Fork CIC 3* … the night before dressage
After last weeks Truck Trouble, ( and I capitalize it because it was a Big Deal!) we have successfully made the 10 hr trip from Ocala, FL to Norwood, NC and spent today settling in and preparing for the competition.
The first half of the CIC3* division did their dressage tests today in the amazingly warm and sunny conditions, and I was able to watch quite a few of the rides throughout the day. I really like to ride on day 2 at FEI competitions because watching the day 1 riders really puts helps me get focused and inspired to ride well!! The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a struggle for Ollie and I with our dressage homework, and I haven’t been feeling super confident in the days leading up to this competition. I took the opportunity to ride Ollie in the competition warm up area today in the late morning, and practiced the things David had us doing in our lessons Monday and Tuesday. I feel like we have made definite progress in the last couple of days, and after feeling the new and improved quality of movement, we stood and watched a few dressage tests for inspiration. We watched Phillip ride Jan Bynny’s Inmidair, Mara on Nicki Henley and Allison’s winning ride on Arthur. I got to watch a lot of the movements done sort of “demonstration style”. As in, the way its supposed to be. Its nice to watch the demonstration, and then go and play around with your own horse, and compare what you have to what you want and turn over in your head the ways to improve everything.
Ollie feels pretty good, and I am taking the time tonight to really appreciate how far we have come and how steady our improvement has been over the last couple of years. I know that tomorrow, I’m going to be pushing and wanting and riding for the competition, so tonight I’m just going to sit back and think about how much I really do love what we’re doing. Last year at this competition we were in the lower 60’s for our dressage, and tomorrow I’m hoping to beat our Fair Hill score of 54. So, to think that in a calendar year, I can be hoping for a 10 point improvement, thats a pretty big deal. And the fact that its realistic is exciting!! I know that when my horse is moving to the best of his ability and I’m on it technically we can score well and actually have a good time in the ring.
So, I have 12 hours to think happy thoughts, and then down to business!!