Dressage in Santa Barbara - Day 2: Training Level Test One (Again!)

This was not our best ride, but to look at my score, you'd think I'd be ecstatic.  It's the highest score I've had at Training Level, and it even counts as my final score for a CDS plate.  What's not to like?

I know what happened, and I missed the opportunity for an even better score.  I learned a very valuable lesson at this show: two day dressage shows are tiring.

Are you a Survivor fan?  Hubby and I are, and we never miss an episode.  I've always said that if I ever make it on the show, I'll be one of those busy-bees who is always gathering wood and boiling water.  I'll be hunting for crabs and tracking down coconuts.  And the whole time that I am busting my hind end, I'll be mumbling under my breath about my lazy tribe members who just sit around all day in the hammock doing nothing.  What I now realize is that those lazy people are actually saving up their energy for the challenges.  And chances are, those people would win immunity and kick my busy-bee butt right out of the tribe.

The next time I go to a two-day show (hopefully in June), I'm going to spend a lot less time scurrying about and a lot more time in the lounge chair relaxing.  What does this have to do with my final test of the weekend? Well, the truth is that I was too tired to really ride Speedy G like he needed me to do.  I felt him come above the bit, but I was too tired to squeeze.  I felt him lose a bit of impulsion, but again, I was just too tired to urge him forward.  Hilda Gurney saw it, too.  Look at her comment in the Collective Marks, needs more energy.  Yep, I sure did!  In her Further Remarks she adds, Ask more from your horse.  I certainly should have.  

Next time, I'm going to make sure I sit around a lot, and I'm going to have a cold Coke before I head off for that last test.  Maybe a bit of caffeine and sugar will help with the lack of energy.  No one's voting this rider off the island!

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