted to go fast on cross-country, but I kept his speed down just for my own sanity. I let him out more in stadium.

The end result? A 3rd place in our division.

And really, forget about the ribbon. It's more about the smiles. Coming up the hill between the second to last and last fences, I was declaring my undying love for this horse. At a shout. "Oh my god Trumpie, you're wonderful, I love you!" See http://annsrats.com/horses/greenacres2008-07-06/iend1.jpg -- that is at the end of cross country, and I was so happy that I was nearly crying.

Wow. Just wow :)

[Simkie]

WAHOO!! Congrats! It sounds like you had a blast.

[IrishDeclan]

Congratulations!! I love the picture.... you were definitely having fun, and that's what it's all about!!

[Auburn]

Yay! It sounds like you did a great job of helping your guy through the x-country phase.

Also, any time you have a dressage score in the 30's, you have done well. For the next event, make riding a more forward test as your goal.

For you to realize that the experience is so much better, than the placing, is very wise of you. But, getting a third is icing on the cake. :D

[Ajierene]

We had fun! He was great in the dressage warm-up, and then turned into a slug during the actual test, and I was so focused on "where am I heading, what do I do next?" that I didn't push him forward. Sigh. 39.4 on dressage thanks to this.

My first event was elementary also - and I had never been in a real sized dressage ring before. My mare had only been to one other hunter show in her life. So my test went similar to your "Aak, a letter, what do I do here! Aak, another letter, what do I do here?!" meanwhile my mare was "What's that, what's this, what are we doing, is that car going to eat me?"

We got a score in the 50's, so you are way ahead of me! Congrats on such a great job!

[goobs]

Well Done Smurfette! Well Done! What a great feeling for you! Your picture put a big smile on my face too this morning, thank you! It's all about personal accomplishments when we ride and the ribbon is just pure gravy!

[bip]

I love your picture, glad to hear you had a good time. I saw a lot of nice rides yesterday. Unfortunately, I had a meltdown in xcty warmup and just could not get my head in the game. I don't know if it was the heat/humidity or sleep deprivation or good old fashioned nerves. Mare, who has been doing novice and some low training stuff in clinics, stopped at the first log! Which was also the first fence on the elementary course! (we were supposed to be doing BN). I got her over it pretty easily, but then she stopped at the second jump too, and I decided that I just wasn't up to beating her over every single fence - it was pretty obvious to me that she was stopping because she knew I didn't really want to go. So I retired. In retrospect, I wish I had just skipped that fence and finished the course. After the bench, which did have me a little psyched out (for no good reason), everything seemed so low and inviting. But it is easy to second guess yourself once you are hydrated, well rested and no longer nervous!

Next weekend is Pipestave Hill, anyone going? We've been there (successfully) a few times before so it should be a much better day!

[Fiat Lux]

Look at the smile on your face! And he's looking pretty happy, too. Sounds like you gave him a great ride! That is what this sport is supposed to be! I'm so happy for you!

[AEM74]

Good for you Quietann! I too completed my first 3-phase this weekend and my horse was a superstar! We won our division at Leg Up HT at Hoosier Horse Park, which was a pleasant surprise. It was just starter but I don't care - I had a blast. Looks like you did, too!

Your photo reminds me of when we were nearing the finish flags on x/c. We were in between the second-to-last and the last fence and I got chills and almost started crying because we actually did it! Then I reminded myself to get it together because we weren't done....yet.

Lots of cookies and carrots for your good boy! So glad you had fun.

[LSM1212]

Woot Woot.... good for you. LOVE the pic.

I'll be doing my first "event" on Aug 3rd. Just doing Starter (2'). But it's not just new to me... but to my horse too! Should be interesting but he's a good egg. So I'm sure I'll be feeling the same way. :D

[frugalannie]

Congrats, QuietAnn.

Now, when is your next outing?

[quietann]

Thanks everyone. I am still smiling :)

Auburn, I'd practiced and gotten nice forward flat work at home -- and Trump was quite energetic during warm-up. He can be lazy -- not cantankerous about it, but just a big slug. This is a case where more experience would have helped; a judicious tap with the whip early in the test (just to remind him that it was there) would have changed things. We probably had the world's slowest free walk...

bip, I am sorry to hear your day did not go so well. My friend was the only person riding Training, and her horse Fair Deal refused at that same log (#1, which was #1 for everyone except pre-elementary)... and then had 4 more refusals in the next 6 obstacles :eek: He is normally solid, but she says that her brain and his were just somewhere else. I actually saw a lot of refusals there... I mean, it's a 2 foot log, but it must have had monsters on the other side. Trump being Trump, he got very excited once I turned him to it. But we did have a few places where he got very looky...

Anyway, good luck at Pipestave Hill. I have heard nice things about it and may make it to the fall event there. Trump's old enough that he isn't really up to back to back weekends. Also, my friend's daughter will be back from camp, so she'll be taking him back through August, and I'll be taking back my little mare, who went to camp with her. The mare and I are going into dressage only training for a few months.

Best wishes to everyone who has an outing soon, have as much fun as I did if you possibly can :)

[Dreamspark]

CONGRATS! Another smurf here who was also at Green Acres yesterday! :D Darn, we all should have met up!

We came in first in our division (tadpole pre-elem) with a 27.3 (ended on dressage score). Not bad for a Standardbred, huh? ;) Time to move up to Elementary! YAY!

My inner George Morris was SCREAMING in protest from having to do stadium in my XC attire! LOL!!!!

(None of the jumping pics my husband took came out, of course...right on a landing, right before a take-off.... The pro. photographer did get a nice XC one though).

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/dreamspark/6GASHorseTrials7608.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/dreamspark/12GASHorseTrials7608.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/dreamspark/21GASHorseTrials7608.jpg

[quietann]

Dreamspark --

Oh, that was you in the orange :) My poor husband didn't know what to make of you; he's new to all of this and didn't know one could color-coordinate one's X/C gear.

I was happy to not have to do stadium in a coat, since it was so humid.

Wonderful dressage score, and you guys look great together. We were probably gone by the time your division finished...

[Dreamspark]

LOL! Yeah that was me in the orange. :cool: For years I wore black and blue on a chestnut.....ha ha ha. Then I did not event for many years.....started again last year and wore maroon and navy on my black mare. It looked nice and very understated, but this year I wanted to be FUN! I found the helmet cover and it all went downhill from there....

I love your XC pic. It is all about having FUN! :)

Hope to meet up with you and bip at another event this year! I am 1.5 hours north of Green Acres, so Pipestave with these fuel prices is just not going to happen. And no rated shows this year either.....not that we are quite ready for Beg. Novice anyway. :) But I am planning to be at GAS again in August and then Hilltop in Sept and Oct.

[quietann]

OK Dreamspark and others, next Green Acres event I'll post a thread here beforehand so we can try to meet up.

I am not sure what our plans for August 24 are. My friend V and her Icelandic Stjarni want to do pre-elementary 3 phase. Look for the horse that looks like a life-sized stuffed chestnut pony... he really is adorable. If there is room on the trailer, I might bring my little mare for dressage only. She's a bit hot, and needs to get out and experience small horse shows. Look for a palomino, drop-dead gorgeous, opinionated Morgan :) I am not jumping her this year but if/when we get to eventing, she'll be done up in royal blue.