31 March
Hartpury qualification at Elementary - check
We've blooming done it MUM!!!! And we have some GORGEOUS PHOTOS from Brian too. My god he has an eye for a good photo.
I decided to go to BKRC's Easter Sunday Dressage at Stretcholt - and it was worth the visit! 64.6% I was delighted, not only to get two 8s! But to have qualified AND to have come so close to Anna's winning score (65.3%)
I made some very costly mistakes because I was panicking - I really need to learn to breathe and relax!! Still so much more to come and more for me to learn about and do. This is a whole new level for me. I've never gone this high in dressage before and so I need to get over myself a bit with the mental state and start breathing and not f-ing up and losing accuracies marks on my circles and movements. But delighted with 2 8s and even some 7.5s and 7s.
I should add, he wasn't easiest today lol. He started rearing in the box as soon as we turned up (he just DOESN'T do that any more) I even turned the trailer around to see if that would help but it didn't. He was tense as I got ready and then shit his pants because he saw an oil tank, so I hand walked him to start with in the warm up before I got on. Even then was pretty tense in the warm up, spooking at the scary sheep and other imaginary ghosts but at least he lifts his shoulders!!
As we went into the arena Nat just said to me "GO GO GO, GO FORWARD, GO" and he stormed in. I was grateful to Nat for calling and she also called for Anna which was handy as we could see how Fred 'fit' with the competition. I'm so proud of him. Now I need to breathe.
Mum - you always wanted me to dance. I know you were thinking ballet or tap but I choose dancing with a 400kg partner. Thank you for bringing the sunshine today.