riding log

[quietann]

Minnie was very good today! She was relaxed and happy. I got her bridle on with only a little bit of help from J, and she stood in the wash stall with no problems.

We did a little bit of walk-trot and then J supervised me trotting over poles on the ground. With each set we did, we were more relaxed and a little bit more together. J then set up a tiny crossrail, and we jumped it fine. Minnie was tired, so one jump was enough.

I need to work on keeping my thumbs up, and relaxing my ankles more.

I am 90% sure I am going to this show. Worry #1: Minnie normally wears a martingale (a strip of leather going from the noseband of her bridle to the saddle girth) to keep her from tossing her head, but they are not allowed in dressage competitions, so we'd have to go without it. However, she's really being good and may do fine without it for two teeny tiny dressage tests. (Or maybe the idea is that there won't be enough time for her to figure out that it isn't there.) Worry #2: I just don't want to make a fool of myself!

Comments

PRETTY RIBBONS!!!

[sarahshevett.livejournal.com]

YAY go to the SHOW!!

1. You need to practice without the martingale at least once before the day of the show.

2. Never ever not do something because of foolishness.

[harimad.livejournal.com]

Re #2: I hear ya. Do it anyway. There's only one way to break through that barrier. It's rarely as bad as one fears (I'd say "never" but I know better). And even if it is, will there be anyone there who knows you? Who are you, to assume that you'll be the center of attention?

(I know whereof I speak, from my swing dancing experience. Most people just weren't paying attention, no matter how badly I danced. They were watching their own friends, or someone whose style they admired, or the cute person in the corner, or...)

Do it.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I agree... except this is dressage, which means the judge will be focused on me and me only during my tests. Eeep!

[harimad.livejournal.com]

Well yes, of course, it's a competition, but anyone but the judge and a couple others? I doubt it.

[unclebooboo.livejournal.com]

Minnie hasn't been bumping into it during your rides, has she? If she hasn't, then chances are that she won't even notice that it's not there on the day of the show.

Definitely practice without the martingale before the show so that *you* are used to being without it.

Beyond that, my advice is to think of the show as a learning experience, not a serious competition. The stakes aren't high, so you won't lose anything if you perform badly. On the other hand, you can learn a lot from the experience.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

The more I ride her, the less she tosses her head. My hands are getting better, and she's getting more used to me. Today, she was not tossy at all; she was moving into the bit, almost like a real dressage horse :) (just kidding!)

I will practice without the martingale and see how she is. If she gets all excited at the show, then she may start head tossing, or not.

I'm not really going to compete at all; it's just a little show. I'll be watching lyonesse and her pony Stjarni, as much as anything.