Because Allie is a saint she took Woods and I too the Marlborough Starter Horse Trials yesterday. I don’t know where you were yesterday, but if it was somewhere in Maryland you were cold and wet. And I don’t mean like 60 and a little misting. I mean Cold Ass Rain and wind.
So sure, let’s take Woody to his first competition of the year
We got there early so I could walk the course…which turns out took like 15 minutes, but whatevs cause we got to hook up with Jess and the always impressive Dixie. They had an AMAZING day (you should totally go and read all about it).
Woody warmed up well. He was relatively calm and forward and I dare say moderately obedient. We put in a decent test. I vacillate between decent and good. It was decent by others standards (earned us a 37.4) but GOOD by Woody standards. Good because he picked up both leads, there was NO head flipping, and I he did not at all resemble a whirling dervish.
For the most part, he rode at the event like he rides at home. Granted, at home we’re not spending quite as much time above the vertical as we did at the show, but again, he was CONSISTENTLY above the vertical, so I’ll take it.
Oh, and did I mention we got BOTH LEADS!!!!?!?! IN THE ARENA?!?!?! You know why? Trainer realized that I, as is my wont, was doing TOOO MUCH! So in our lesson the other day (Oh, how I’m glad she’s back from Florida), she said “Lisa, I want you to ask for your canter depart like and idiot would. For real, like think of the most dumbed down request you can, and do it.”
So I slipped my outside leg back, just barely, and ta-daaaa!
So I was pleased with our test. We went back to Allie’s LOVELY rig, stood around in it’s warm dryness with some lovely friends who came out to see us, and chilled out. After about 20 minutes, Jess told us that as long as you were riding within your level, it didn’t matter what division you were in; if you were ready you could go.
So we tacked Woody up again (Have I mentioned how cute he is yet? Cause dear LORD he kills me) and headed out again in the wind and rain to tackle stadium and XC.
Stadium warm-up consisted of jumping 2 cross-rails and an oxer. He was jumping like his freaky little self and we headed in. He was LOVELY! Rideable, adjustable, calm. He also totally told on me. Little red vertical, I saw the long one, he said “Um, pretty sure Trainer said I shouldn’t make-out with the long spot anymore, I’m going to do the add if it’s all the same to you thankyouverymuch.”
Like trainer said, If you just sit chilly, and sit up, and wait for the add, you make it look like you MEANT to get that close. Yeah, there is NO doubt that I did not mean to get that close, but Woody took care of it and was a super star.
On to XC. The course was small and only 12 obstacles, and Woody handled it like a pro. Even trotted into the water like a real live event horse. Jumped the weird fake ditch (which was scarier than a real ditch if you ask me), and finished up in fine form.
Imagine my surprise when I looked at the results last night and it says I have SIXTY time penalties. I looked at the detailed XC results and they said we came in at TWO MINUTES! Now the course was short, but I’m pretty sure that if Woody could have finished it in two minutes, he’d still be racing and winning a bazillion dollars.
I contacted the event to let them know about the error. I came in right around 5:00. I don’t care about the ribbon (for real, we were 4th after dressage and would have ended up 3rd), but it does look like dangerous riding, and it’s inaccurate. No biggie, but still, maybe they’ll change it.
So that was our day. Allie, per usual, was an amazing friend (as is the way of her people), and took right good care of Woods and I. Oh, and not only did she stand in the wind rain and cold all day, but she took video. I’ll update with the evidence of Woody making the right decision and teaching ME a lesson when it’s uploaded.
I can’t say enough about what a good job Marlborough did. The footing held up in the rain, the volunteers were kind and helpful, and it was a VERY well run show. They have a recognized event in the fall, and I would recommend attending.