Our first outing! I decided to be brave and pop Carlos into a local express dressage event. I only chose the Intro C test as the other was Intro A and I've not been the best at learning that (though I have learnt it since ready for Dressage Riders Online this month)! I got him ready on Saturday, including giving it a bash at my first sewn in plaits. I hoped they would survive the night better than ones just banded in as I tend to struggle to plait due to having bad hands so having to replait on a morning too leaves me with very painful hands. Sadly the odd one did unroll but I just stuck in a plaiting band so they still looked ok.
He was nice and calm when I was getting him ready but I gave him a calming cookie anyways as I knew he would likely worry once travelling. He hesitated as I went to load him but then thankfully went in and travelled well. I said to Dan on the way I feel like I've forgotten something, on arriving at the venue and being asked for Carlos passport I realised what I had forgotten. Thankfully I only live 5 minutes from the venue but poor Carlos had to join us which I don't think he was too impressed with.
He was super calm and collected when I unloaded him and tied him up, which was a nice surprise. Once all tacked up I got on board and headed into the warm-up. He has a silly little spook heading into the warm-up arena and then another at some scaffolding that was up against the indoor arena but after that, he just got on with the job he was asked. He warmed up really well, he wasn't at all fussed with the other horses going past him either.
We headed out of the warm-up arena to the indoor with perfect timing as the doors opened. I pushed him forward and the tension began, one of the staff kindly lead him in past all the scary monsters of the doors. As soon as he stepped inside he grew in height, became a giraffe and I felt any control I had in the warm-up head straight back out the door! I headed around stroking his neck and purposely walking him straight towards the white markers and telling him he was ok which helped him settle a little. We got past the judge's box with a lot less worry than I thought he would have but he continued to spook at the whiteboards and markers. We were told by the judge we could start and I wish I had turned him around and trotted down the other side as I later found the whiteboards got scarier in the other eye.
As we trotted up the centre line I was trying not to laugh as he wobbled up, looking side to side wondering what on earth he was doing in there. The rest of the test for me went like a blur other than remembering he didn't relax, or listen and was constantly looking elsewhere and spooking at the boards. He didn't let me ride him at all, I just steered the best I could. The feedback given was spot on with marks from 6.5-5 scoring 56% (5th place - out of 5 entries) and the judge's comments were 'Shame the tension was affecting the suppleness and rhythm today. When he allows you to ride him more correctly forward marks will improve.'
I know what work he's producing at home and how lovely he was in the warm-up so I now know I just need to get him going to lots of different places and get him to relax when seeing the world!
On the whole, I'm over the moon with how he went. This venue also has another dressage planned for December so hopefully, I can attend that one and get a little more relaxation from him!
Video of our test -
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