Blossom in Spring: T2

This was my first ever attempt at Training 2.  I had never even run through it at home.  It's so similar to T1 that I felt comfortable enough to give it a whirl.  And even though I made one pretty big goof that cost us several points, I am really pleased with how it went.  I think we're definitely ready to be showing at Training Level, and the third test is looking to be within our reach before the season's end.  (I hope so anyway!)

I work hard to memorize the tests, but this time I memorized it incorrectly.  Rather than cantering between C & H (and between C & M), I thought I was supposed to canter at C which is much more difficult.  On movement 4, you can see that we picked up the canter okay, but in my haste to get the canter at C, I rushed the corner. When we tracked right, I asked for the canter at C again, but this time Speedy couldn't get the right lead while being on the straight.  He picked up the wrong lead, and it took me until the circle at B to get him on the correct lead.

Oh.  And did I mention that as he was picking up the incorrect canter lead at C he launched a massive cow kick at the judge?  Oops!  After my final salute, I walked up to her to apologize and hoped that Speedy hadn't showered her with dirt.  She just smiled and suggested I use the corner to pick up the canter instead of doing it at C.  What?  It was then that I realized I had memorized the test incorrectly.  Again, oops!  Yes, picking up the canter in the corner would be much easier than trying to do it at C.  Lesson learned!

On a better note, check out movement #7, the stretchy trot.  I don't know if it really deserved a score of 7, but it felt a whole lot better than in the previous test.  He was a bit over the whole thing which helped him to relax. I actually had to squeeze more than once to even get him into the arena.  I think he was starting to get hip to the notion that entering at A means work!  (This arena had no alley so to enter at A you have to trot down the long side and do a 10 meter circle at A and come down the centerline.) 

The score sheets are posted below if you're interested.

One last thing ... if you look over on the side and scroll down, way down, you'll see the Dressage Scores Explained.  This is for the non-showing dressage crowd who may not be familiar with what all these numbers mean.