Will Dance for Carrots (But Only Grudgingly)

After a bit of a setback in our training following the tumble and rib damage incident back in April, I’m delighted to say we got through the second round of Trailblazers Dressage and qualified for the finals in August again.

However, I think the words “got through” are perhaps a very apt description of what happened….

Having had the hottest week on record as a run up to the show meant Fred had another impromptu week off, and so our preparation for the ‘big day’ was even more behind schedule, which probably mentally got me. And since Fred probably hadn’t slept for the week either, his response to ‘doing circles in the sand’ wasn’t one filled with joy and hope and excitement! 😃 

In fact, as we came down the centreline and halted at X to salute the judge, he ALMOST had a full on tantrum as I asked him to move off and it was all I could do to send it forward not up!.

The whole test was a bit like trying to coax a toddler to colour within the lines, or try to reason with them not to use blue for the grass … he finally did have a tantrum through our first simple change, taking the wrong lead out, which threw me and then I forgot where I was going and we lost 2 marks for ‘error’ of course. All I was thinking is quick, find your way, if you’re eliminated you are out!

In Freddie’s defence, I feel like his saddle may be getting a bit low in front so he can't lift his shoulders and I think he lifts, 'hits' the saddle as it were and then drops back to the forehand getting cross with me. Plus, I’m probably being a bit hard on him, he did the moves (mostly), he just didn’t do them willingly or with any of the pizzazz that he’s capable of.

We scored 64.82% (would have been 65.5 without my error of course) which I know is an good score at this level, and two years ago I would have been bloody delighted with! But when I know he is capable of getting 69/70%, and can move beautifully for it, it feels quite frustrating. Leaving me feeling like we scraped through not flew through to the finals like last year.

Fred however, was very happy with his performance and stood in his stable afterwards with his ears forward and his big eyes staring at me asking for his carrot reward….. which I eventually gave him. We did after all get a lovely big red rosette, even if I think he could have tried harder for it. I'll give him that he doesn't cope if anything is a bit off and so he may be struggling to lift the shoulders in which case he wasn't naughty at all.

However, I’ve decided that Fred needs a bit more fun in his life, so I’m going to jump him again this week when the jumps go back up and see if I can use a local field to go and have a good gallop around.

I love this pony so much.... I do try hard to make everything right for him.... Mostly I love the little face that looks at me from his stable.