IDS May: Sigh

Last Saturday I competed at the IDS May Schooling Show. My intention was to ride two tests in one day before I try that at the rated show next weekend, and of course, when ride times came out my rides were 5 hours apart and I couldn't make the second one. We were hosting a graduation party/prom for our friends at the IU School of Architecture on Saturday night, and I had to get home to help prep.

All of these folks had to have two negative tests in the previous 5 days in order to attend graduation and almost all are fully vaccinated, in case you're freaking out about the large number of unmasked people in my house.

On Friday afternoon, I went out to catch my horse to load up for the show and...

"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

 

I mean, I knew better than to go out to catch him in a raincoat like that. But he lulls me into this false sense of security these days, because he only does this about once every six months now. And we were overdue, since his last episode was in October at GP trainer's.

It was raining on one side of the farm and sunny on the other

He cantered for THIRTY. STRAIGHT. MINUTES. I gave him opportunities to stop only if he kept his attention on me and either stood still or took a step toward me. If he took one step away from me, I clucked him on, not that he needed much encouragement. Even after he was clearly tiring, he still didn't stop cantering.

The next morning, he was pleasantly polite in the bridle but also behind my leg, probably thanks to his endurance workout the night before. I rode the shit out of the test, and it was much better than our last attempt in April. No errors, no mistakes, and our first true canter-walk EVER in the show ring, in his tough direction no less. The only bobble was a buck going into the first canter lengthening, see previous comment about him being behind my leg. It felt like a solid test overall.

First pic with my new coat! This is ABSOLUTELY the most front end elevation I've ever seen in a canter photo of this horse. PC: AK Photography

Unfortunately the judge just straight up didn't like my ride, and scored us a 59.404%. It was like she gave us a baseline of 6.0 for everything, and then if she didn't like something, it was straight to a 5.0, with hardly any 6.5s and only one 7.0. I got the lowest scores of my life on things he always scores really well on, like halts and reinbacks, and just could not understand how that test deserved to score that poorly, especially at a schooling show. 

I need a half halt in this moment, but look at me not pulling on my horse's face! PC: AK Photography

The mystery was solved when I ran into Karen afterwards, and she asked, "Did you have [judge name]?" And I said yeah, and she said, "Been there, that's just how she is, don't let it get to you." I did win my class with that 59% so...yeah. That checks out.

He looks as tired as he felt. PC: AK Photography

That said, I'm not upset. We rode 2-3 error-free. We got a canter-walk in the ring for the first time. I learned how to show him well even when he's tired. All of those things are good things to learn at a schooling show, so I came away feeling like I accomplished something.

Next weekend, less of this!