dressage

CEDA Fall Classic: Trail Dressage

I saw an ad on facebook for a "fun show" at a local-ish h/j-ish barn and thought that it would be a blast to take Whiskey to.  I'd planned on poles and cross rails.  Then I found out that there would be a dressage show at the same venue, at the same time.  So I started looking at the dressage classes, too.

I registered in advance and when the ride times were announced, I found out that there would be at least a solid three hours between my jumping and my dressaging.  It didn't seem fair to expect Whiskey to hang out for that long at his first show, so I scratched the jumping.

So here's the rundown on my first class:  Trail Dressage

The test I'd been provided was literally this:


So from that description, I thought the course would look like this:
Alas, it did not.  They had no hay bales, instead stools.  And not enough poles.  I actually had to ask them to raise the stools, because they'd been set with my sole competitor, an Arabian, in mind.

So you enter at A at a working trot, trot the poles, halt and salute, then trot on up to C.  Track right at C, follow the rail, and serpentine the cones.

Then walk at A, "navigate the U", which just meant walk through the two poles, and turn right back on the rail on the longside.

At the first stool, I had to pick up an "object".  This turned out to be a bag of fun-sized bags of chips.  Whiskey gave no shits.  And then I dropped it at the second stool.
At the second stool, I picked up a trot and turned down the centerline, going back over the little poles.  Then walk at A and track left.
Then navigate the cones again.  Walk to the third stool and pick up a ball.  This was sorta hard because I felt like I had to lean way out of the saddle because Whisk is so tall.  Damn Arabians.

I had to trot a 20 meter circle one-handed with the ball, then drop the ball in a bucket.  Halting at the bucket was optional, so I just tossed it.  My trick for this was to bridge the reins in one hand.  Then back down the long side with a half 10 meter circle to end up somewhere on the centerline.
Whiskey and I came in first place, even though it felt very rough to me.  I can't even begin to properly articulate what a fucking good horse he is.

Photos!
He so handsome.

Halting is hard.

Navigating.

Navigating.

Still handsome.

Walking.

Bag of bags of chips in hand.

Trot poles on centerline.

Walking.  Still handsome.

Ball in hand, showing off.


Trotting with ball.

Just threw the ball and finishing up.
WHY ARE MY HANDS LIKE THAT?

Video!


Results!
The only thing I really disagree with is the "immobility" at picking up the ball, step 7.  If you watch the video, Whiskey stood like a statue for me to lean over and get the thing.  Again, I'm just overwhelmed by this horse.  From a pasture ornament that wouldn't let me mount to a show pony in less than six months.

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    13 comments

    1. L.WilliamsOctober 31, 2017 at 12:00 PM

      Trail Dressage? That's pretty interesting. I did something similar once but with jumping fences and they called it "Cross Country Hunters" lol

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    2. TBAOctober 31, 2017 at 12:08 PM

      That sounds like a fun class! Congrats :)

      ReplyDelete
    3. Alli + DinoOctober 31, 2017 at 12:14 PM

      YAY YOU!! Uh also that looks REALLY FUN AND I WANNA DO IT WITH DINO!

      ReplyDelete
    4. EquiNoviceOctober 31, 2017 at 12:48 PM

      Well, that's cool! What a great experience for Whiskey! I'm with ya though, a stool height would not cut it for me either- this 30 something will NOT be clinging to my horse's side like a monkey (not on purpose...at least!) You guys made it look pretty easy.

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    5. The $900 fb ponyOctober 31, 2017 at 1:16 PM

      Henry would shit a brick at those stools being in the scary rectangle.

      ReplyDelete
    6. Olivia @ DIY Horse OwnershipOctober 31, 2017 at 2:47 PM

      Congrats. What a cool class. I didn't even know trail dressage was a thing, but now I totally want to do it.

      ReplyDelete
    7. emmaOctober 31, 2017 at 2:49 PM

      a) that class looks awesome
      b) charlie would... .struggle
      c) whiskey continues to be amazing <3

      ReplyDelete
    8. Madeline C.October 31, 2017 at 10:06 PM

      No way that's awesome! Brantley and I would've never made it haha. I love his face in the last pick. "Wait... I got first?"

      ReplyDelete
    9. julesatthebarnNovember 1, 2017 at 6:30 AM

      Great job Beka! Happy for you:)

      ReplyDelete
    10. Liz StoutNovember 1, 2017 at 7:00 AM

      Whiskey is such a great horse - I'm so happy for you! Great job at the show.

      ReplyDelete
    11. Rocking E CowgirlNovember 1, 2017 at 11:31 AM

      I love fun shows! What a great place to debut.

      ReplyDelete
    12. NiamhNovember 3, 2017 at 1:16 PM

      This is a fascinating competition! You guys look like a well-oiled machine! He's so handsome.

      ReplyDelete
    13. SheMovedtoTexasNovember 5, 2017 at 8:21 PM

      Woo! The first of many blue ribbons I'm sure :)

      ReplyDelete

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