RAAC - Part of Day 2

Here is the part of the story in which you will be shaking your head and tsk, tsk, tsking me.

I'll just put it out there: I wasn't very happy with my Introductory C test, and yet I earned a fantastic score.  It was a 67.000%.  Wow, awesome, nice! Except I don't feel that way.  I had the same judge as the day before which made the whole thing even more confusing.  She gave me seven 7s, a 7.5, and even an 8 for our halt.  We also earned a single 5, a single 6, and a pair of 6.5s.  Every collective mark was a 6.5 as well.

The scores would suggest a fairly lovely test.  I wish I could feel happy about it.  Wah, wah, wah - shut the hell up, you whiner!  I know that's what you're saying, and I deserve it.  I think the problem is that it's been quite a while since I've ridden an Introductory Level Test so I've forgotten that the expectations are lower than they are for Training Level.

I have a hard time processing that my 7.0 canter at Intro is a 6.0 canter at Training Level 3.  My 8.0 halt at Intro is closer to a 6.0 at Training Level. You get the idea.  I know I should be proud of that test, but it's hard to feel that way when I want to be a successful Training Level (and beyond) rider.  I wonder how Grand Prix riders feel when they have a successful Fourth Level ride?

Okay ... whining is over.  So how did I place?  Well ... if you'll remember, I was the only rider in all of the middle third of California who qualified AND went to the RAAC at intro.  I got first place.  I hope that next year more riders will consider going to the RAAC for Introductory Level.  It really was fun, and they give you lots of cool stuff. 

For being in first place, Speedy earned a beautiful neck ribbon and an awesome cooler.  We also participated in the Honor Round which required that he and I do a victory "gallop" in the covered arena as our name and placing were called out.  I was worried that he would freak out about the neck ribbon so we kept it to a trot.  Part way during the victory lap, he caught site of the ribbon on his chest and gave it the one-eyed ogle as he crabbed down the long side.  I managed to finish the lap without any ill effects.

We then had to pose for numerous photos, one of which will be in a future edition of the CDS monthly magazine.  Lori Ovanessian, a wonderful photographer, shot Speedy at the trot, and then two more of Speedy in his ribbon (the better photo is with her awesome camera).  The last photo is one showing the lettering on the cooler.    

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

My camera, but photo by Lori

Even though I was the only competitor, it's still a nice prize!

By the way, I bought a new dark gray coat for the RAAC and was really pleased with the color.  I think it looks nice on a gray horse.

But on to more import things.  Here is the score sheet for the Introductory C Test.  There is no back page so don't think I cheated you when you see only two pages, the cover and the scores.  Collective marks fit on the same page as the actual test scores.  Click to enlarge images.