[Mukluk]

This is me and my mare. We are both newbies! Anyone else? We have our first event this Sunday. I am very curious as to what sort of dressage score we will get. Hopefully not a totally embarrassing one

[Desert Topaz]

It could be anything, depending on how good your dressage is. I've seen scores from the 20's to my awesomest score of 53%

[Texarkana]

My mare and I have our first event together this Saturday, too! It's not recognized and we're just doing the starter division.

My goals:

1. Don't scratch.
2. Don't fall off.
3. Don't get eliminated.

You can tell I'm setting the bar high!

If all goes well, I hope to take her BN this fall at another local horse trial.

[IronwoodFarm]

May I suggest another goal: Have FUN!

[IrishDeclan]

^^^^ I second this!! The beginner novice tests are pretty simple so as long as you've done your homework you should be fine. They want to see a forward straight horse that flows through the test. If you have a bobble just keep thinking forward to the next movement and try not to dwell on it. I'm sure you guys will be fab!!

[deltawave]

Finish with a number and not a letter and YOU WIN. Good luck!

[ACMEeventing]

Finish with a number and not a letter and YOU WIN. Good luck!

DW, we have had this conversation. 'E' is for excellent, 'R' is for really really good, 'W' is for WTH just happened?

[ACMEeventing]

Oh, and Mukluk, have fun!!!!! You will be so happy and proud of yourself and your mare when you cross those finish flags. Best of luck to you

[bizbachfan]

Ha I was happy to break 50 will a solid 49! Don't worry about it, enjoy and have fun!

[Texarkana]

May I suggest another goal: Have FUN!

Wait, I'm supposed to have fun?!? I knew there was something I had forgotten to practice at home.

[hollynanne]

Mukluk- I just went XC schooling for the first time (for me and the mare) ever yesterday! Have a good time, and as deltawave says, finish with a number.

I can't wait to hear how you did. We're going to "hopefully" do our first show later this summer.

Bella and I are cheering you on!

[JenEM]

Have fun!

We did our first BN last weekend, after having done a few at Elementary/Intro level. It felt like a big step up, and for the first time in years I actually felt nervous about showing! But we got around, with a (very high, 3 digit) number and not the Big E, so I was very proud. By the end of XC we were feeling good!

Make your goal to have fun and get around the first time out, and it will be great

[Mukluk]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to have so much support. Yep fun is the name of the game. I figure how we do doesn't really matter that much because it's our first time and we have only actually practiced in the dressage arena twice. Though trainer thought we did OK. Of course lots of room for improvement but we are just starting out. Maybe will get in one more time (dressage and xc) before the show but not sure. I'm just excited!!! Planning for a long trail ride day before the show as that always seems to work well for her (and me).

[KayBee]

My mare and I have our first event together this Saturday, too! It's not recognized and we're just doing the starter division.

My goals:

1. Don't scratch.
2. Don't fall off.
3. Don't get eliminated.

You can tell I'm setting the bar high!

If all goes well, I hope to take her BN this fall at another local horse trial.

I did my first event (unrecognized BN) and it was a blast. My goals were:

1. Don't get lost (forget the dressage pattern/get lost in stadium x-country)
2. Don't fall off

Succeeded on both counts. Our dressage was laughable -- giraffes aren't known for their dressage ;-) -- but our stadium round was quick and clean and cross-country was a blast!

So much fun. And it only took 4 years to get there!

[bizbachfan]

oh yeah one more goal don't throw up or pass out! you will have so much fun!