RAAC - The Rest of Day 2

I had high hopes for the final ride, Training Level Test 3, but Speedy and I kind of blew it.  We started out well, but the right lead canter got the better of us.  He picked up the canter without a buck and earned a 6.0, but during the circle he got stronger and stronger and I started hauling back on the reins.  He switched leads and then grabbed the bit and bulldozed up the long side.  I pulled him up so hard that he broke gait too early which messed up our downward transition at C.

Even after all of that, our stretchy trot was again improved.  Not enough to earn a six, but at least there was some downward movement.  And to wrap up the weekend, we nailed the final trot up the centerline, 7.0.

We earned a 57.200 % which was very close to Saturday's scores, but this ride felt nowhere as nice as those rides.  My "goods" must not be as nice as I think they are, and my "bads" aren't as terrible as they feel!

My fear was to place 10th out of ten.  Fear realized.  We earned a beautiful ribbon though!  Click images to enlarge.

Our canter needs a lot of work - Photo by Lori Ovanessian

10th Place - We participated in the Honor Round for this ride as well.

And that's it folks.  There's not much more to add to our first ever Regional Adult Amateur Competition.  I hope to be back next year with a more confident horse so that we can do more than just get our feet wet.  I'd like to be competitive.  

I am pretty sure Speedy's season is over.  I do have two more shows listed in the pending column over there on the right, but I don't think Speedy will be going.  He's done an awful lot this year: he was shown 15 days, at 12 shows, in 30 tests, in 11 months.  We're tired, or at least I am.  Speedy G's got staying power; he could probably just keep on going!  Sydney may get to go later this month.  If not, I am good until the spring of 2013!