Stepping up to Novice (again), and VETERAN CHAMPION!

We have had a few longer breaks over the past couple of years and I didn't think we would be able to perform our best at Novice level again. You need a lot more impulsion, power and suppleness for a Novice test to continue to gain those better marks, and he has never been the supplest of horses, so I am not thinking I am going to find that button in his 20s! We work with what we have! A lot of the 80/90 Eventing tests are similar to Prelims, so I guess before the lockdown I just focused on what I needed for the tests without pushing ourselves. We have all had a lot more time this year to be able to improve at home without Competitions influencing our work, so it was perfect really to step up again.

I have to start with telling you that Pepsi and I were the Veteran League Champions for 2020 Dressage Riders Online Veteran League! We have worked so hard this year on our flatwork, and entered the League most months. We have had some AMAZING feedback - constructive and positive - from all of our tests. We mainly competed in Prelim tests earlier in the year, and then moved to Novice very for our last test of the year. I am super happy with this result. You can be classed as a Veteran horse from aged 15 upwards, so to be in the higher end of the bracket and still take the League win is so fantastic - so proud of him and all his effort he puts in!

Thankyou DRO for creating and building such a lovely, friendly platform

We actually did our first Novice test this year over on E-Riders, as the Chateau Cheval were sponsoring the class. I am a Brand Ambassador for this wonderful brand run by a real-life superwoman, so wanted to represent!

E Riders Novice test 3a - December

Think we had a good day when we were filming this test. It was raining - which makes me ride more for some reason! 3 x 7s to start with and an 8 (!!) for our medium across the diagonal. It was our right rein, which is our best rein for these, but even so I never thought we would be capable of an 8. We continued really well, with consistent 7s and 7.5s up until our half 10m circles to X. The comments were 'lacking suppleness from B-X" which is a shame because like I said our right rein is usually better. I find 10m circles hard - must do more practice of the smaller ones!

Our canter to trot transition at the end wasn't too great for a 6, he sort of fell into it which then didnt really set us up for the final movements. We finished as we started on a 7 for our CL and Halt - which I am very very happy with.

A positive and exciting experience for our first Novice test back. He was quite tired after this - we put a lot of effort into the test.

I think I will struggle to get the impulsion and strength I felt I had during this test at a Competition. He gets a little backwards when in between the boards, and my nerves probably do not help! We will keep working at home at this level until I feel confident we can achieve our best when out.

Our score was 68.39% - over the moon! The link to my test is below, and my score sheet as well! I had great comments from the Judge - really happy.

https://youtu.be/6duXOlnHKHQ

DRO Novice level 3 - December

After practicing this test a few times throughout the month, I decided to give it a go and enter. The test rode really nicely - but it was a tricky one and I found it a lot harder than my previous test with E-Riders. This test had both medium trot AND medium canter, and 15m and 10m circles/half circles.

Our centre lines do not need talking about - I WILL get them right one day. We started the test on a 6.5 which is good, but I prefer a 7 haha. I like to make a good first impression, and I don't feel like I am doing this at the moment. Having written for quite a lot of judges over the years, I know that the approach and first centre line is sometimes a game changer to the judges opinion of you (rightly or wrongly). I need to sort this out asap.

My right rein circles in trot were worthy of a 7 vs my left on a 6.5 which is common for me. I also had clearer difference in my medium trot on the right rein. I was really happy with a 7 for our mediums, he is good for the initial burst of energy, but we struggle to hold it for more than a few strides. He was a bit hollow in the canter on both reins - and not really balanced. Just one of those days, I do look back at the canter and don't see much purpose or jump to it. However our medium canter was 'bold', so maybe the slower working canter benefitted that movement. We then finished our test with a 6 for halt - not great. I don't like anything under a 6.5 haha.

All in all - definitely a test I want to ride and enter again. Lots and lots of things I can work on - there is so much difference between a hard Novice test and a hard Prelim. I got a 7 for position of the rider, which I am really pleased with as have been working on my position and keeping my body/legs still (when really I am using all my energy!).

Our score was 65.96% which is very fair and actually quite a bit higher than I was expecting.

Here's a link to the test (excuse the quality), and my sheet below. I like to watch the test back and read the comments along side it.

https://youtu.be/luYb2-VHcIg