Combined Training Debut  

The week of closing for a somewhat local Combined Training event at FENCE, I decided to sign WallE and myself up. I invited a few other instructors from the barn as well and we began practicing. WallE's passion is jumping and he loves to do it in an arena with good sand and fancy jumps. Oftentimes he is the one to go over something that is a little too scary for the other horses. WallE does NOT like Dressage. It does not help that Dressage is somewhat new to me as well. However, we have been trying to learn and improve for over two years and it shows. The fitness and contact Dressage builds shows up in our jumping as well as our flat work and it has helped us both to improve. 

Needless to say, it was a delight after a 1.5hour trailer ride that WallE was a saint in the Dressage arena as we practiced for show day. With an 8:20am Dressage time, I decided to trailer WallE to the show grounds the night before and get a practice in before show day. WallE calmly unloaded from the trailer, waited patiently in his stall for me to unload everything, park and wait on a friend/grounds person (Mariah) to arrive, before tacking him up to ride. In practice, the test was magnificent...only once did he display what the judges call 'fussy' behavior. After a well deserved walk out and bath, WallE was tucked in and Mariah and I headed to our hotel for a shower! 

We arrived at the Pinecrest Inn in Tryon, very excited to shower, freshen up and go to dinner. Unfortunately, it was not to be. I had mistakenly booked the Pinecrest Inn in Pinehurst, NC for the evening...FOUR HOURS AWAY. The Pinecrest Inn in Tryon had a room, but it was a whopping  $475 a night and that was NOT in the budget. Feeling defeated and a tad bit worried about our accommodations for the evening, we sat on the porch and began calling local bed and breakfasts. Luckily we called the Greenlife Inn at Mimosa, a cute B & B right outside Tryon, NC. The owner happened to answer and said she could have a room ready by 8:30pm. Thank goodness! Problem solved! 

We went to eat, checked on WallE and made our way to the Greenlife where we slept soundly and awoke the next morning ready for the show. 

Morning of, I arrived at the show ground by 6:30am. I fed WallE his breakfast, cleaned his stall and went to walk the jump course. When I walked the jump course, I realized our height of Beginner Novice (2'6'') would not have the one stride combination. It was a disappointment, but overall it was a very rideable course with few difficult questions. In fact, there were several opportunities for us to work on lead changes over jumps or in the corners...something we have been practicing/working on. 

After I returned to the barn, Mariah arrived, we tacked WallE up and headed to warm up. WallE was AMAZING in the warm up. He became supple, willing to go forward and willing to be on the contact. I even commented to Mariah how wonderful he was behaving. Right after that comment he did the maneuver found in the middle picture. There was a horse unloading from a trailer near the warm up...and I guess WallE wanted to express his excitement. Nevertheless we continued our warm up and then headed to the show arena. 

We began to walk around the arena and the bell rang rather quickly...we picked up what can only be described as a 'fussy' trot and headed down the centerline. By the time our first trot circle concluded, things were looking up. WallE was accepting the contact and moving forward, he was listening and we were riding our best test ever. 

About the time we transitioned to the medium walk, we heard a neigh ring out over the show ground. WallE's friends from home had arrived at the show and he just had to respond. We spent the remainder of our free walk neighing, turning on the forehand and trotting in place. Things improved when we transitioned back into the trot and we made it to the centerline to halt at X without too much conflict. 

WallE and I walked back to the barn, he enthusiastically greeted his friends. We accompanied his friends to their dressage tests and then they accompanied us to Walle's show jump. His round went swimmingly, afterwards we took the horses back to the barn before the humans went to lunch. 

Post lunch the other horses ventured out to do their show jump rounds and WallE stayed behind. He pitched a fit, kicking, pawing, neighing and being all sorts of unpleasant. Eventually he stopped neighing, but was not happy about it. When we returned with the other horses, Walle had kicked or pawed both his shoes off his feet (Rendering him sore and un-rideable for the next half week). 

After everyone cooled off and the horses had time to get a bite and drink of water, we loaded up and headed home. 

Overall the Combined Training was a success. WallE and I had our very best dressage test to date...despite the less than stellar free walk. Our show jump round was great and WallE got to work on his separation anxiety. Whether your lodging falls through or your horse dances during the free walk, a horse show is still a fun time full of learning and adventure!