We Survived 2-1!

So this happened:

I'm sure equal parts of you are thinking "What was she thinking, she's not ready for that!" and "Go you!" right now.  It's hard to know when to tackle a new level, even just at a schooling show, but this is why I did it:

1. I can get away with all my bad habits at First Level.  At Second, I can't.  Second forces me to ride better.

2. When I'm sitting well and he's on my aids, he's totally capable of Second. (See: yesterday's post in which NK tells me I am the problem.)

3. I wanted to take a stab at Second at a schooling show halfway through the year to get judge feedback that I could then work on the rest of the season, while still showing First rated.

4. I can reliably get him on my aids every ride now/I have an effective, if lengthy, warmup/I don't feel like I will go into the ring unprepared.

5. I don't feel like we're going to improve at First until we start seriously focusing on Second, or, as JenJ says, "It's amazing how well a Second Level horse does at First Level."

And...

We were terrified.

We survived, with a 60.000%!

First outta 2, but, y'know.

I am definitely not going to call us Second Level confirmed.   We are Second Level "didn't embarrass ourselves" and Second Level "not going rated anytime soon."  But it was such a great experience for us and definitely the right call to do that test.

Pretty sure we did well because my braid game was exceptionally on point on Sunday.

Our scores ranged from 4.0's in the canter serpentine (well-balanced simple changes, but no walk steps) to 7.0's for things like the walk, the halt/rein back and free walk.  Most of our comments were "more", and our collectives were "Capable pair.  Work on better uphill balance and more half halts for more engagement of hind end."

(Also 2-1 is suuuuuuuuuuuuuuch a nicer test to ride than 1-3.  Counter canter = easy, shallow loops = die in a fire.)

I sat in a lawn chair in front of Connor's stall drinking my coffee and watching the rain all morning.  Had a horse's head in my lap for most of that time.

I did...forget my test in the middle of it.  Just, mind went blank, forgot what was next.  The judge helped jog my memory and gave me a nice red -2 for that.  But even with that, our score was respectable.

The funniest thing all day was that the horse that went right before us in the same ring, doing the same test, was...a chestnut with flaxen section D Welsh Cob gelding.  What are the odds?!  The judge had to think she was seeing double!

I internet stalked his sale ad.  He's lovely.  

So, now we have a nice roadmap for what to work on, and we won't feel totally terrified the next time we try Second (and I won't forget my test!).  I waffled for so long on whether to do it or not, but in the end, it feels like a good decision for both of us.