July War Horse
Two years after our last horse trail, we tried again at War Horse. It was a great experience....but we did not end up completing the trial and that was very disappointing.
On Friday, we got a late start and left the farm around 1pm. We made pretty good time and managed to survive the crazy drivers on the interstate. As we approached Carolina Horse Park, we could see the rain clouds coming in. We stopped at our stall, unpacked and unloaded just in time. Right after we parked the trailer it started to rain.
Nevertheless, we tacked up and prepared to go school in the dressage arenas. As soon as we mounted, it began raining even harder. Committed, we headed to the warm up and proceeded to have a lovely school while getting soaked. WallE was a complete gentleman in the schooling arena and did not protest when asked to trot and canter through the small lakes in the arena. We headed out of the schooling area and rode our test in the actual dressage arena. Trotting down the centerline was not perfect, but the rest of the test was pretty close. WallE was round and very responsive. We ended our ride and did the remaining barn chores to settle WallE in and be done for the night.
On Saturday we headed out to the beginner novice cross country course at 9:00am. In the past WallE has been a terror in the schooling environment at the horse park, but Saturday he was amazing. We walked up to every jump, then trotted away and cantered over it. There was no thought of refusal or feel of hesitation. Throughout the school, we had three horses in front of us and one very ambitious and excitable rider behind us. WallE stayed level headed and responsive the entire morning. When he did get slightly distracted, we rode a circle and used the sitting trot half halt (From our lesson with Molly). He was great. After cross country, we went into the show jump arena and popped around the novice course (just so he could see all the jumps). The first half of the course was not too bad, but the rider's ability to decide on rhythm and direction deteriorated over the last two jumps. Despite that, WallE carried me over the last two jumps and did not knock any rails.
On Sunday we had a very productive warm up before our dressage time. He felt great. Unfortunately, I became a little flustered when I could not decide if I had heard the whistle to start or not. I also could not decide if it was supposed to be a squeaky toy or a whistle. After doing several figure eights and panicking, I decided to start the test. We were not round and I continued with the original plan of the sitting trot rather than switching to the posting trot and pushing for more forward movement. There was a section in the middle of the test that was okay and our last trot was nice. Overall not a great feeling coming out of the dressage arena. Final score of 38.5.
HOWEVER, if you look back on what we have been working on, we know we can be round and sometimes fall onto the forehand. In the month between the last War Horse and this one, we have been trying to ride less on the forehand and utilizing leg yields and should-ins to make the neck not as deep. We have also aimed to have at least two or three jump or flat schools in the field to make sure we feel confident on the grass, so not as much time on dressage. So not practicing as much = not doing as well.
After the dressage test, we went back to the stall and waited for our show jump round. Right before we got on, the sky opened and began dumping rain on the show ground. The show was on hold for an hour. And I made the decision that if it was put on hold again, we would just leave. However, the announcement was made that the show was restarting and we were the first to the show jump arena. After a very efficient warm up, we went into the arena and had a great course. We did get three strides in the two stride, but rocked the rest of it.
Heading out onto the cross country course, I was very settled and actually excited. WallE was so good over everything on the schooling day, that I expected nothing but the best. He happily cantered over the warm up fences (while trailers were leaving and lots of commotion was happening on the road right beside the fences). Then we headed to the start box. WallE was calm as we stood and waited for the countdown. When they got to 'one,' we walked then cantered (what a difference from two years ago when his energy wanted to knock me into the ground). We headed to the first jump and REFUSAL. After a quick circle we jumped the first fence and headed to the second. REFUSAL. Another circle and over we went. We sailed over jump three, four and five, then slammed on brakes and slid towards jump six. Remember it had rained and it was very wet. I tried to convince WallE to go over six, but were asked to leave after trying for the third time. Discouraged, I walked WallE walked back to the schooling area and we jumped all the warm up fences perfectly.
If I examine the elimination, I think it goes back to confidence. Confidence of the horse AND confidence of the rider. This was only my third time running a horse trial and WallE's tenth time with me on a cross country course (schooling and horse trials included). Most likely, we would have had moderate success in ideal conditions. I would have been more encouraging and he would have been more game, but with the wet footing and lack of experience, I did not push when I should have and he did not carry me over when he could have.
I think with more success and practice on cross country, we will develop more confidence and the next time we are in the situation when we need to be bold and jump out of the mud, we will be ready. Stay posted, because at the very least we must do another event to redeem ourselves in dressage. Win, lose or elimination...there is no place that I would rather be!
