First Level Debut

11/14/2014

I am actually glad I've had a few days to think about Sunday's schooling show before writing about it. Had I sat down to write on Sunday evening, you would have heard a much different version. After some reflection, I am actually far happier with how it went than I was a day ago.

Brief Soap Box moment coming …

I know I am going to offend some people here, but I have to say it. The scores at a schooling show are easily 5% to 15% higher than what they would be at a USDF show. I won my RAAC class (a smallish USDF show) with a 72.6%. Just a few weeks later at the CDS Championship show (a HUGE USDF show), I squeaked out a 62%. Both rides were very similar, and scores were fair. Scores are simply much harder to get when the stakes are higher.

So while I smile at my scores from this schooling show, they don't mean diddly squat to a rider (me) who has her sights set on USDF awards and recognition. There is no way my 63% and 64% would ever hold up at a USDF show. I am greatly encouraged, but I know I would be looking at a 55% at a rated show.

I will climb down from the soap box now.

Shake to erase!

My very good pal, Sarah (of Eventing in Color fame), was kind enough to shoot a bunch of snapshots for me. I didn't get to look at them until this morning. Usually, I cringe at the crappiness of my position and where Speedy's body is going. This time, I only deleted one shot immediately. The rest, I studied and decided that while none of them were fantastic, they also weren't as bad as the ride felt.

The very first halt.

The test, First Level, Test 1, started out great. We earned an 8.0 for our halt and a very lovely 7.0 for those fun 10-meter half circles at X.

Just starting the first 10-meter half circle. Chemaine is reading the test.

Second 10-meter half circle.

The trot lengthening wasn't grand, but it was enough to squeeze out a 6.0. The judge liked our medium walk, 7.5 but from there, things started to go a bit downhill.

Do I see the very beginning of a lengthening of stride?

To say the canter work was a disaster would be putting it mildly. Speedy decided it was mach 12 or nothing. And to make it even more impressive, he decided to show the judge that he could cross canter. I have no idea where that came from as he has never done that before in his life. I think it even surprised him.

Picking up the right lead canter … you can see trouble brewing!

The judge should have given us a slew of 3s and 4s, but instead, she gifted us with 5s for our canter work even though he was swapping leads behind the whole way through his 15-meter canter circle. I love this next picture though.

He has clearly fallen on the forehand and is running through my hand, but I am just sitting there as Zen as ever. That's Chemaine's description of my riding. I NEVER panic during a test, and no matter how bad it goes, I just keep on going as though nothing horrendous has just happened.

My Zen face!

I also love this next photo from our first lengthening at the canter. I either gave him way too strong of a half halt, or else he was rocking back ready to launch forward. It may not be great form, but it shows that he can get back on his rear end!

That's a nice rear end!

I also like this photo as we came across the diagonal ready to trot at X. Again, nothing is perfect, but the dude is starting to shorten his frame and my position is getting stronger - I've quit leaning forward at least.

That hind hind is getting more and more engaged. he definitely needs to soften up front, but we'll get there!

The judge was really kind in her scoring, which I appreciate, but the score would have been far lower at a rated show. We earned a 63.79% for First Level, Test 1 which was sixth out of six. However, the thing that I like best is that our score was close to the rest of the competitors, even though this was our first time riding First Level. Not too shabby!

The comments are spot on, but the scores are a bit generous.

Those 5s were a gift!

The very best thing about this ride is that I truly enjoyed every moment. I laughed at Speedy's run-away gallop down the long side, and I giggled as he swapped leads as we made the turn for X. As long as showing is fun, who cares about the foibles and the disasters. I feel some big improvement in our near future!

22 Comments

jenj

11/13/2014 10:46:53 pm

Totally on board with you on schooling show scores, although I have had judges who have scored what I would expect at a rated show. I've also had very very generous judges, lol! It's nice to be able to laugh at yourself and your horse in a low-pressure situation. I'm glad that you had a great time, even if Speedy threw in some... ummmm, "special" maneuvers!

Bakersfield Dressage link

11/14/2014 09:24:29 am

Schooling shows definitely have their place, and I am grateful there are a few I can attend. I like generous judges, but too many of them give you a false sense of success. Gotta have a zinger every now and again. :0)

Austen Gage link

11/13/2014 10:53:52 pm

This is an AWESOME first attempt at 1st level, are you kidding? You guys did great! First asks for a pretty substantial step up in engagement and thinking on both the rider and horse's part. Sure, you had some issues, but I wouldn't call it a total train wreck. ;)

I found that scores at schooling shows for Intro-First were pretty consistent and fair, but often higher than recognized shows. However, I find that scores at schooling shows for 2nd and above tend to be super low and judges seem to be very critical. At a recognized show, they seem to be much less critical. Schooling show judges in my area are mostly "little r" judges or L grads. I wonder if their lack of experience seeing tests over first level leads to this discrepancy?

Jan link

11/13/2014 11:24:23 pm

I've found the same thing! I had to learn to brush it off and enter my next test like I owned it and belonged. Our local schooling shows use L grads or less, and my most critcal scores have come from r and L judges. I would think the S judges would be just as critical, but they aren't.

11/14/2014 09:33:06 am

Thanks, Austen. I wasn't thrilled with our rides, but I didn't hate them either. The thing I noticed about First Level is that everything happens a whole lot faster. I always memorize my tests and never use a reader, but for this go-round, I asked Chemaine to read since there was no point memorizing tests that I'll ride again.

Even with her reading loudly and slowly, I still found myself struggling to keep up. Things got better for the second test, but I am going to have to get quicker in my preparations and be faster t making decisions!

I've never had less than L graduate as a judge, but the "easiest" judges seem to be the S judges. I am not sure why the r and R judges are tougher, but that's been my experience too.

11/13/2014 11:21:53 pm

Congrats on your debut! By next year's USDF shows I'm sure you'll be spot on! One thing I like about generous judges at schooling shows (even if we know we did badly), is that they generally have very positive comments and constructive things to say that are actually useful, which is imperative when you’re making a move up a level. You don’t want to be told, this sucked, that sucked, this was especially bad, etc. You need to be able to see something good!

I made my 2nd level debut at the worst schooling show ever- only 3-4 horses made it out of the 50’s, and they were the fancy warmbloods (I looked up the judge afterwards, she’s a huge promoter of warmbloods and importing them and doesn’t seem to want to work with anything else). There was absolutely nothing constructive on my test. No mention of how tense my horse was (the show was in a strange indoor, there was very little to no warm up because it was sleeting outside and very windy). No mention that it would be easier to ride the test in a dressage saddle (I was borrowing my trainer’s cross country saddle because my horse had decided he had enough of my dressage saddle and I hadn’t found a replacement yet). The only thing she said to me after my test was: “Do you know what a simple change is? It’s through walk, not trot. Go read the rulebook.” (partly my bad, I hadn’t read the test thoroughly enough, I was just trying to memorize 1-2, 1-3, and 2-1 all for the same day! But she didn't need to say it with attitude like I had come in and back talked her) And on her score sheet it only said “Horse and rider not ready for this level, go back to basics. Learn what a simple change is.” I was awarded a spiffy 48%. I gave it to my trainer to read and she said that she’d had nicer comments from FEI judges at her 3* tests when she botched entire canter diagonals that needed to be flying changes.

Austen link

11/14/2014 06:47:47 am

Whoa! Those are some seriously rude comments! I would not have felt out of place talking to the show management about that sort of behavior. Most show management, in my experience, want feedback on their judges so they hire ones that people want to show under.

emma link

11/14/2014 08:21:22 am

wow so rude - i'd be so upset to read that!

11/14/2014 09:36:42 am

Yikes! I've never had a rude judge, but I can assure you that I would mention it to the ride secretary if I did. I once wrote to an endurance ride manager to voice my displeasure over their choice of vets, but generally, I try to only say positive things to the show secretaries. With that, rude comments are not appropriate.

Carly

11/14/2014 03:28:39 am

Definitely agree about the schooling show scores--but that's why they're schooling shows, and it makes it that much more fun!

I'm loving the pictures of you guys, even if Speedy is looking a little sassy. Great job on your first First outing!

11/14/2014 09:38:28 am

Thanks! For the first time I am not completely cringing at my position. While I wish he looked fabulous, that's hard to do if I am a sack of potatoes. So as I get myself organized, I should start to see more and more improvement in how Speedy looks (and works). :0)

Mia link

11/14/2014 03:50:13 am

I was never able to show even the smallest lengthen trot during any first level test I've EVER ridden. Not one. Ever. I had so many "no lengthen shown" comments by the end of the year that it was a joke at that point.

You can really see Speedy's starting to get more engaged and using his body correctly!! What an awesome boy.
Any ideas why he cross-fired during the canter?

11/14/2014 09:43:20 am

We actually had some "nice" lengthenings during our Saturday lesson so at least i know what to shoot for - Chemain is a GREAT teacher. i don't know that i'll get any while working on my own, but I at least i know how to approach it.

And yes, yes I do know why he cross cantered. I've written a blog post about it that should show up in a day or so (sneak peak - I lost his haunches to the outside). :0)

Sarah link

11/14/2014 04:27:41 am

Any picture awkwardness can be attributed to photographer error!! You rode AMAZING - your body, seat, and hands were tall, secure, and quiet. Sure the first canter was exuberant, but the trot work was excellent, geometry very nice, and most importantly - you were cool as a cucumber and recovered the test very impressively!

11/14/2014 09:48:45 am

You did an excellent job! And it's not like an iPhone can do that great of a job in the shade anyway. But really, I only absolutely hated one, and that wasn't your fault. I was simply all discombobulated.. :0)

I actually have no idea what that test looked like as I was hanging on for dear life. The whole thing went by in a blur - I needed wind goggles to see. But since the pictures aren't horrible, I am guessing that it didn't look like a hack riding a nag. :0)

Chemaine did say that I actually need to be less Zen-like so I can get more WOW from Speedy. :0)

11/14/2014 08:22:33 am

so glad you're feeling good about the test - the pics are GREAT!

11/14/2014 09:49:56 am

Aw … thanks, Emma. The pictures show a team working hard, but we definitely have room for improvement. :0)

Val

11/15/2014 12:20:31 am

That is an excellent debut, no matter how you slice it.

11/15/2014 01:05:57 am

Thanks, Val! :0)

Amanda link

11/15/2014 12:35:56 am

I totally agree that schooling scores are going to be quite a bit higher than rated shows. I've always felt this was on purpose as a schooling show/ride should always have a top goal of encouraging both better performance next time and encouraging riders to come back and try again. I always get way more out of the comments than the actual scores (at least if the judge is any good).

11/15/2014 01:06:33 am

My thoughts exactly!

Tracy link

11/16/2014 07:41:39 am

shows always help remind me what I need to work on, which I love. But I'm glad you saw the positive in your ride as well -- that's equally as important!!

Not-So-Speedy Dressage