SMDA show #1 - May 6, 2012

Reva and I competed in her first dressage show of the year (and the third one of her life!) on May 6, 2012.  It was a Southern Maine Dressage Association show.

Waiting for our first test!  She was interested in her surroundings, but very VERY well behaved!

She was excellent for our first outing of 2012!  She was a bit nervous but held it together really well.  She is not really sure she understands why we have to stay in the little bitty dressage ring, but she really tried to be a good obedient girl and that is what matters at this point.  She wasn't really "scared" but just tense.  


Intro A had some really nice moments.  We had all 6.5s and 7s (I had forgotten that the half points are now allowed!  Cool!) and just one 4 on our first right trot circle at A.  Reva tried to exit quickly at A and we nearly left the arena.  LOL!  I am pretty sure at least two, if not three, hooves left the ring.  We had to "jump" back into the ring with her front feet.  I was a bit rattled, but what can you do?  I laughed it off and rode the rest of the test with more attention to her tendency to want to blow through the outside aids.  When Reva is tense, she really sucks back behind the vertical and takes choppy mincing steps.  It is a catch 22 in a way; while I am pleased she is no longer trying to trot around like a racing giraffe, I also don't want her behind the vertical (you'll see what I mean in the pics) and I want her to use her body properly.  She has a lovely big trot stride and we have developed a good marching walk.  But when she is tense, she gets mincing.  If I ask for a bigger stride, I run the risk of pushing her go button.  We are still trying to sort out half halts away from home (aka she understands the concept at home but at shows and at lessons she "forgets").  Still, we scored a 62.9% and earned a second place ribbon!  :-)  The judge (Adam Cropper) wrote, "Well matched horse and rider.  Horse could cover more ground in both gaits."  All my collectives were 6.5s except rider position was a 7!

Yay mare!  Super cheesy smile for our Intro A second place ribbon!

Intro B felt like a much better test.  Reva was a bit less tense (and did not try to exit stage left!  LOL!) and we scored all 6.5s and 7s with all 7s on our collectives except for a 6.5 on submission.  The judge wrote, "Lovely pair! with good potential.  Would like to see horse with better lateral suppleness and steadier contact."  We earned another second place ribbon with a 66.3%!   It was a good place to start and reinforced that I am working in the right direction with Reva.  I am working on covering more ground in her gaits through relaxation, suppling her laterally, and working on keeping a steady contact (and not dropping behind the bit!)  I think she is coming along well and I am proud of her!


Professional pics are here.  


Online results.