So, we strategically entered the first show of our season at a LOVELY farm in Salisbury called Chestnut Creek Stables. It was the perfect way to kick off the season with a beautiful day, not too hot, lovely people and pristine grounds. I also can't help but mention that they had a basket of carrots waiting for us at registration and two full water troughs for the ponies which I found to be equally as hospitable as the warm cookies the DoubleTree provides you upon check in.
So to get the full effect of the preparation that went into this, I need to tell you about the ever evasive, coy, hot & cold relationship I have with my left lead canter.
Notice, he can get it just fine on his own, even with his eyes closed:
I love my left lead canter. It does not love me. For over a month, Nova and I have toiled and tribulated over this left lead. Here is what would happen:
a) working trot, sitting trot, half halt to balance AND.... Cross Canter
b) working trot, sitting trot, half halt to balance, stronger supportive outside aids AND.... Right lead Canter
c) Everything in B followed by the pony attempting very bad tempi changes to try to correct (my) the error
d) working trot, slight haunches in, half halt to balance AND....left lead canter for 1 stride and break to trot
e) lather, rinse, repeat.
I would shake my head and say "WHY CANTER GODS DO YOU EVADE ME!?!"
Nova said "My legs just don't go that way when you are sitting on me!"
My friends said, "I'm sure you'll get it...one day!"
My trainer said, "You need to just teach him to load the right hind prior to the canter depart so that he can carry it through."
My brain said, "I can just trot that circle in the dressage test."
So back at the horse show I decided I would just warm up the left lead canter and not even give him any ideas about the right lead until we were in the ring. We performed every version of non-left lead cantering in the warm up possible and I was like oh well, here we go.
First, the horse trotted down center line like he was at the Olympics. He was soft for the most part throughout the test. Then we pass A, I ride a half halt, tilt his nose to the left and BOOM. We have lift off! I was so happy we got the left lead I almost cried and forgot to ride the rest of the test. However, I avoided major pilot malfunction to complete quite possibly the best test I've ever had on any horse ever. Nova is a super pony who knows when to pull through for me!
Then we had stadium. Only the second show jumping more than cross rails and Nova acts like an old pro. He flew over every jump with the exception of one slight rub because I slowed him down too much. We left all the rails in the cups and ended on our dressage score of 30% and First Place.
I couldn't be more proud of us. To think this is the same pony that was barely broke when I plucked him out of a muddy field... the same one that I needed my husband to walk beside me for our first walk outside the arena. The same pony that thought trot should be faster than gallop. Even though it was just Maiden, it feels like a huge accomplishment. I'm starting to think that we might have Beginner Novice in reach (eventually). If we make it... I think I'll have to change the name of this blog.
