Awards Banquet

I feel great about the year Speedy and I had. On the showing front, we moved from nearly 60% scores at the start of the season up to the high 60s (67%) by the season's end. We earned our USDF Training Level Patch. We earned enough scores to be considered for the CDS Henry Buchard Trophy, and we qualified for the CDS Championships. We will earn a CDS plate to add to our plaque, and we even won the 2013 Training Level Championship at El Sueno. 

And then there's my second season ...

I feel as though Sydney and I had a dismal and disappointing year. We worked so hard, but we just couldn't pull it together at shows. We did have two good scores at schooling shows, a 61.5% at Intro C and a 63.333% at Training Level Test 1, but everything else was in the 50s. There was even that ridiculous 48%. 

4/7/13 Spring Dressage Fling Schooling Show
Un-rated

• Introductory C - 61.50%
• Training Level Test 1 - 57.50%

5/26/13 TMC Spring Mountain Dressage 
CDS-Rated

• Introductory C - 58.000%
• Training Level Test 1- 48.750%

6/23/13 TMC Mountain Solstice Dressage 
CDS-Rated

• Introductory C - 55.500%
• Training Level Test 1- 52.083%

6/30/13 Early Summertime Dressage Schooling Show 
Un-rated

• Introductory C - 51.75%
• Training Level Test 1- 63.333%

8/11/13 It's Showtime! Schooling Show
Un-rated

• Introductory C - 56.500%
• Training Level Test 1 - 50.208%

8/25/13 TMC Cool Mountain Dressage Show
CDS-rated

• Introductory C - 55.000%
• Training Level Test 1 - 56.875%

But.

As I look over the scores we earned, I realize they aren't that bad. They represent a team that is struggling, but occasionally hitting the mark. Riding at a show, no matter the level of show, requires an additional skill set that goes beyond the skills required for riding at a particular level. We can be the perfect Training Level team at home, but once we're at a show, we both have to deal with our nerves, a new stall, a new arena, new sights and sounds, and on and on.

My husband and I made the trip to Tehachapi on Saturday night for my CDS chapters's annual awards banquet. Tehachapi Mountain Chapter is a generous and supportive group. They work hard to support both juniors and adult amateurs. Without their initial support, I probably would have stuck to endurance riding. It was during the banquet that I realized Sydney and I aren't doing that bad.

Quite the ritzy affair!

There were at least 80 people at the banquet including riders, trainers, and supportive family members. Everyone around me applauded and congratulated the riders who received an award. Only 13 people in the room were given an award, including me. It made me realize that even though my scores were low, it's still pretty hard to get to show after show and earn any kind of a score. It was really gratifying that all of those people were there to recognize our hard work.

Terry Quinn, in the tuxedo, presenting awards.

Sydney and I earned Adult Amateur Introductory Level Reserve Champion with an average of 56.167% while competing in the Tehachapi Mountain Summer Dressage Series (CDS-rated). It was our first season of showing together. We were awarded a certificate and a large bag of horse treats. It was actually quite satisfying to be recognized.

Me. iphone pic. Gift bag and certificate.

I have the rest of fall and winter to work with Sydney. We have a clinic this month, and hopefully he can also go to the Christian Schacht Clinic in December. We need to work on the right lead canter of course, but I am hoping these clinics will be an opportunity for us to deal with the nerves of being in a different arena. 

Here's to the 2014 show season!