I need to start every warm-up checking in with my own body and with his.
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| Rolling with my entourage. PC: Leah |
Adding those extra ten minutes on Saturday really helped. We've both noticed that starting my on-the-contact work with HI/HO on a 20m circle really helps Connor loosen up and get on my aids, and it also gives me a chance to check in with my position too. I need to warm up at home like I do at shows.
Plugging into my back has to become my default.
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| Connor: Learn how to riiiiiiiiide. PC: Leah |
Otherwise I pull. And that's not good for anybody.
I only go off course when CGP is watching my test.
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| Studying my test in the USDF TestPro app. PC: Leah |
Don't know what to make of this, and I acknowledge that it could be a red herring, but the only times I've gone off course in the last 5 years have been the first time I've done a new test and when she's watching. Something to think about and work through.
His dietary changes could have totally been the placebo effect, but I definitely had more horse than ever before throughout this show.
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| Still cruising along with more than enough horse on Day 3. PC: John Borys Photography |
Still debating on whether to even write about what I changed because I know I often influence people to buy things (MEGAN), and I can't prove that what I changed caused the difference I felt. What I do know is that because of the timing of when he went to CGPs and when the show was, I was only able to do one conditioning ride before the show, yet I had more horse than I ever have before, stamina-wise.
2-2 can die in a fire.
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| Entourageeeeee. PC: Leah |
If you voluntarily ride 2-2 for fun, I do not understand you, lol.
If jackets are waived, it's not even a decision.
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| My jump saddle is so small, I can use it with a Dressage pad and you probably didn't even notice that until I said something. PC: John Borys Photography |
It's not that I can't ride well when I'm uncomfortable, but it's definitely harder, and I've put together a jackets-waived outfit I'm excited about being photographed in. SO, yeah, unless it's required or it's cold, I'm taking my jacket off every chance I get in the Midwestern heat.
Competing at Waterloo definitely helped.
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| PC: Leah |
It changed a lot about what I did at Pony Cup, from the timing of my warmup, to the decision to get a tack stall, to recognizing the need for a bunch more hooks and straps for hanging things, to deciding to change his diet. There are shows that I'll do that matter a bunch by themselves, like Pony Cup and ride-offs, but there will also be shows that I'll do that matter more on the timeline of my show season, and Waterloo is definitely the latter.
Finding the right feeding program is a big win. I went through that with Roscoe and so far have not needed to add for more energy even with increased breeding and training. It was great to experience PC through you and Connor! Now if it was only closer...
ReplyDeleteI know, I wish you could make it!
DeleteEven after spending yearsssss photographing it still gives me such a weird high when people like/use/post my photos 🤣
ReplyDeleteAnyway, not even the point. I'm excited that you're dialing in exactly what works for you and Connor and cannot wait to see where you go from here!
Get used to it, I'm going to be using your candids foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
DeleteYour confidence in not wearing a jacket really made me reconsider my own strict adherence to wearing a coat even when I'm nearly stroking out from the heat. I don't quite have the show outfit you're rocking (your beautiful new breeches), but I'm getting closer with the shirt I bought at Pony Cup!
ReplyDeleteYes! You have a great outfit now, you should own it! I am happy to follow tradition when there's a good reason, but there is just no point in being so hot and uncomfortable when you don't have to be, especially when the whole point of doing the show is to show yourself off to the best of your abilities.
DeleteI'm all about ditching the coat at the earliest possible moment. I've started tolerating heat less well than I used to, and there's nothing like riding a medium canter and realizing there's a very good possibility that you're about to pass out, as you watch the edges of your vision go black. So yeah, definitely skip the coat!
ReplyDeleteAll really great takeaways - in the end shows are always learning experiences!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteLove all of the takeaways! I think you learn more and more every time you step out of your comfort zone at home. I love that shirt/outfit (it reminds me of one of my short sleeve show shirts)! Of course it's totally different in the jumpers since we aren't judged subjectively, but I've totally gotten on board with a short sleeve show shirt when it's hot out too!
ReplyDeleteJumpers have all the fun in terms of outfits and tack, lol.
DeleteGreat takeaways! Interesting about the off course thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm the opposite about jackets. I ride so much better with mine on, I never take it off!
And that's why I love making them optional, it's a SHOW that you pay to attend to SHOW yourself off to the best of your abilities, and you need to feel good about the way you look and feel to be able to do that.
DeleteI generally only go off course when I have a reader. Of course, if I don't have a reader, I spend the whole test worrying about going off course and lose marks everywhere else. Ah... anxiety-brain, you beautiful thing.
ReplyDeleteHaha! The struggle is real. I still have only had a reader once and wasn't really a fan.
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