After 10 years, I finally found my way back into the show ring. For my debut, we started at the show my barn hosts, which was a great “training wheels” re-entry into showing. I have been trying to find a way to write this blog to best explain the experience, but I keep getting too excited and it works out to be about six pages—so here goes: a list of things that were awesome in hopes of keeping this brief and readable.
1. The horses. Obviously, I’m convinced that Acridos is the best horse ever, but the sheer amount of quality horses was mind blowing. I couldn’t believe that at such a relatively small local show there would be so many great horses. I ended up showing in level M (I think it’s about a third/fourth Level equivalent) and the class was so large they had to split it into two…and there were still about 20 people in each section.
2. The trainer and crew. Obviously I’d never be doing any of this without her, and I definitely would not have ever attempted this level without her pushing me.
The month before the show was really a type of boot camp. I rode twice with the clinician, the owner was coming in and out to help me, and although my “official” lessons were only once a week, a ride didn’t go by without some quick pointers and help. Acridos was doing great, but I was still nervous.
When I started to chicken out of riding at M-level, she told me bluntly “if you’re going to suck, you may as well suck at M.” Hard to argue with that point, and of course she was right. We were absolutely ready for the class, and my big faults were things that would have dinged me at any level.
3. Signing up. Granted, my experience is rather dated, but the days of getting a paper show schedule at the local tack store, filling it out and then sending it in with copies of memberships and a check are long gone. I had to re-sign up with the USEF and USDF, all done via internet and phone, and then received my international guest license through the German Federation Equestre Nationale (FN).
It was all incredibly easy. For this particular show, I signed up through the FN website, and as the show got closer everything was organized online: all the riders, times, classes, tests and horses were all listed. They even had a section listing the riders by nationality, which was the coolest thing I have ever seen. I may not ever be officially be riding for Team America, but it was really neat to see my name under the American flag.
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4. The bling and color. As a confirmed magpie, I was delighted to see so much bling in the dressage arena! On boots, browbands, saddle pads, fly hats, jackets and helmets. Some of these folks just glittered as they went by.
People were embracing color in their outfits too. There was quite a bit of navy and brown, but also pinks and blues on the fly hats and saddle pad trims.
5. The food. The horse shows I remember had terrible options: hot dogs, greasy burgers, nachos with fake cheese and bad coffee. This was about as opposite as you could get. Besides the typical brats, fries and beer, there were whole roasted chickens, fried potatoes, pork sandwiches and an icecream truck. But the best was a booth that had a full espresso menu and fresh bread rolls topped with meats, cheese or salmon. He even was slicing up fresh fruit to add to yogurt cups…and did I mention all the champagne cocktails he served? Having amazing food to choose from makes spectating a whole lot more attractive.
So how did it go? Well, I’m not giving Matthias Alexander Rath a run for his money any time soon, but all in all it was a GREAT experience.
My first test on Saturday I ended up with a 6.1. I was forward and made good transitions, but needed more crossing in my half-pass and more expression in my changes. Sunday I reverted back to my slow ways, and without that extra pizzazz we ended up with a 5.9. In both classes I finished right in the middle, and the judges’ comments were right on with things I have been working at.
I watched the video and was pleasantly surprised—I may not have won, but I’m extremely happy with how I rode. This was an amazing start to the show season!
Kristin Alexander is an adult amateur dressage rider living in Kaiserslautern, Germany. After being in Northern Germany many years ago as a working student, she moved to California, Virginia, Tennessee, Washington D.C. and Florida for school and work, trying to fit riding in at each location. She is now living in Southern Germany where she lucked into an amazing lease on the super horse, Acridos. Kristin’s taking lessons, participating in clinics and recently started showing again after a 10-year hiatus. Follow her as she navigates language barriers, re-entry into the show ring, and balancing riding with traveling around Europe.
