Lisa's Blog post # 53

Fourth and Third out of six riders each test… In the eventing world my scores translated to a 42.5 and a 36.8.   We were blessed with a sparkling, crisp day and particularly encouraging and gracious people at Gone to Ground Farm!

The first test was a complete bust.  Cotton acted like a red-neck visiting The Big City!  He trotted into the covered arena wide-eyed and amazed – and in periscope mode.  Yes, sweetie, there is a world outside of Oak Hill Farm!  I’ll give you a tour after the test!

He was much more in touch with his rider for the second test.  I have yet to see the video of it but the remarks from the judges were about all of the issues we have been working on – only Lesley and I will know from watching the video if there has been any improvement.

My only true disappointment, so far, has been the remarks “rider only sits left”.  My heart sank when I saw that…

Here’s the deal, on the 2 recent videos of my schooling Cotton at home I am sitting up straight, in the center of the saddle – no collapsed hip – 99% of the time.  I thought I had resolved that issue once and for all.  But that little demon was back to torment me during the show!

Why?! 

Because during the test I went into auto-pilot mode – that’s a death sentence for a good score! I physically have to pick myself up out of the ditch Cotton’s slanted hips create and place myself in the center of the saddle.  I have to mentally tell myself to sink my weight into my right leg going to the right and keep my right leg on him going to the left.  At home I correct myself constantly throughout my ride but I completely forgot to do that during my test!  I think if I had been conscious of that one thing I would have done so much better during our second test.  Only a correct riding position can create a correct horse.

Lessons learned –

1)  There’s a colossal difference between riding a dressage test and riding your horse in a dressage test!  I was very thankful that I remembered my tests.   I was thankful that I was calm and not nervous.  I should have mentally prepared myself to “ride every stride” and focus on the “big rocks” like my centered position.  We have lots of issues to deal with.  I need to remember to deal with the important ones during a show when everything gets a little blurry.

2)  Even with my super-tight budget, I need to get Cotton off the Farm as much as possible.  I need to learn how to manage him when he gets distracted.  How to insist he pay attention to me without making him feel like I am forcing him into it – which makes things worse. 

When I was little and my mom, who was an official GRIT, wanted me to do something all she had to do was smile sweetly and say, “Lisa, don’t you want to go clean your room now?”   She said it in such a way that I new I better drop everything and go clean my room!  Did she force me to do it?  No.  Did I want to do it?  Yes and no.  Did I do it?  You better believe it!  I never found out what would happen if I didn’t!  (Yes, I was her compliant child – she had it so easy)

And Cotton is a compliant horse – he really is!  I just need to work on my steel magnolia delivery! and my position...