Dressage in the Valley/Day 2, T2

You're probably bored by the slow revelation of the show, but analyzing each test helps me process how it went.  Four days later and I still find it hard to believe the scores of the third judge.

I learned in Santa Barbara, my first two-day show, that I get pretty tired by the end of day 2.  I kept that in mind throughout this show, but I still couldn't beat the exhaustion.  I drank a Coke in the afternoon, I hung out in the shade, I resisted the urge to piddle around ... I was still tired.  My last test of the show wasn't until 2:17.  By 1:30 I was considering scratching so we could just get home.  

I ran across Brian Isbell, one of the riders in my class, and joked about being tired and hot.  He commiserated, but then gave me a big Atta Girl! which boosted my resolve and got me in a better frame of mind.  In fact, throughout the afternoon he gave me several welcome smiles that encouraged me to stick it out.  I am glad I did.  

We scored a 62.679% for Training Level test 2 which earned us second place out of a class of 6!  This gave us yet another score for our CDS Plate and a back-up score for the RAAC.  The Rider Performance Award scores must be from four different judges so I only get to use one of Sunday's scores. That's okay though.  I'll take a score above 60% any day of the week even if it doesn't count towards any kind of award program.

Here are the score sheets.  Check out the 8 and the lovely steed! comment!