![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1smZTHatk0wbIOlCTOkRUAg0VOwOLgGcGQSyyThFItcfNsoPE_kR7h6ykvJY7yui3Zz5hgxo9j6JTV_eMGWz4Wdr6YiOkwsUQbgYecUDy_bg6B1XSoExkCFSBQS50CfczxK5qY2Mh43w/s320/ri18.png) |
A rare moment when my position is helping Ri balance |
Oh, the title "We was robbed!!!"? Totally kidding :-)
First attempt at Training 3
If I felt we were underrated (with our score of 64.2%), it was because I was so, so proud of Ri. Each of our two rides (Training 3 and 2) was a blast. He was animated but listening and willing, and he "offered" some of the best trot work we've had to date. I think I was so jazzed at how good he felt that I lost my focus.
I did hear some scuttlebutt that the judge is very conservative with scores and that this judge likes the number 6. :-) The highest score in the training division was a 65%.
Um, no video of our best effort (again)
Bob (who was on time and on his game) grappled with a camera malfunction ("disk full" message when disk was most certainly
not full). He missed our first test, but was able to format the drive, and successfully record our "lesser" test of the day, Test 2.
A rundown of our first attempt at Test 3:
- 8 on stretchy walk
- 7 on first serpentine (I was very worried about this)
- 6.5 on canter across the diagonal to trot at X (was afraid we would barrel right through X)
- No 5s
- 7 on gaits
- Comment: Attractive, elegant horse, relaxed and forward ride. Work on suppling over the back. Enjoy this kind of horse."
In both tests, my position came and went. We still did not fix our canter departs. I waaaaay overshot the centerline coming down to our last halt. We broke from canter for a stride during our right lead canter. Our trot to halt was abrupt. If these things sound familiar, it is because they are familiar! I keep making these mistakes and it costs points.
In my heart I thought we deserved a higher score -- really I did -- just based on how it
felt. But the truth is, you don't make the above mistakes and get a score like that. So I will take my score and read the comments and be grateful for a very good, very fun day.
70%? Maybe next time!