One of the things I love about dressage is having goals. You start with basics, and by building strength upon strength, skill upon skill, all while constantly refining communication between horse and rider, you can eventually achieve a level of harmonious partnership and fluid performance that rivals the world's best competitive ballroom couples.
Of course with Horton, I had to start before the basics; he needed an attitude adjustment first! Now we are working on the basics, so it is time to start setting some goals.
From the beginning, my ultimate goal has been for Horton to be a safe, pleasant mount for his owner to enjoy for the rest of his life. Achieving some interim goals will help demonstrate – as much for the owner's trainer as for the owner – that Horton is making strides in reaching my ultimate goal for him. To that end I've entered him in a dressage schooling show just four short weeks from today! I figure we should be able to manage Intro Level, Tests B and C. As long as Horton goes into the ring and gives me an honest effort without any balkiness, he'll be a star in my eyes.
3 comments:
Good luck!! I have some wonderful photos of Woodrow and I at our first (and only) dressage show. This was for experience only, and before he became an endurance horse. We stayed in the ring, completed the test and I believe we received 61%. Some 7s, some 3s :-)
I would be perfectly happy with those results, Mary!
Fun! I may do a competitive trail ride on Tang - it's close to home, and would be a fun outing!
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