Truckin' Along

Nothing too exciting to report.  Bastian and I are still plugging away trying to conquer and perfect the world of dressage.

I'm focusing again on riding every stride.  Being there to direct and work with Bastian so that our ride is smooth and wonderful.  I know, this is like riding 101, but it is soooooo hard to master.  I get caught up in the idea of "the ride's not right," and go to every solution in the book before I stop to think, "hmmmm, maybe he's not leg yielding left because I'm sitting right and don't have my legs where they should be." 
Magically though, when I fix those things and make sure I'm at least communicating the right signals, ta-da,  The ride improves. 

Speaking of leg yields, we've had a huge breakthrough there.  I never really focused on controlling different parts of Mr. B, I was just like leg on and go sideways brother.  Kristin finally got it through my silly head that I have to start with the shoulders.  Once I control the shoulders, then I can work on controlling the hind end and then bam, wonderful leg yields happen.   And our last couple of rides, our leg yields have been SOOOO much better.  I was just pushing the poor boy sideways, now we're moving our shoulders, moving the hind end and we are so much straighter.  I got it!  I'm feeling pretty comfortable with the new leg yield "pattern" in First Three.  You come off the wall and leg yield K to X, then ten meter circle left, then right, then leg yield back to the wall X to H. Its a lot happening in a short amount of time, but it actually rides fairly well once you get a ryhthm. 

Our lengthenings are better and worse.  It just seems to depend on the day.  I think I'm improving on riding them and again, when I keep myself on target Bastian does pretty well.  And because I like to play around with concepts that I don't fully understand, I'm trying to translate some of his lengthing into a medium trot and canter. 
I've got to get him moving better, more push from the back, more fluffyness through his back.  There are moments were I feel it, but its a matter of getting it on "cue" and maintaining it.

 Today was the first time I tried actually riding through one of my Para tests.  I got lost after the first 6 movements, lol!  But the first part actually rode well.  It involves collected trot, which I highly doubt we were actually doing, but we're going to pretend because he was soft and I was sitting his trot so at this point well take that as a "collected."  And I think a lot happens in First level!  Not only is there a lot of stuff happening in my Para test at random letters (counter canter D to M!) but its in a small arena. 

All I can say to that is yuck!  I'm a large arena diva, like a huge part of my wants to protest the eventing world because they ride in a small arena.  There just isn't room to get anything done, you get started on a lengthen and bam, your at the next letter.  Yes, I'm griping.  I don't see what the big deal would be to offer the tests in a large arena, but then I'm not a big whig who's in charge so I only see my point of view. 

For the record, I do agree with putting Intro A, B, and C in a small arena,  that is a lot of trotting and a lot of walking.  A lot of walking.....

Of course, things continue to change in regards to my show schedule.  April 2nd is a possible Hunter Show.  We *might* be showing in the 2' Limit Rider division.  I really hope so, I want to show so bad!  I miss it!  

Then there is the possibility of a Dressage Schooling Show May 7th at Grand Haven.  I want to go to this one not only to show but to get to run through the new tests before I pay 10x as much at a recognized show.  

Majestic Farm took their Para classes of the Prizelist, but they had added an awesome Thoroughbred TOC class with $$$$$$.  But since I'm 99% sure I'm switching regions again (moving to region 8!), there isn't a real reason to make sure I get to Majestic Farms and its far far cheaper to show closer to home.  So I'm now aiming for the WPDA and Grand Haven shows at the beginning of June.  As long as I can get my qualifying scores I don't have to show recognized again until September for Regionals and the Para-Equestrian Championships held in NY at Saugerities.  Which looks like an awesome show grounds (they have their own mall!  On the showgrounds!!). 

So thats the new plan.. now back to work for me so I can afford this rather expensive hobby of mine... and did I mention that B pulled a shoe again on Thursday.  (actually Cindy pulled it, B just got it loose...)

Getting a Jump on Things

Just a quick update because I am so super happy with all of our rides this week!

On Thursday, we had a great jumping lesson where did a three stride line and by the time we were done, the first jump was at 2' and the second jump was at 2'3"!  Woot!  I was very apprehensive about doing it, I'm not gonna lie.  And because Bastian has been out of the jumping loop a bit too, we're both like OMG! 2'!!  And he over jumps it (also because I keep saying "slower, slower when I need to just relax and let him go at the pace he's going) and it feels huge so I get a little off kilter too. 

He way over-jumped the 2'3" the first time we jumped it and it felt very very cool, but it terrified me too!  (In a good way, kinda like a really good roller-coaster).  Thankfully I've gotten pretty good at keeping my shoulders back and keeping my position so although I feel all out of sorts, I keep my seat and land and am able to ride on, I'm not getting thrown all over the place. 

So today I set up an X to a 2' with three strides and then just a single X that eventually went up to a verticle at 2' also.  He was fantastic and we cantered 90% of the jumps, only trotting the first few to get warmed up, but he was ready to go!  The best part is that he wasn't overjumping the 2' jump today, at all!  It was just a normal jump so its not as big a deal as before...what a good boy!! *pat pat*

I was pretty cooked myself towards the end, I had the brilliant idea of riding in my jumping tack on Saturday too, but still "dressaging."  Brilliant idea? Yes.  Achy muscles? Yes.  I'm trying very hard to stay in a lighter seat in my jump tack, more hunter-ish (yes, I'm progressing towards the dark side! lol) whereas in my dressage saddle, when I get a little fatigued towards the end of the lesson, I can use the saddle to support myself a bit, I don't have to be as dependent on my muscles and position as much.  Jumping saddles are not that forgiving.....but judging by the ouchy-ness of my muscles, I think I am making progress.  I'm glad that I won't have a chance to ride again until Wednesday because my muscles need to recover!

After we were done, I pulled his tack off and set up a small oxer.  Bastian doesn't understand oxers in the sense that they are different and so he will way overjump them.  I came off of him the first time we jumped an oxer last year because he just didn't know what to do with it other than jump it like it was a 5' triple bar and I just lost my balance.... Anyway, I decided I would start lunging him over some oxers when we jump so he can figure out that they are no big deal on his own before I get up there.  The first couple were a little sticky then he got his groove on and when he came around he locked on the fence and took it like it was nothing.  He was actually getting a little lazy about it.  I got it up to a 2' square oxer and he went over it both ways. 

Bastian was a gem on Saturday, we managed to to some lengthenings, have nice transistions and did some pseudo shoulder ins.  (We're just starting to play with the idea of shoulder ins, I really don't know what I'm doing aside from trying to get him on three tracks and getting him to move his shoulders).

So thats it!  Bastian got to play outside this morning with his friend RW, so I think that made him happy :)

Bastian enjoying his hay after a wonderful day of jumping :)

Warm-up rings and oxers and flower boxes oh my!

Welcome to February.  So far this year has been much better than last year, lets hope it keeps rollin' this way. ☺

Bastian has been being a gem since he turned into a charity giving kinda guy, in fact I think I am almost ready to up his grain back to 3/4 of a can, especially since he's getting worked regularly now.  Just two and half months left before our first big show! I've still got to renew our USEF memberships.....

Tonight was a wonderful wonderful school.  Bastian warmed up quite nicely and once I stopped fidgeting with my hands as much and paid more attention to where my weight was, he got very nice and steady.  Which is basically my current goal, I am in need of some lessons, but can't do a whole lot until towards the end of the month.  My last lesson was I think either right before christmas or right after, I can't even remember now.... 

We have awesome mirrors in the arena now!  The good part is that I saw how much my hands where making Bastian unsteady and how my weight was totally on the inside, but the downside is that I realize how much I have fallen off of the healthy eating wagon.  So I guess the arena mirrors are a love-hate kinda thing.  I've gotta lose about 15 lbs in order to considered holding up my end of this fitness bargain with Bastian, we have enough other stuff to worry about without my fat butt bouncing around on his back being one of them. 

But back to tonight, because I think it was a reaffirment of where we are headed and what we can do when both of us F-O-C-U-S.  He's really getting the idea of lengthening in the trot, its barely there but he at least *thinks* about it and he doesn't just speed up like he did in the beginning.  When we first started really schooling lengthenings he only had two solutions: Go into really fast turbo-trot or canter.  Canter was usually the easier answer, much to my chagrin in the middle of my tests.  But now I'm getting better at using my core to hold him together while kicking (rather wildly) him forward and making him energize.  I can feel him starting to stretch (and maybe I'm way off base here with my terminology so no one crucify me...) through his back and try to take a bigger stride.  Our first two lengthens seemed closer to our working trot tempo, just bigger, while our last two just felt out of joint and discombobulated.  But overall, a great improvement from where we started, I think we may have earned 6s on our lengthens if they had been the first two, maybe 5s on the last two.  But 6s are good, we'll start there ☺

Bastian's canter work has come so far.  His canter is (in my opinion) his best gait.  Again, when I focus, we have some nice transitions where he goes up into the bridle and leaps into the canter.  Today he started out like he was on cruise control, I remembered to keep my legs tight and my hands up and not to brace.  When we circled, I kept my inside leg on and my hand up and weight to the outside.  Overall, it was great.  He was just steady as could be.  We played with some counter canter and he was great, I'm really very happy with how balanced he is in counter canter and he doesn't ever try to change leads on me and rarely breaks.  We did some canter loops, which are easy as pie for him compared with schooling "geniune" counter canter.  Although I worry that sometimes our shift in direction are a little too abrupt, we need to make the loop smoother. 

We did a few canter lengthens as well, which he really really really seems to like.  When I put my leg on in the canter and hold with my core, he's like "woo-hoo!" and really opens up.  I think that will be very fun once I get my courage up to do some cross country.......

And we finished up with some leg yield work.  The new arrangement of movements in First 3 (that is hard to get used to, only 3 tests per division!) is, I think, initially difficult.  You leg yield off the wall, K to X, then do two ten meter circles, first to the left, then to the right, then leg yield X to H.  The leg yield off the wall kills me so I've been schooling it pretty hard, Bastian seems to know when were about to start leg yielding because I know I'm tensing and then he tenses and then he's moving sideways (usually) and his head is all sorts of up in the air... ugh.  I try very hard to focus on everything, my weight, my legs, my hands, where I'm looking..... but I still always forget at least one of them, lol.  But I do believe that our leg yields are improving.  The second half, leg yielding out of the right hand 10 meter circle is great, its sets them up for it quite nicely.  I guess its just the rapid fire of four difficult (for the level of the test) movements in a row.  I've finally figured out the best way to school it in the arena (our arena is shorter and wider than a 60 x 20 ring) so I'm at least happy about that. 

Tomorrow is another flat day and then a jumping session on Thursday under Kristin's watchful eye.  Bastian had turned into a jumping machine!  He went to a Hunter show this past Saturday with one of Kristin's students who rode him quite nicely in a few flat classes, earning a 5th and a 6th place ribbon out of groups of 9ish and it was her first show to boot.  Awesomeness!  I had Kristin take him two 18" Hopeful Hunter OF classes for experience and he was quite good, I'll post video of the rounds eventually.  He earned a 1st place and a 3rd place.  I was very proud of him. 

He has developed a sudden fear of horse's coming towards him in a warm-up ring though.  Not sure where exactly this came from, my best guess is from Regionals where I was in the most crowded and scary warm-up ring of our lives with lots of crazy horses and its fair share of riders that jus weren't paying attention and didn't give a damn.  But since we never actually even came close to being in a wreck, I'm not sure what his beef is. 

Anyway, my plan is for him to go to the next Hunter show and I'll either be jumping him myself in the 18" division or riding in a few flat classes.  My ultimate goal is to show in the 2'3" Hunters in April.  I'm schooling 2' (ish) now so its just three more inches and a few oxers.  We can do it....I just have to be brave!

Til' next time :)

Happy New Year!

2011, you are finally here.  Thank goodness.  While 2010 definetely held several good things for me, there was also a lot of bad, almost an unusual amount of bad.  This bad was concentrated around myself and my friends and I know that others out there experienced similar badness.  What was with 2010 anyway?

We lost some fabulous horses this year, had some horrific injuries to both horses and humans and well, personally I got sucked into a very negative financial vortex (totally by my own doing, not trying to shirk my responsibility here).  But now its 2011 and this year, this year will be a year to remember in a most positive and excellent way.  I guarentee it. 

Despite my lack of financial diligence, I really am, at heart, a planner.  I make big plans, whats the point of small plans? 

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."

- Les Brown

I have to make the bigger plans so I at least get to do the almost as awesome and cool stuff.  This year, my resolution is to take the small parts of those plans into serious account so that the bigger parts come to fruition.  Focus.  Focus.  Focus. 

Bastian has been wonderful!  Since right around Christmas time, I've been back to riding him regularly, and I think that his happy to be back to work again, especially since that work has included two jumping sessions.  (Woot!)  But his canter has been feeling especially nice and aside from getting us both back into shape from our pseudo-break over the past month, he's been a gem.  We've been focusing on just steady steady steady.  Keeping the same correct rhythm, the same quiet head and neck, no fussing, quiet fluid transistions.  Just basic stuff, with a few leg yields or counter canters thrown in every now and then just for giggles.  I mean, I can only loop the arena so many times before we both need some mental stimulation.... :)

I'm trying very hard to be more aware of me also, where my body is, am I straight, am I balanced, did I ask for the transition right, did I cause him to bobble or is he just being a booger?  So well there isn't a "wow" moment of advancement, there is the quiet I know that I have to master the simple stuff before I move onto the tough stuff and I think that we are slowly and steadily conquering that. 

We've started jumping some cross-rails again, and he's taken to it like we never stopped jumping.  He doesn't take off to the fences, which is something that I like, I have to keep my leg on to a degree to keep him forward.  He's keen to jump, but he is a bit lazy so he just needs the leg more to say "yes we are going to jump," and not to "make" him jump.  I'm hoping that this is the year we get to have some more jumping time at some shows, hunter shows or schooling trials and events. 

Just today we trotted a 2' Verticle!!  He was soooooo good!!!!

Here is my show schedule as I have it planned out thus far:

Show One:
May 6, 7, and 8
Majestic Farm's Ride for the Roses I and II
(magically (I think it was meant to be) I have that Friday off from work, so it fits in perfectly with my plans) 


Show Two:
June 18, 19
Lake Erie College Dressage Derby


Show Three:
August 12-14
Hotter Than Blue Blazes I and II

Show Fouir:
September 22-25
Region 2 Championships

I chose the above shows based on dates and classes.  All of them offer Para-Equestrian Classes, and since I need to practice and ride those tests in competition, I'm a bit limited in which shows I can pick from.  Also, shows one and three are held at the same location as Regionals, so I thought it might be nice for Mr. Bastian to get a look-see at where he would be competing in the fall and have some positive experiences there.  Also, all the shows (except regionals) are two shows held over one weekend, so really its like going to six shows, six opportunities to get my qualifying scores for regionals.  This year I want to qualify at First Level as well.

I've figured out financially the approximate cost of entries, hotels, and trailering.  (see me taking those small steps to make the bigger ones happen!)  So with a bit of luck, I should be able to make it happen. 

I also am in need of a better dressage saddle.  Don't get me wrong, I do like my Isabella, but now that I am getting more serious about this, a saddle that isn't fraying and that can actually be really *cleaned* would be nice.  I'm hoping to start saddle shopping in February if all goes according to plan (which we all know it never will.....lol)  Mostly I just want to decide on what saddle I am aiming for so that I have a final goal in mind. 

So here's to the new year of fabulous opportunities and possibilities!

Bastian's Top Ten

If you know Bastian, you know that the B-man loves to eat.  He is a genuine lover of food, I can't exactly say he's a connoisseur, since he'll eat practically anything, but he is a good judge of excellent equine cuisine nonetheless.

Today he would like me to share with you his Top Ten Horse Treats.  Every pony hopes to wake up on Christmas AM to a stocking filled with carrots, apples, and other not quite as healthy treats.  Here are Bastians favorites...

10.

  Super Stars from The Ginger Ridge Company:  Made with Anise and Orange oils, the different taste is one that horses love.  Plus, they are shaped into little stars, fit in Bastian's Nose-It horse ball and what could be better than feeding your super-star a super star horse treat?

9.

Butterscotch Flavored Manna Pro Bite Size Horse Treats:  Yes, butterscotch.  Delicious and something different from the apple, carrot and peppermint flavored treats in existence.  These are for the frugal horse as you can get a 5 lb bag of them at TSC for about $5.99.  They last a long time and again, there size is perfect for fitting into Bastian's Nose-It.

8.

Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies:  Homemade goodness!  Bastian is a huge fan of these, they come in a variety of sizes and make great stocking stuffers...hint*hint....

7.

Uncle Jimmy's Hanging Balls:  Not just a treat, but hours of entertainment for your molasses-possessed hungry pony.  Bastian took about 3 weeks to devour his, hung properly in his stall.  He definitely thinks this is a cold weather treat as in the summertime the molasses gets melty and makes an even bigger mess.  For three weeks, Bastian has had a chunky layer on his nose, neck and crest from interacting with his hanging ball.  I think I need to take my goo-gone to the barn to deal with it today, I'm not sure the Miracle Groom is going to work...

6.

 Hard Candy: Particularly, the Tuti-Fruiti Mix from Daffin's Chocolates in Sharon, PA.  It is sold by the pound and he love when I bring him a bag of it to the barn, lots of different flavors and I'm not sure which one he likes best, but dude, when he hears that wrapper crinkle he is one happy pony! 

5

 Nicker Makers:  I found these while competing at Regionals this year.  They smell delicious and Bastian sucks them up pretty dern quick when I pull the bucket out.  They are a good molasse-ee treat that any horse is sure to love!

4

Stud Muffins: From the same people who make Uncle Jimmy's Hanging Balls.  Each treat comes individually wrapped for freshness, which is a little annoying, but Bastian enjoys the anticipatory crinkle of the wrapper before diving into his treat.  Slightly smaller than the Nicker Maker Treat.

3

 Carrots and Apples:  Yes, the natural stuff.  He loves loves loves carrots, especially the fancy ones with the greens still on.  His favorite apple flavor is the Golden Delicious. 

2.

 Granola Bars:  Thank you Donna for introducing Bastian to this delightful treat!  The best part is that you can sneak a bite or two for yourself when you are super hungry at the barn.  Bastian is very lucky that his adopted sister, Gria, has a steady supply of granola bars at her stall.  He usually manages to snag a piece or two of granola bar when she is getting one.  He books it over to the front corner of his stall when he hears one being unwrapped.  These are the Nature Valley Granola bars for the record..... oats and honey.

And Bastian's number one, all time favorite horse treat is.....

1.

 Paddock Cakes "Gimme S'mores" 

A marshmallow sandwiched between two yummy paddock cakes.  Paddock Cakes are probably the best quality horse treat Bastian has ever eaten.  They smell sooooooo good, I am always jealous when Bastian has these and so tempted to eat one. 

So keep this in mind as you holiday shop for your pony.  They will positively adore you if you buy them S'mores Paddock Cakes....

Bastian has been chillin' so far this month.  With the extra hours I've been getting at work, I haven't had the time to see him as often as I would like.  I think I've only ridden four or five times this month.  I am totally going out tonight and plan on riding tomorrow and Thursday as well before going to Erie for a few days, then I'll have a whole week to ride and visit with him :)

Kristin turned him out in the arena the other day with Gria while she was tearing down jumps and he apparently jumped over everything on his own like he was pro, he's giving me a pretty clear message: He wants to be an eventer or a hunter (or both).  

So I'm going to try really hard to get him on track to do some eventing this summer at some schooling shows or if things work out financially a recognized event.  I'm gonna aim for the schooling series at South Farm and Buckeye.  Close by and affordable.

Unfortunately, he needs to continue to feel my Dressage needs as well.  I've picked out three shows to attend this year (again, if financially feasible) and then Regionals in September.  Hopefully Bastian is up to the challenge of the Para-Equestrian Test for Grade III, I'm gonna start showing in those classes at shows so I can be ranked in my division.  There's a method to my madness..honest!

Regional Wrap-up and my YIR

Sorry I got off track while actually at regionals, I had plans of keeping everyone updated every day, but due to being exhausted and fighting off some sort of bug at the hotel, I didn't do a very good job. 

So here we go...

Friday:
All together an awesome day.  Tawny had her Training Level Open Championships that day and she totally rocked it with Gem.  They won their division with a solid score of 72%.    Team BEC was off to an awesome start!

Elizabeth showed in a regular First Level 4 class and placed 3rd.  I got to do some awesome shopping with Shari and even braided a cute little PSG horse for someone else (yay!  a client, lol)

Finally, as the day wound down there was time enough to take Bastian for a couple of turns around the warm-up ring.  I had cruised by the Show Photographer earlier in the day and looked at my pictures from my Test on Thursday, wow were my shoulders ever hunched.  I could have moved right in to Notre Dame, seriously. 

So Kristin had me being much more aware of my body position and Bastian felt so much better than he had on Thursday (translation, the better I ride, the better he is...duh!)  The Warm-up ring itself was a whole 'nother issue.  I have never liked warm-up rings.  Ever.  I'm not sure which is scarier anymore, a hunter/jumper warm-up ring or a dressage ring. 

I try to stay in my own little space and be aware of where other people are and what they are doing, but come-on people.  Dressage people suck because we don't stay on the rail, we are always doing figures, diagonals, leg yields, shoulder ins, tempi changes, etc. etc.  So anyway there were some crazy horses in the warm-up and it fried both mine and Bastian's nerves a bit, but I managed to stay on which is I guess the only important thing, right? LOL

I ride at 8:49 on Saturday.  I am freaked out and need some serious syking up.  We got to the show grounds at 6:30 ish AM, which gave me just enough time to braid and brush Bastian and get dressed and tacked up.  Which was probably a good thing because it meant I couldn't actually focus on the fact I was about to ride in the Region 1 AA Training Level Championship Class.  I'm just a little podunk pony, this, to me, is the big time.

Bastian warmed up very nicely, again there was some schooling ring drama, a big old black warmbloody thing terrorized my horse and then I think I might have been stalked by a Bay PSG horse because she thought maybe I had purposely gotten in her way.  It was crazy, but despite all that, we managed to warm our selves up. 

Our test went very well, the only place I want to lodge a formal complaint on is the second half of my centerline.  Someone was walking their horse in a BRIGHT WHITE full cooler, blowing in breeze right next to the judge's car at C.  While I fully feel that Bastian should be trained enough to ignore something as trivial as this, he didn't.  He did his best giraffe impression yet between X and into the corner between C and M.  After that, he was the bestest little Dragon ever. 



Here is the video of our ride and our subsequent journey into the coliseum to collect our ribbon.  I recieved a 68% from one judge and a 66% from the other for an average score of 67%.  That was good enough to earn us a 6th place! 

He's got the evil eye going on there, but look at that awesome ribbon!!  He was so good during the awards ceremony, until a big black horse (7th place) decided to pass us and pin him next to the judge's stand.  sheesh, she was in a hurry to get done in there, I on the other hand had travelled 12 hours and wasted all of my personal days from work to enjoy my victory lap, so I didn't feel the need to go super fast, I wanted to enoy it. :)

Elizabeth also rode, showing in her Training Level Jr/Yr Championship Class, she finished in Fifth place and got a lovely white ribbon.  On Sunday, Elizabeth rode in the First Level Jr/Yr Championship and won 5th place.  Lilly was awesome on Sunday!  They had a fabulous test. 

Sunday was also the First Level Championships for the Open Division.  Again, BEC rocked!  Tawny and Gem took 5th place and Kristin and Zoe took Reserve Champs!! 

Basically, 6th place was the lowest Championship class placing for the BEC team, we were in the ribbons in each of our classes.  Not too shabby in my opinion. 

So as my year winds down, I see that I have accomplished several of my goals. 

1)I competed at regionals.  I was hoping to be in the top 10, and I was 6!  That is "this close" to being in the top 5!!!!!!

2) I won a year end award.  Bastian and I were the Reserve Champions in the Grand Haven Schooling Show Series.  ☺

3) I had a hell of a lot of fun!!!! 

The year to come....

Regionals was, unfortunately, my  last show for quite some time.  Basically I am tired of living in a black hole of debt.  So no more showing until I pay off all of my credit cards and all I have left is my mortgage and student loans.  The only exception is that I will go to Grand Haven and compete in a Training Level class at some time so that I am qualified for Regionals next year (In Cincinnatti!!!).  Otherwise we are on official hiatus. 

Thats all folks!

Regionals Day Two......

Another long day, but in the end, it was worth it.  We were all tired.  Especially Mr. B.  By the time I got around to grooming him, he had more sawdust on his blanke and in his tail then he did on the floor of his stall.  LOL.

Team Bauer rocked as usual.  Tawny and Gem took first in First Level 2 with a 75%.  Kristin and Zoe took third with a 68% in First Level 4, with a very explosive Zoe..... and Bastian and I took a third as well in our Training 4 class with a score of 68%.  First and second were tied with a 70.433 so I wasn't that far off! 

I was very frustrated with my riding on a personal  level.  I feel disjointed and unprepared.  Bastian is going great, I just either over-do it and over ride or freeze up, I haven't quite struck my happy medium, so getting a nice score like a 68%  was a good confidence booster, but of course I want to do better.  We scored mostly 7s with two 6s on our test movements and my collectives were a mix of 6s and 7s. 

This was my first show using my new para-equestrian classification as well.  I can now legally velcro my feet into the stirrups, woot!  Tomorrow I'll just school and then bright and early on Saturday morning I'll ride in my Finals class.  I promise to keep my focus and relax.   I'll try to get my video loaded tomorrow of my tests.

Until then....... wish us luck...