Show Training

Well, Sunday was our last show of the year. We entered Doodle and Tango in the ridden M&M part-bred and i was riding Tango in the WHP class.

The M&M class went really well. Doodle was sensible in the walk and trot round the edge and only a bit silly in the canter. Sadly her leaping about with me put Stewart off a bit so he lost his nerve. Wehten got called in and Stewart was 6th and Doodle and I were 8th (last). Doodle was upset int eh line up as she was next to a ring with lots of cantering horse in it and she got very worried when they cantered past. After a while i decided that we were going to be beter off in our own little second row and she was a lot happier there.

Stewart did his individual show and did really well, though he didn't want to canter so didn't. seeing as he has come so far with his nerves and confidence I think he did really well just ot do the show at all, never mind canter!

When Doodle was called to do her show she didn't want to stand still for the judge so i was getting worried about our show - remember we haven't yet suceeded in doing one yet this year! Anyway, when I rode away fromt eh judge suddenly she went into working horse mode and was so well behaved that I even cantered her (though didn't ask for an extension as she just can't do tht yet). When i got back to the judge he said 'Well done!' and i was thrilled to bits with Doodle. We ended up being palced 7th and Stewart was 8th - but we both got 'special' rosettes so you can't argue with that!

Later on i did the WHP with Tango. She was a star over the jumps and went clear. there were only 2 other clear rounds so i was feeling very positive. We all then went in to do the showing bit and I was very pleased at how calm Tango was when trotting round, other horses who were being hammered around were having to circle away from us. We then cantered and Tango was cantering on nicely, in control, but in the usual Tango forwards style. We then did our individual shows and i was really really pleased with Tango. Then teh judge called us in. There I was stupidly thinking that as we were one of the 3 combinations to go clear that we'd be placed. Silly me, of course we weren't, we came last (7th) and the others that demolished the course and had more than one refusal got placed (the girl who won (then won the championship) hadn't even gone clear!). I asked the judge where we had gone wrong and he told me that despite the fact Tango totally looked the part she was too 'hypey' to be a WHP. just to show him when we all did the lap of honour at the end in canter, i did it on a loose rein. Anyway, that doesn't matter, what matters was that Tango was so sensible in the heat and jumped a lovely clear round. We did get another 'special' rosette though!

All in all it's been a really good summer for us and showing, now Doodle can go to shows and just about behave and Tango was lovely as ever. At least now we can have some lie-ins at the weekends!

bye!