Moorpark Schooling Show

7/11/2011

I'll be honest ... I am disappointed. It's not the score really, as 58% is not that bad, it's more in how Speedy behaved.

He travelled well, he unloaded quietly, he stood at the trailer happily munching his hay, and he was very polite to the many people who came to greet such a nice looking Arabian (said with surprise at least half a dozen times throughout the day).

So what was the problem? It was the riding part that was such a bummer.

The show at Classic Equestrian Center was well run. There were competitor bags for each rider filled with cool goodies. The ride secretary was easy to find and ready with show numbers. The footing was lovely. Things were on time. But ... It was the warm-up ring that did us in.

Since Speedy and I had such a long drive to make, two and a half hours each way, the ride secretary graciously let us ride our tests after lunch. The problem with that plan was that the more advanced horses and riders go after lunch. And I don't mean to offend anyone here, but those "advanced" riders were a tad bit rude. The warm up was done in a standard-sized dressage court, which isn't huge by anyone's definition, and which was made much smaller by the three riders schooling their large, loud horses. I tried very hard to follow the hunter/jumper rules of left side to left side and so on, but these ladies were oblivious. One was actually riding the entire test! I tried to stay on the rail. No good. The "test rider" came barreling behind us which sent Speedy into a tizzy. He reared to the side and nearly leaped out of the ring. Another came flying at us from the side. It was quite obvious that we were beginners, but those gals didn't care. It didn't matter that this was a simple schooling show. They were not going to share that space with me.

In frustration, and nearly in tears, I left the warm-up area and tried to warm up along the dirt rode that wound around the two dressage courts. Speedy did get a little softer, but really, it was just too late. He was so anxious by the "near attacks" in the warm up that nothing I did could soften or relax him. My name was called and I rode up to the judge's booth to introduce myself and verify the test that I was to ride. To my dismay, I saw that I had forgotten to attach Speedy's number. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was already frustrated, and now I was going to have to scratch.

The judge kindly asked if a runner could retrieve Speedy's number, but I pointed out that I had arrived alone. She saw my tearful expression and gently reminded me that it was only a schooling show and that schooling shows were where we made mistakes and learned from them. It was no big deal. I could ride without my number and she wouldn't disqualify me or take off any points. She encouraged me to have a good ride and sent me out so that she she could ring me in. I took a deep breath and plowed through the test the best I could. Speedy was a pain-in-the-patootie as he hadn't heard the judge say it was just a schooling show. He was still pretty upset by the horses in the warm-up.

After halting at X and thanking the judge, I walked back to the trailer and had a good cry. I was very frustrated with Speedy G. He has been to a handful of endurance races, many camping trips, and at least nine dressage shows. He really doesn't have any reason to be so unwilling to listen. I gave myself a little talking to, and went back to the warm-up ring for my final test. Since I was third from the last of the day, I figured it would be nearly empty. There was one rider, from the previous group, and I made it clear (with words) that I needed the far end of the ring to school some of the naughtiness out of my horse. She said fine and kept walking her horse.

It took a good 15 minutes, but I finally got some softness out of Speedy and a few canter transitions that didn't include kicks and bucks. When we were called to ride the test, I approached the judge with a big smile, called out my horse's number, and thanked her for her earlier kindness. She smiled and encouraged me to have fun and enjoy the ride. It wasn't a perfectly ridden test, but at least we got the canter without too much fuss. There were no 4s this time, but also no 8s.

We collected our ribbons, loaded up, and began the long drive home. The next morning I rode Speedy G and was pleased to find my softer, more willing pony. We did some nice circles and cantered with just the mental thought ... and canter here.

Here's Test C - Walk-Trot-Canter:

Mia

7/11/2011 02:43:03 am

Those warm up rings are a war zone! My first dressage show had me in tears from the warm up ring. Some people are just Rude. I was just a little kid and the adults were screaming obscenities at me because they decided to do 180's without looking behind them first. However, now I just plan for them to be stupid, ignorant, imbeciles and ride as though no one can steer (I.e very defensively). And in a worst case scenario, I'll just walk around the grounds and work on halt/walk transitions, leg yielding, and bending. I only trot/canter for a minute, the rest of my warm up is just keeping my horse out of harms way and making sure we stay relaxed.

I hope you keep showing! Some people are rude, but not all. And it can be a lot of fun. My first dressage show this year I forgot my number for the first test, and went off course (WITH a reader) on the second test. The judge and I had a good laugh over that one. I even got it on tape! Go me. ;).

Karen Sweaney

7/11/2011 03:45:08 am

Mia - THANK YOU SO MUCH for the comment! I have no plans to quit showing (I am in my second season), but it is really nice to feel validated, understood, and sympathized with. It shouldn't matter if you ride Intro or Grand Prix, riders should be courteous in the warm up ring, especially at a schooling show!

I am finding that there is a fair amount of animosity and competitiveness among the riders. Everyone seems to want to feel that they're BETTER than someone else. I just want to have fun and improve my riding. I KNOW most riders are better than me. I don't care, just please be nice! :0)

I know many people (in my area) look down their noses at me for showing Introductory Level, but the way I see it is that I am getting through a lot of experiences at shows that "don't count" rather than when I'm trying to qualify. I've had my share of foibles, too. Not putting on my number is just one more "story." Let's see, I too went off course with a reader. That's when I decided to memorize the tests. My reader has also given me incorrect directions. She read, "circle right 20 meters at E" when there was NO right turn. I went left and kept waiting for the judge's whistle to blow. For most of the test I was CERTAIN I was riding it backwards! By showing at the lowest levels, I am working out all of the kinks before I make it to the "big time!"

I truly appreciate your positive feedback. :0)

Karen

Val

7/12/2011 01:27:26 am

Seriously. Why do people have to behave that way? Maybe they do not realize that it only reflects poorly upon themselves and makes them look WAY less experienced than they think they are.

I had a fellow (older) competitor tell me that I was not supposed to wear white gloves unless I was showing third level and that by wearing them I was being insulting. I wasn't too rattled, because the gloves were a gift from my instructor, but it still made me angry that someone would make up a rule to try and belittle another rider.

My belief is that truly good riders now how to stay out of the way in a warm up ring and win or lose with class. I commend you for persevering and for hauling to a horse show on your own. WOW!

7/12/2011 06:00:08 am

Val - I can't believe how many people have responded to my warm-up debacle (on Facebook). I really thought I was being a big weenie about the whole thing. But as you described, I think there are many people who need to feel superior and more important than others. And as I posted on Facebook, it just does the sport a disservice when the rude and mean spirited behavior is directed at "newbies."

In the endurance world, this is a hot topic. There are those who treat the newcomers rudely, but I think (hope) that by and large newcomers are made to feel welcome. I can say that my endurance pals and myself have always gone out of our way to treat newcomers with a friendly, positive attitude. Without "newbies," the sport, whichever it is, simply can't survive.

As far as hauling to a show alone, that's the least of my concerns! :0) Not falling off or looking stupid are much more worrisome than driving alone. I have my endurance years to thank for that. I've hauled all over the place, mostly alone. The farthest I've hauled by myself was 7 hours each way. It was a long drive and not one that I want to repeat. Most endurance riders know that with endurance riding comes endurance driving.

Maybe I need to do a blog post about how to get a "no big deal" attitude about hauling alone. At the Moorpark show I pulled into the equestrian center and took a right fork when I should have gone left (I learned later). When I was shown the correct road, I decided to just back up (literally UPHILL) the road and make the right turn. A guy came running over and asked if I needed help backing up my 27 foot LQ trailer (which in the endurance world is a smallish rig to pull). I grinned and said that even though I don't look like I can back up, I could handle it alone. He just grinned back and said, go for it! At 5' 3 and a 130 pounds, I do look pretty funny in my slightly over-sized rig. :0)

In any case ... thank you for the very positive words. I was pretty discouraged when I came home, but the supportive things other dressage riders have said to me have done a lot of bolster my confidence. Thanks!

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage