[PressForTime]

Ok.. so I'm thinking this might be a little bit longer thread, so I'll post the results (for those of you that don't want to read about what happened) then I'll explain what happened afterwards..
Gardenstate Horse Show - Belmont

Showed in 3 Child/Adult Classes and the Marshall and Sterling Classic

Didn't Place in Any of them

St. Christopher's Horse Show - Precious & Dakota

Showed in 4 (Level 5 - 4ft) classes total

Precious didn't place in any and Dakota won 3 of the 4 classes. She won both money classes (bringing home $220) and ended up Reserve Champion in the Modified Junior/Am. Owner Jumpers.


Now for the descriptions. I'll try to make it short and sweet

Gardenstate

Ok. So it wasn't our best show ever. I was finally able to get in a lesson with my trainer (Anne Kursinski). She'd been away for a while (Florida) so I haven't had a lesson with her. We met her up at the show so I was definitely happy about that. She was super happy with Belmont because the first time she'd seen him he wouldn't jump anything (omg it was so humliating to say the very least, but we cleaned our act up).

She had me riding slightly different from what I was used to. She wanted me to move a lot faster. Unfortunately, in doing so we had rails in each of the child/adult classes. BUT I was happy with the fact that Belmont went out very very brave. He's the one (as some of you may recall) is coming back from a bad experience. He'll stop at anything if you let him. So for him to go out to TRUE 3'6 fences and jump was in itself great.

The next day was the classic. A little nervous because they brought out the liverpool (which I knew they would) and the jumps were bigger (high side of 3'6 - 3'9). Most of the Verticals they listed as 3'9. They had a triple and a in & out combination. This would be the first time Bel would show in a Grand Prix ring without being able to look at any of the jumps.

We went out in the practice ring and Anne had put a blanket under the fence. He was looking at it, but still went forward. Again, Anne had me really move him up to the fences (which makes sense since she and I knew he'd really want to back off in the ring). We completed our warm-up and went in. The first fence (which was a simple vertical) he REALLY backed off to. But I fought for it and he jumped it. The 3rd fence was another simple vertical, although slightly airy. I settled (as Anne had instructed in the course walk) but when I felt him back up again, I overrode slightly too much and we pulled the rail (truthfully, I would rather have a rail then a refusal). So then to the liverpool. He was actually wonderful with it. Here came a problem though, I had gotten in trouble the day before for not putting in the correct strides. So this time I was going to do so. It was the liverpool oxer and 7 strides to the triple. He landed the liverpool way out (taking up a full stride) and I tried to collect for the 7 strides (which was what Anne instructed to do). Refusal at the Triple. I knew it too. I should have let him do the 6 (which afterwards Anne said the same thing. She said in that particular situation I should have done the 6.. hindsight is 20/20). No worries though, we circled back around and he went right through. The rest of the course actually went smoother. We had one more rail but all in all it was a very good experience for both him and I. Anne was super impressed with him too. She really liked him, which is good. A long way from the last time she saw him .

So even though we didn't place, we did have a good show. He learned a lot and so did I. I'll be having another lesson with Anne soon so hopefully we'll get back on track

Now on to the girls..... St. Christopher's Horse Show

Ok. So we were doing all level 5's. We were going to do some Level 6's but this show was set-up so goofy haha. The only Level 6's they had was 1 Mini Prix and we weren't going to spend the money to do that when both the girls and I need a little bit more experience with Level 6 at the shows. So we did the Level 5's which was perfectly fine by me

Day 1: The girls were great. Very ontop of their game. We made it to the jump-off, which was pretty straight forward except for one inside turn. You could either jump a vertical, turn infront of another jump to rollback to another vertical or go around that other jump to jump the vertical.

I rode Precious first and decided to take the inside route. Unfortunately I sat too soon to prepare for the turn and she pulled the rail.. HUGE rider error

Dakota was next and since I know she's a REALLY fast horse, I decided to go around (especially since I didn't want to make the same mistake as I did with Precous) and she went clean in a time of 31.1 and some change. We ended up winning the class (which was a money class too.. that's always a plus ).

The second class didn't go as well. Each had a rail. Dakota I held too long and then realized it so I chased. Precious I just let her get too flat. Again, major rider error.

The Next day was a doosie.

Both classes were Speed Classes (My Favorite hehe). Dakota went out and absolutely blew the field away with a 42 second run (which was the other money class).

As for Precious, I'm not too sure what happened. I felt like we got to the fence fine, but she stumbled and landed in the center of the oxer (which was the first jump) and obviously pulled the rail. We had 6 strides to a vertical at which she stopped. I think the refusal came from the sting on her legs from the jump before. We circled and finished our course with one other rail. We decided to scratch her from the next class. Not because we thought something was wrong, but we just didn't want to leave a bad taste in her mouth. She completed the course without any other difficulties so we wanted to end her on that note.

The next class (due to last minute changes) ended up being the same exact one as the first. My dad told me to slow down a bit, he said I was a little TOO fast in the first round. So I did. She completed the course in 45 seconds this time and STILL ended up winning . I was very proud of the both of them.

All in all, this show went very well. I felt confidence in both mares (which is was I've been waiting to feel.. especially when we're moving them up). Both went out like real troopers and did their jobs. There were mistakes on my part, but it's all a learning process



Phew.. that's it. Sorry it's soo long!

-Chris

[HorseBliss]

sounds like ya did pretty well! and the pictures arent working, you have to log in.

[Kissitgoodbye]

Great job... I believe this year judging and showing has gotten a lot tougher!


By the way will you be showing in Kentucky any time soon?

[PressForTime]

Originally Posted by HorseBliss

sounds like ya did pretty well! and the pictures arent working, you have to log in.

Rats.. I was hoping you wouldn't need to. Oh well, I guess this one will have to go pic-less

-Chris

[PressForTime]

Originally Posted by Kissitgoodbye

Great job... I believe this year judging and showing has gotten a lot tougher!


By the way will you be showing in Kentucky any time soon?

Not this year, but I know it's planned for next year. I think the big show (Kentucky Springs) and the Horsepark is over now. Do you show there??

-Chris

[zorse]

Sounds good all-round for you and your horsies.
Lessons with Anne Kursinski eh? Lucky duck.
Did you get videos? You know I love your videos

[kellidahorsegirl]

Hey great job! Glad Anne liked Bel, cuz I sure do
Keep up the good work. Precious will do better next time,,,,there's always room for improvement isn't there? And good for Dakota! Way to kick some butt!!!!!

[Feliche]

WOW Anne Kursinski?! I've got a poster of her and Cannonball right abouve the desk I am now sitting at! Lol!

I'm so glad that everything went well. Even if it didn't all "Come together" with Bel and Precious...hey, what's it REALLY matter? You learned more about and created stronger connections with all of your horses, and that will help you more in future classes! Nothing like learning from mistakes. I just know that it's the BEST feeling in the world when you come up from so far and you don't fall down backwards right before the ground starts to level. Kudos