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...

We're here (Regionals Day One)

Its official, we are checked in and moved into Barn B at the Region One Championships. :)

We rolled out of the barn at 6 AM this morning and arrived a mere 11 hours later in lovely, sunny Williamston, NC.  That 11 hours riding in Elvis was a blast, despite the fact that I stole some lovely cat naps throughout the day, but hey I was working on just 3 and 1/2 hours of sleep from the night before.  I need to make this quick so I can get some much needed sleep tonight....

Bastian got to travel in style in a four horse slant load trailer.  Look how stinkin' cute he is in his fuzzy halter!!  I have been saving that halter for nearly two years now, this was first time I could actually justify using it.  And it was worth it, this was Bastian's biggest trip yet.  He seems to have traveled fine and settled right into his stall as usual.  He was mostly upset because half-way here he ran out of hay to eat.  But lots of yummy hay and a fluffy stall quickly sorted all that out. 

We got moved into our stalls and tack room and then headed out to find our hotel and get some grub for ourselves.  While waiting for my chicken fingers to be served to me (that is my horse show meal, it is all I will probably eat for the remainder of the week), I dug through the show program to get the rest of my numbers:

There are 14 people in my Training Four Class tomorrow.  There are still 25 people in my Finals class on Saturday and there are 11 Thoroughbreds including Bastian here.  That means we have ten to beat for the Thoroughbred High Score Award, wish us luck!

I'm off to have some happy dreams.  More tomorrow!!

Anticipation!!!!

I haven't posted an update in a while because, well, there wasn't anything worth updating about.  Since our last show, we were in a quite a slump for the month of September.  I have to own up and say it was mostly induced by me.  And as long as I felt crappy, Bastian was crappy.  We did have a few good moments here and there, but I think overall its best to forget September even existed this year and move right into October. 

Here is one of our better moments (right before a bad one).  I was going to take Bastian to the EHSC Hunter Pace, so I decided we needed a quick jumping refresher so that I would feel confident about cantering over the tiny sticks and other 18" jumps they have there. 

I think he looks pretty dern good for having not really jumped since April.  He was soooooooooooo happy to be doing "not-dressage." LOL   But he took a funny step somewhere in all of that and came up lame in his right stifle. :(    So we ended up not going to the Hunter Pace together, but luckily I know some really awesome people and I was still able to ride in the pace on the sweetest little Paint mare, Poco.  I had a blast! 

I blistered his stifles again and he was not a happy camper.  But overall he was a good sport about it.  Finally at the end of September he was sound, pushing evenly from the back and not "sliding."

Now we are a month away from Regionals in Williamston, NC.  I am very excited to go, I have never before in my equine career achieved anything like this.  I go to Regionals fulling expecting to have my ass handed to me.  I'm not being pessimistic.  I'm being realistic.  Bastian is a great guy who has good gaits (consistently scores a 7!!), but he is a Thoroughbred, I make some dumb mistakes, and this is really my first year showing in almost 4 or 5 years (wow, it was forever ago!)  I know that I cannot compete with the 25 other (yes, I counted entries....lol) Training Level AA in my class.  They are likely to be better mounted and more well funded than I am.

I am INCREDIBLY happy with where Bastian and I are at.  I mean, honestly, a year ago at this time I was barely cantering because I was afraid.  This is his first full year (excluding lameness lay-ups) that he actually worked the whole time.  Up until this point in his life, either he was broken, I was broken or I was broke ($$).  So there was no consistency.  So it has been a tremendous year for both of us. 

So my plan at regionals is to be technically spot on.  I need to keep him straight, accurate, and soft and maybe  with a little bit of luck, I'll manage to get myself into the top ten.  Maybe.  I hope I can at least pull off a Qualifying score for next year.  

We leave on Wednesday the 10th to trailer for 8 1/2 hours.  (yay...:( )  I show on Thursday, just a warm-up type regular class to get him out and doing something.  Friday nothing, then my Finals class is on Saturday.  I'm very excited, I love going to shows with my barn, we always have such a great time.  Then we come home on Monday the 14th. 

I've been taking lessons each week in October and am going to bump up to two a week for next week and the following, plus Bastian is in 1/2 training.  I want this to go so well, I don't want to leave anything out or skip a step.  Fingers and toes are crossed that everything goes well!

Next weekend I finally get to clip him.  He is such a wooly mammoth!!  He gets super sweaty when we ride too and takes forever to dry.  *ugh*  But next weekend I am taking every lick of hair off of his body except his mane and tail.  Legs, face, body, its all gonna be naked!  I'll be sure to get before and after pictures.  Then, lucky me, I'll be hairy for days....lol

Here is a picture of the Wooly guy in his awesome new electric blue pad and polos.  Aint he cute!

Last weekend, on the 16th I had the opportunity to ride in a clinic with Gina Krueger.  I got a good tip on my riding position and have been working to keep myself more on the front of my thighs.  So all in all we've been on the right track. 

His transitions are getting nice (Thank you Kristin!!!!), especially if I keep my outside rein and keep my leg on (wow, I know, who would think that actually riding would make such a difference).  I need to get better with my timing, I'm usually half a second too slow in my reward/softening and a stride too late in my corrections, as in I don't stop it before it starts!  But he is overall feeling fabulous.  We ran through our test last night and other than me not preparing for my transitions a few times, it went pretty nice.  I had the rare chance to ride in the arena alone last night, with the weather changing, it can get crazy in there sometimes so practicing my actual full test doesn't really happen.  Our trot loops were nice and balanced, stretchy circle was nice.  It was canter up and downs that I messed up, I just sorta froze, I was too focused on "OMG I have to transistion NOW"  but I did it a few more times and it got better.

I'll be sure post some before and after clipping pictures, I just can't wait until he's not a hairy dragon monster anymore!

Utterly Disappointed

This past weekend Bastian and I headed the the NWPAHA Summer Classic in Harlansburg, PA.  It was a small dressage show, just one ring each day.  I was hoping to get my second qualifying score for First Level.  To make a long story short, it didn't happen.  On Saturday, we scored a 61.21, so stinkin close!  Then on Sunday, we scored a 61.84.  We needed a 62%.  I can't even put into words how disappointed I am.  This was our last chance to double qualify.  Now I can only compete at Training Level at regionals. 

Which may or may not be a good thing, if I'm not consistent enough to get the scores at the local shows, what business do I have competing at the the Regional Championships?  But I do honestly feel that we are capable of putting in a good test.  I know that my tests this weekend were overall better than some in the past, but the judges nailed me for every mistake.  And no I am not about to start bashing the judges, they have a tough job, give a score and a comment for an instant constantly during the test.  They have to go with their instinct they can't question it and they are trained to do this.  They go to forums/workshops/trainings. 

I also rode a Training 4 test, just to see how we've improved.  Apparently we haven't, we've actually regressed?  I scored a 60.4 on my Training 4 Test.  I had three major snafus one was picking up the wrong lead on my first canter depart.  I got it fixed pronto and the rest was wonderful.  The other one was really only one mistake, but I made it twice.  Our down transition from canter to trot as supposed to be at the letter, (at C and A respectively)  I transitioned on the long side between the center letter and the corner, I managed to combine the canter work from Training 2 with the canter work in Training 4.  So all three mistakes were mine and the judge nailed me.  Those should have been 7s, instead I got 4s.  So there is 12 more points right there....  Here is the test:



But otherwise I thought it was a beautiful test, we got 7s on most everything else.  I did get the "feet shoved home in stirrups and excessively kicking" bit in the rider comment section.  Here is my first level test.  Again, I thought it rode beautifully, I missed my left lead this time and had I not I think I would have made my score :(



I'll post my Sunday test once it finishes loading onto youtube. 

Things I wish the judges knew:
A) How friggin hard I've worked to get to where I am.  I think this goes for anyone who works hard with their horses and spends all of their time, money and resources on them.  Last year at this time I was still only walk/trotting with a few canter strides thrown in here and there.  Bastian was being a bit naughty and I was getting scared.  Now we are doing some pretty solid First Level Work.  The amount I have improved in a year is phenomenal.  Yes I had excellent training and instruction.  But that doesn't change the fact that I had to step up to the plate too.  Would that make judging more or less fair?  I don't know.  Some people work their asses off and are never successful because those that can pay for greatness beat them out. 

Not always the case, I know and sometimes those people that are working their asses off are working incorrectly so no, they won't win.  There isn't a good solution.  But not achieving what I set out to do this weekend has me thinking in different directions.  Again, I think the judging was mostly fair.  I can only say mostly because there are a few spots I would have given us 9s on because damn it felt perfect compared to what we normally have!  But that is the riders Bias.  I felt great coming out the ring for all three tests, I felt like we had really done it.  Then I got my scores.  It was a huge let down, so of course I start to fixate on all the good spots and how it should have be scored higher.....

B) I am not excessively kicking my horse.  This they will know soon enough.  The papers have been sent in I am just awaiting my official card.  I am now a Grade III para-equestrian. 

C)  Bastian is an EPM survivor.  Imagine how strong that little booty would be if he hadn't had the muscle atrophy he had. 

I know, I know, no matter how much I wish, it isn't going to enter into the equation.  I am paying for the judges opinion for that moment in time, they have to go with what they see, I have to trust their judgement. 
I've been on the opposite side before too, a judge miraciously missed my two trot steps in a free walk, I scored a 7 and it had a great positive comment.  That was a gift, I should have scored a 5.  Its like being in a flat class at a hunter show, and your horse throws his head and tries to take off while the judge is looking the other way.  You get him back before the judge looks at you and are perfect, you win the class.  Everyone else that saw your little antics is upset that the horse that tried to take off won.  Its all in what the judge sees and doesn't see and whether you are lucky or not. 

Hopefully the stars align for us at Regionals.  This can be our practice year before Bastian really starts to kick butt. ;)

Mission Accomplished (Mostly)

This weekend, I headed back to Grand Haven with Bastian for the WPDA Summer Sizzler Dressage Show.  I only showed one class each day, First Level 4 hoping to get my first Qualifying Score for Regionals. 

Donna took this awesome picture of us warming up before our class on Saturday.  Don't we look like the real deal?  He is such a handsome lil' boy ♥♥♥♥♥

So, I was hoping to not only redeem myself from last show's First Level Test 4 debaucle, but also eek out a qualifying score, which would be a 62%.  He warmed up beautifully and I felt pretty good about our test.  I mean how could I not improve from a 50%??? 

(Anyone who wants to see that fabulous test, I do have it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5VNGJB1MiM)

Well, long story short, we were successful!  Our score was a 64% and we placed second in a class of about 13 competitors.  I cried.  I really did.  I was so proud of Bastian and I really held it together for most of the test.  We actually flowed from one movement to the next and only had a few baubles.  We need to develop a trot lengthening and I need to work more on our leg yields, but compared to the last test our leg yields were AWESOME, especially our leg yield left.  Bastian's canter work was impeccable and had I not over collected after our first lengthen, he would not have broke.  Otherwise he was steady, rhythmic and balanced (that was the judges favorite comment I think on our test ☺)

We scored 7's on almost every canter movement and we got a 6 on our leg yield left and the part that made me happiest: a 7 on rider.  Seriously.  After really getting knocked at the past two shows on my legs it made me feel really good. 

So here is our test:

So we're halfway there.  I needed a 62% and got a 64%.  Yay.  Now we're headed to the NWPAHA Summer Classic Open Dressage Show in Harlansburg, PA.  That is pretty much my last chance to get my second qualifying score.  I think we can do it.  I've got two chances at the show, Saturday and Sunday. 

The best part about this last show is that the grounds are just about 15 minutes from my house, which is always nice after a day of showing, no long drive home. 

My second test at the WPDA Summer Sizzler was on Sunday.  I thought it rode better, both leg yields were good, especially my leg yield right, we really hit it.  We still didn't have our trot lengthens, but he tried.  He wanted to stretch and make his stride bigger even though he didn't accomplish it.  Something clicked between us and he finally understood either what I was asking or I finally asked the right way!  Either way it was a great feeling.  Our only real bobble was our left lead canter depart at C, I got unbalanced and he picked up his right lead, but we got it fixed within 2 strides.  After that the canter was great. 

But the judge must not have agreed. :(  My score was a 58%, which is still better than a 50%, but not as good as a 64%..... I still haven't seen the actual scores and comments, but apparently I really got knocked for my legs.  Which is starting to get frustrating.  So far all but two of the judges I have had negative comments on the excessive movement in my legs.  Which while I understand why they say what they say, does not make it any less frustrating.  I am trying my darnedest to keep my legs as still as possible, but well, when you don't have control of those muscles there is only so much you can do. 

So finally I have gotten in touch with the USEF Classifiers for Para-Equestrians.  I am travelling to Philadelphia, PA on September 3rd to be classified.  I'm hoping that after this I'll be given a pass on my legs and *hopefully* be permitted to carry a whip at Regionals.  I am fairly reliant on my whip to let Bastian know that I actually mean to do something and that it wasn't just one of the leg movements he should ignore.  I'm very happy competing in the regular dressage classes and just want the judges to be aware that I'm not excessively kicking my horse or have overly floppy legs. 

Either way, lots of exciting stuff coming up in the next few weeks, not to mention that I have to go back to my real job next week.  Good bye summer vacation! 

A Weekend Full of Not-Win

It has been a crazy week (as always).  On Sunday, Beth and I packed up Bastian and headed out to Grand Haven for the NODA Encore show.  I was showing Training Four and First Four.    Let me add in just two little bits of background:

-On Tuesday I dropped a table on my right foot.  Holy Bruising Batman.  On Thursday I went the to Dr.  and got x-rays.  Friday morning his nurse calls me and tells me I have two fractures in my foot but that the Dr. said I was allowed to ride on Sunday and that I could wear my boots.  (What an awesome Dr., eh?)  So I rode with a broken foot.  Not that it is that big of an accomplishment since I a)doubt the fractures are more than hairline and b)since I can't really feel my feet I wasn't in unbearable pain.  But still, it sounds friggin' cool right? 

-On Saturday night I went the barn after the first day of the show to lunge Bastian and pack the trailer.  We got the most badass storm that I have ever been in that night.  I left the barn at 7:30 to come home.  ALL the roads home were blocked by downed trees.  I had to turn around twice before (thankfully) I found firemen at the last tree working to clear it.  So what is normally a 20-25 minute drive home turned into an 1 1/2 hour ordeal.  It was just not my week.

So I know that I shouldn't let outside things bother me, but I did.  I was distracted and a little grumpy and just overall not 100% committed to the show.  Beth and I headed toward Grand Haven under the greyest most depressing sky ever.  No rain...yet.  As we pulled in, it started :(  

My first ride was 9:32 for Training 4.  We warmed up in the indoor since it was POURING down rain.  Grand Haven's indoor is nice!  The footing is very fun.  He felt pretty good.  We went out in the pouring rain to do our test.  Our first centerline was okay until we halted and he swung his haunches really far to the right.  almost like we were going to salute a judge at H instead of C.  Oh well, our trot loop was great, then he bucked into his right lead canter and for the next three strides he felt like he was going to buck again.  I froze and let him break (we scored a 4) then we trotted 3/4 of our canter circle at E, he was ignoring my leg and I was afraid to use my whip (we scored a 3) then we got the canter and our canter from E to C scored a 6 (thank god they break the score up!)  After that our test was pretty peachy keen.  He had a tiny spook during left canter when we started our circle, but it was miniscule.  The rest of our test was all 6s and 7s, he got a 7 on gaits and I got a 7 on rider (yay!).  Our final score was 60.8%  and we finished 9th overall. 

Aside from our right canter it was a great test for us.  Now we are soaked.  My helmet is drenched, my coat is drenched, my saddle is drenched.  This is a strong point against the Wintec Isabella.  It absorbs water like a flippin' sponge.  My breeches were a mess so they came off and I put on my second pair for my later test.
My saddle was not even close to being dry for my second test.  In fact it only just now, after sitting in the sun all last night and this morning is finally dry. 

Then we got to our First 4 test.  Let me just get this out of the way:  We bombed it.  Hardcore.  Okay, here's the rest.....  I thought we warmed up well, I was happy with him and myself, I was THINKING at least and reacting.  We go in for our test and our mojo got a bit messed up because the judge stopped us and said that we weren';t supposed to be in the ring then and it was about four minutes before we got that sorted so our flow from warm up was interupted and thats why we sucked!  No, just kidding, but it was a convenient excuse huh?  He blew the whistle and I got tense and stopped thinking and riding.  I was pretty much just a passenger doing minimal steering and guidance. 

He was very fussy with his head and ignoring my leg, a lot.  Our leg yields were stuck, I'm glad I didn't do the "diagonal" leg yield, but we basically got stuck and there was a huge disconnect between our front and hind end.  There was no trot lengthening.  Our walk was great!!!  Free walk looked good.  Our left canter stunk.  There was no lengthen, he broke a ga-zillion times on our loop.  We picked up the wrong lead after the change of rein at X, our canter lengthen on our right was great!  We were headed towards the barn so I just kinda let him go and figured I would find a way to get him stopped at the other end.  Our canter loop was much better (as in we didn't break!) but we did break at C, our stretchy circle was good and our final centerline was okay.  Our final score was a 50%.  I haven't seen the actual test yet, I had to leave before scores were posted.  I am assuming I was last in the class though....... 

I watched the video of the test this morning and surprisingly it wasn't as hideous as I thought it was going to be.  Yes, we had a ton of mistakes, stupid mistakes, but there were a few nice moments and when I did ride and think and he listened to my leg we looked good.  So we are (or will be) capable of doing this test and doing it well.  We need to develop our lengthenings more.  They need to happen the instant I ask, not halfway across the diagonal or longside.  I need to balance my leg yields more, keep the hind end in rhythm with the front end.  And keep my leg on at the canter.  I know that he'll break, I know better.  I need to develop a better flow through the actual test itself, think ahead more movement to movement. 

So lots of work, but I know that he and I are up to it and that we can and will accomplish this.  Will it be when I want it to be? (Two weeks from now) Don't know, but we are sure as heck gonna try. 

Our next shot at this is the WPDA Summer Sizzler at Grand Haven August 14-15.  We've got a lot of work to do between now and then!