Sunday, June 27th, I took Ganowe 2 to the Middlesex Horse Show held at the New Jersey Horse Park. We shipped in for the $10,000 1.30m Prix. There were 20 entries, and I was on the order of go at 5th.
I walked the course with my mom, and explained the different things that I saw in the course. It was fun to share that with her. I gave her Ganowe to work with since she has been down from New Hampshire and she has completely fallen in love with him. So for her it was more exciting to watch the horse go since she had been riding him every day.
I on the other hand had not ridden the horse since our 1.40m course at Blue Rock which was in May...but I guess that it really doesn't matters when riding Ganowe. For me, the 1.30m course was my forth go at a bigger level course. I felt pretty confident in the ride I gave Ganowe. He felt perfectly confident, and very game to tackle whatever I pointed him at.
I've had Ganowe for a year this month, and not that I'm looking for a 'pat on the back' but we've come a long, long way and I think that our course at Middlesex was our first course that we really did together. It felt good. We didn't complete a fault free course, but we tackled the hardest elements with ease.
I wish I had the ability to show every weekend at this level, and continue getting to know Ganowe, but its easier said than done. I have to bring along the young guys and keep Ganowe fit enough to slip him in every once in a while. We will get there! I have full confidence :-)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Swan Lake
Wednesday June 23rd I took La Grange to Swan Lake in Littlestown , PA for the 5 Year Old Qualifier. Looking back at the day I was happy with La Grange, and I was pretty happy with the ride I gave him.
Swan Lake was our fifth horse show ever. I trust that La Grange can actually JUMP, so what we are working out is experience. He doesn't back off the jumps but he does see the score board and he does see the tents and the people moving around when we are on course, can sometimes distract him from jumping brilliantly and causing a rail.
I think what I realize is that I expect A LOT from this little guy. I think we can get so wrapped up into what we want, and forget to see where we've come from, and be grateful for all our experiences and improvements.
We finished 3rd in the qualifier. Our next stop is Princeton on Thursday and the Dream Park on Friday. Both shows holding the qualifier classes.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Upperville
We had a pretty long day yesterday... got up at 2:30am fed the horses and then we left for Upperville, VA to go in the 5 Year Old Young Jumper Qualifier Class with La Grange. It was a brand new experience for La Grange seeing as it was on the grass in a big field. The jumps were great, the footing wasnt too bad, and all in all I had a great time. La Grange felt really confident jumping the new jumps and handled everything well leaving us in 5th Place. I didnt have anyone to video tape or do pictures so I'm sorry, you'll just have to trust me that it was a good day.
Next stop is a small schooling show this Sunday, and then PJA :-)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
No Excuses
So today was DEVON..Day One: and, also, more importantly show three for La Grange.
All in all, I was very happy. Extremely happy. However, the boss was not. Why? Well I guess I have been thinking too much a long the lines of 'excuses'. What exactly... well using the excuse that it was our third show ever, or using the excuse that all he has ever done until 3 weeks ago was fox hunt and go to the races to outride. So, now those excuses where wrapped up in a small figurative little bag and thrown out the window, somewhere on Sugartown Road as we left to go home this morning.
One would think that those 'excuses' sound pretty legitimate.. they are, if you were on any other horse besides La Grange. He is a goofy little man, when he isn't busy eating or playing in the field with his friends, and you look at him and his crooked blaze and his floppy ears, you can't help but look into his eyes and see an old soul. He is such a kind hearted horse. He walked into the ring at Devon, couldn't care at all, acted like this was his job.
From my place in the jockeys seat he felt like he jumped fantastic. I could feel him take a little step back at the size of the jumps. Usually we go in a class that is one level smaller to get a feel for the jumps and the lines, but not at Devon. Remember Devon 'Where Champions Meet' ? So, cold turkey jump the jumps, go clean and jump off... ummm not so easy.
With the slight hesitance that I was feeling I started to ride with my reins a little loose, loosing the 'frame' that we had been carrying so well, and I tried to give him a confident and free ride around the course... that lead to a couple rails down and a green ribbon.
So again, what was so bad about all that you say? Well, I wasn't on just any horse, I was on La Grange, and that's what I need to keep in mind. I decided to remember this as well, "Veni, vidi, vici" and know that we, La Grange and I, can do anything. We are on the path to greater things, and that's far better than being on no path at all!
We ride tomorrow at Devon at 9am - wish us the best!
Cheers for now - Priscilla
All in all, I was very happy. Extremely happy. However, the boss was not. Why? Well I guess I have been thinking too much a long the lines of 'excuses'. What exactly... well using the excuse that it was our third show ever, or using the excuse that all he has ever done until 3 weeks ago was fox hunt and go to the races to outride. So, now those excuses where wrapped up in a small figurative little bag and thrown out the window, somewhere on Sugartown Road as we left to go home this morning.
One would think that those 'excuses' sound pretty legitimate.. they are, if you were on any other horse besides La Grange. He is a goofy little man, when he isn't busy eating or playing in the field with his friends, and you look at him and his crooked blaze and his floppy ears, you can't help but look into his eyes and see an old soul. He is such a kind hearted horse. He walked into the ring at Devon, couldn't care at all, acted like this was his job.
From my place in the jockeys seat he felt like he jumped fantastic. I could feel him take a little step back at the size of the jumps. Usually we go in a class that is one level smaller to get a feel for the jumps and the lines, but not at Devon. Remember Devon 'Where Champions Meet' ? So, cold turkey jump the jumps, go clean and jump off... ummm not so easy.
With the slight hesitance that I was feeling I started to ride with my reins a little loose, loosing the 'frame' that we had been carrying so well, and I tried to give him a confident and free ride around the course... that lead to a couple rails down and a green ribbon.
So again, what was so bad about all that you say? Well, I wasn't on just any horse, I was on La Grange, and that's what I need to keep in mind. I decided to remember this as well, "Veni, vidi, vici" and know that we, La Grange and I, can do anything. We are on the path to greater things, and that's far better than being on no path at all!
We ride tomorrow at Devon at 9am - wish us the best!
Cheers for now - Priscilla
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