When To Step Up a Level

Should you wait for the ideal movement when everything's correct or throw yourself in with a challenge?

Now that I'm re-evaluating my show schedule this season, I've been pondering whether I should go ahead and make the jump to second level at our next show or hold off until I'm more consistent in riding the collected gaits and the canter to walk transitions. There's no such thing as "too uphill" for us either!

After that, I was thinking that we are solid at first level, but there are still some things I'd like to master before we completely move on-- such as softly bent elbows, better downward transitions, and great centerlines. We could be super competitive at first level this year with a very good chance of making it back to Nationals for it. Maybe I'll show first level until we hit a solid 70% a couple times. If I'm going to be showing at first level anyways, I should probably show in the 6 classes we need this season to get enough qualifying scored for the musical freestyle challenge at first level, which would also give us enough first level scores to earn an all-breed award and try to end up in the top 100 in horse of the year.

With a competent rider, the BHB could easily show at third level at the next show, but I have too many basics still lacking... and, well, I'm also not doing schooling all the required movements at that level :). Maybe this fall or next year I'll attempt to get the scores for my bronze medal, but I'm not ready yet!

Our Show Season is Delayed... a Few Weeks

Happy St. Patrick's day! The very Irish BHB demands a kiss (or sugar) from everyone!

Today I had to decide whether or not to enter the April GDCTA show at the GA Intl Horse Park. I had my entry filled out and ready to send in, but wasn't feeling as confident as previous entries. Mark was not yet back to a consistent work schedule due to the weather and Heather and I being out of town quite a bit. I've only had 2-3 riding lessons since the beginning of the year and Mark has only had roughly a half dozen training rides. I have been able to ride at least 3 days a week, but we haven't really advanced in the one area I would like to solidify before showing: my canter-walk-canter transitions. I know it's a small thing, but it keeps me re-evaluating whether we're ready to put together a great second level test since if that's missing, then we likely don't have the second level fundamentals down either. 

I also haven't completed my freestyle yet, so am quite hesitant to enter to show something that I don't even have complete yet. It could mean a last minute hack job putting together the music the night before the show! As the only student of Heather's looking to enter this show, I decided it would be best to delay our show debut this year until the BHB is back in peak shape, I'm confident in my skills, and our freestyle is complete (or close to it). So I think I'm going to redo our show calendar and likely reroute to the Good Horseman Foundation show at the GA Intl Horse Park in April. 

The weather looks like it's going to be quite nice during the next week, so hopefully there will be plenty of riding to be done! The BHB definitely needs to get his head out of (what's left of) his hay bale and back to work! I've already started decreasing his food a bit since he's filling out at roughly the same rate his hay bale is disappearing. 

Aiming to Ride in Not-So-Perfect Weather

David Marcus in the 2012 Olympics... competing in heavy rain!!!

I almost didn't go riding after work today. Why? There was a constant 25+ mph wind blowing everything around. Yet it was 55-degrees outside, and I realized that the weather was much nicer than I rode in at the National Finals last fall. So I had no reason to chicken out and even more of a reason to go ride. 

The weather in Kentucky at last year's National Finals was miserable (40-degrees and 15-20 mph winds) and highlighted the fact that my show clothes are more suited for the Southern heat instead of frigid cold. This year I will be sure to bring 2-3 more layers of warm clothing to wear under my show clothes!

At shows, our fancy dressage horses are frequently forced into performing in less than perfect weather conditions. Rain, wind, freezing cold, southern heat... they can all happen at a show! Unless you're willing to throw away all the money you've paid to enter your classes (assuming the show is continuing), you're going to be competing in the weather at the show.

On the drive home after riding, I was wondering why we don't ride more in the miserable weather to desensitize our horses and ourselves to doing so. Then the random plastic bag flying across the arena during your test because of strong winds wouldn't be as spectacular of an event. 

The BHB and I had a few small "moments" during my ride tonight with the strong winds blowing the bamboo and trees next to the arena around, but it was quite easy to work through. I was also able to get more practice managing a very excited and hotter BHB, which was a good experience for me. Riding in not-so-perfect weather is a new goal for this year. I'd like to be fully prepared for any condition I might run across at a show. 

Life of an Adult Amateur: Business Travel

If only travelling was stress-free :)

It’s quite difficult to juggle riding and a job, especially if that job requires quite a bit of travel. For the last several months I’ve been travelling for work roughly a week each month, and with trainers out of town and unable to take over, I’ve been feeling the stress of not getting the BHB the exercise he wants. He’s been a surprisingly good egg about it, especially since he’s been known to become a bit of a brat when he goes 3+ days without getting ridden. Maybe the better turnout at his new place is keeping him pacified while both Heather and I are out of town.

I have another work trip in a couple weeks, but it’s not going to be the same week Heather will be out of town, so we will be able to keep my beast happy. Thank goodness for horse trainers that can ride the busy business professional’s horses! It’s a symbiotic relationship—they need clients to make a living and we need people who are available to ride and train our horses! I’d like to say that I’m one of those adult amateurs that’s successfully working up the levels and doing everything on her own, but I’m not sure that’s even possible to do while being a business professional working a full-time job in a big city… Maybe if I didn't work full time or if I lived (and worked) close to a barn, but certainly not right now.

Moving On: Part 3

Frogcatcher Farm

Today the BHB's home base relocated to Frogcatcher Farm in Johns Creek, GA. It's not very close to where I live (a 30 minute drive without traffic or up to an hour with traffic), but the farm is a breathtaking facility with plenty of (irrigated) grassy turnout and Heather Beachem, an up-and-coming dressage trainer, located on site. I could share pictures, but they wouldn't be able to do the facility justice. I think the BHB will try to puff up into a rotund chunk once he's out on grass all day, but we will definitely be working to manage his weight so he can stay looking like a "sleek sporthorse." 

The BHB will get another two weeks of easy riding while his new trainer Heather and I are both out of town quite a bit on work trips. Then the second half of the month will be focusing on working him back into peak show condition so we can have a decent first show on the first weekend of April. I think we will likely enter at least one day of first level classes to get back into the showing groove since he's had a mental and physical break the last few months. If I get really lucky, my first level freestyle might be ready to debut. It was pushed to the side with all the craziness happening lately, but I'm hoping to get back to working on it next week. I have the walk and canter music picked out and very roughly edited, but am still narrowing down my list of potential trot music. 

Three weeks may not be quite enough time to get back the uphill carriage needed for second level, but we may try to do a second level class or two on the second day. The BHB is a star second level horse because he's so solid in all of the lateral work and collected/medium gaits. My canter to walk transitions still need a bit of work, but everything else is pretty solid for me at second level. Most of my issues at second level are caused/amplified by bad positional habits or aids that I haven't quite finished getting rid of, such as getting ahead of the movement with my upper body. My arms are a seemingly never-ending work in progress and definitely reduce the effectiveness of the aids from the bit when my shoulders tense and elbows lock out. Despite all my issues, luckily I do have a pretty decent seat for an adult amateur at my level thanks to Pilates and years of riding.