Well...we did it! Buddy and I are back! I just got back home from an incredible trip to Aiken. The show was a one day event at Full Gallop Farm. I found us a place to stay right across the street from the farm. The farm had individual turnouts for the boys, which was great for Buddy, as he is used to being out all the time. Once we arrived we settled the boys in we went across the street to walk our courses. After we were done we worked the boys a bit. Buddy was wired, but with Lindsey's help we got him to focus.
Lindsey rode Taylor in the Open Intermediate first thing Wednesday morning. She and Tay finished 3rd in the division. After that it was all about Buddy! Lindsey is not only one of my closest and bestest friends, she also doubles as my trainer. Dressage is Buddy's least favorite phase. Its not because he isn't good at it or can't do it, he actually is quite fancy. He just lacks the focus at times. He probably has the horse form of ADHD. But he tried really hard, and I was very proud of him for not being in a dressage arena for two years, nor being in a competition setting. O well, the dressage work will continue to improve as he gets out more.
Since this was a one day event, we were to do stadium first and then go straight to the cross country. Because of my issues with a previous horse, Stadium has been my most nervous phase. I originally walked the course when it was set at the Advanced level, so by the time it was put down to Novice, its looked incredibly doable. Buddy was cool and calm in the warm up until we started jumping. The footing in the arena was chewed up and deep to the jumps, so he was taking quite a pull to the jumps. After some reassurance he would be better in the arena, we went into the arena for our course. Buddy was spot on. After learning to ride him forward to the jumps the last couple of weeks, he got every distance and finished the course with no rails and no time. YAY!
Off to the cross country course! The course wasn't very technical, but rather big and gallopy, which is exactly what we needed. We set off on the course and Buddy ate it up. He took everything forward and once again out of stride. The course took us through some woods and over bridges, so that caught him slightly off guard. We finished the course still going strong. When we crossed that finish line all I could do was envelope Buddy in a big hug! He was absolutely amazing.
We capped off the day with dinner at my favorite Aiken restaurant, Takosushi. We left this morning and got back early this evening.
Next for Buddy and I is training at the Paul Frazier CT at the end of March. Until then we will keep working on the dressage. I am so excited to officially be back in the ring. Best part is that I had no pain after the day. Tomorrow its back to work! Thank you to everyone for your support and thoughts!
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