A Job Well Done?

Each ribbon has been important!

Tiny edit ... Mary pointed out that the RAAC is actually a competition, not a championship.  I've made the change down below.

I don't need an atta-girl for every little thing I do, but I will admit that I like earning ribbons at shows.  And year-end awards, no matter how small, mean something to me.  I work pretty hard to improve my riding and a small token acknowledging that is appreciated.

Did you know that a certificate is earned by California Dressage Society members who achieve scores of 60% or better at Introductory C Level or above in a single show season?  Hey!  That's me.  I think I'm getting a certificate!  I have three scores of 60% or higher for this show season (October 1 - October 1).  This season I showed at five rated shows, one schooling show, and the October Ride-a-Test.  My Intro C scores for the rated shows were 54.500%, 60.500%, 57.500%, 62.000%, and 65.500%.  

An engraved plate is awarded the first time a member earns five (5) or more scores of 60% or better at Introductory C Level or above in a single show season.  Recipients will continue to receive plates every year thereafter.  The plate is engraved with the horse's name, level of competition and number of scores.  Can someone explain this though?  Once you earn the first plate, do you have to continue earning five scores each year to earn the next plate, or do you just need one score of 60% or better?  Either way, the 2012 show season has begun and my goal is to earn a plate.  My first opportunity will be at the Clovis show at the end of this month, and I'll have a second chance two weeks later at the show here in Bakersfield over Veteran's Day weekend. 

Slightly off the subject here ... While I am not 100% sure, I am pretty sure that the above 65.500% is a qualifying score for the 2012 Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC).  CDS doesn't have the date for when the 2012 qualifying seasons opens, but last year qualifying opened on September 2, 2010.  My score was earned on September 25, 2011 so I hope it falls within the qualifying window.  If so, I only need one more score to qualify for next fall's RAAC.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get the second score in Clovis or here in Bakersfield.

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AERC Chevrons

It's not that a certificate for Introductory C is any big deal, but I am extremely goal oriented.  I need something to work toward. The American Endurance Ride Conference has a well-established award system.  It's not fancy, but it's a way to track your success. The top riders, both of whom I had the pleasure to ride with, have over 60,000 race miles.  Yes, I typed that correctly.  Over 60,000! My final mileage was 3,585.  Not even close, but it didn't matter because AERC awarded me with a token of recognition each time I reached a new plateau.

For beginning riders, each 250 miles is awarded a chevron patch, much like CDS's certificate for Introductory C.  Once a rider reaches 1,000 miles, chevrons are awarded each 1,000 miles thereafter.  If you click on the picture, you'll see that there is a space for my 4,000th mile patch.  I was short just 415 miles and while they don't seem like much, it turned out to be more difficult to ride them than to write about them.  I will always be a bit sad that I never filled the space.  

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Montoya's Medals

AERC also honored our horses with medals each time they reached a 1,000 mile plateau. Montoya DSA earned 2 medals and was only 250 miles short of her third before passing in 2010.

AERC's chevrons and medals were just small tokens, but for a goal-oriented rider, they provided a validation of the effort that I put in week after week, year after year.  If CDS does send me a certificate for this year's mini accomplishment, I will proudly display it on the wall next to my AERC chevrons and Montoya's medals.  And if I do earn that plate for 2012?  You'll see it hanging on my wall next fall as well!

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