Shows 1 and 2

Roxie is ready for the rain!

I've had my first two shows of the season with Spencer.  We are just going to a series of club (schooling) shows for now.  We may hit a AQHA show at the end of July and a couple of fall fairs, if things go well.

I actually have no pictures from either show. Weird, I know!  I just don't find I have time to snap many shots with my phone as I have been there alone both days, for the most part.

My friend helped me band for the first show and then trailered me over.  She is great to help get us both ready for the halter classes, then she heads home.  We did ok at this show - lots to work on:

• showmanship (SMS)- most parts were good but there were a few things to tighten up:
•  turns (pivots) - Spencer was stepping out on the turns on me. 
• quarters - I need to be a bit sharper and work on thinking more in case the judge was tricky!
 
• riding in general - just need to slow him down and keep him focussed - he likes to look off in the distance when he hears/sees something.  
• downward transitions 
• halting without popping his head up on me.
• fidgeting - he was really fidgety when we halted in the command class, which got us eliminated fairly early on
 
• trail - again with keeping his attention on me.  We had to lope over some poles and we were loping on the left lead and his head was cranked around to the right.  We botched the poles pretty good. 

So, with that experience in hand, I had a lot to work on at home.  We loped and loped over poles, working on rhythm at the canter so we had a shot at getting over the poles. There was a big improvement there.    I also need to ask more of him when schooling at home. I am really focussing on asking him to pay attention and work when we are riding. When he is turned out, he can watch for deer in the field and watch the neighbours kids.  ;-)

I also worked on fine tuning what I was doing with my body when asking for downward transitions and halts.  In three weeks, I was able to get a decent improvement - not pefect, but definitely on the right track.  I really need to remember to not even touch the reins when asking him to halt, as he seems to overflex or something, causing him to hit the bit and pop his head up.

And for showmanship, my coach and I drilled that like crazy. I then practiced almost every day for the next three weeks.  I had the quarters down and I was getting 180 degree pivots with no problem and was getting a 360 most of the time.  I was feeling good about our progress.

That leads us to show 2 yesterday. Rain was forecast and since the weather people are usually a bit wrong, I decided to go anyway.  Spencer is terrible if it rains. He will not stand still at all, unless his bum is to the rain.  He just refuses - even if it is a light rain.  What a princess! This is a horse that will stand outside in all kinds of weather normally!

We got through the halter class and SMS was up next.  Two people got to go before the downpour hit. It sort of came out of nowhere - all of the horses were upset. And my horse? My horse was rearing.  Not a full on black stallion rear, but front feet off the ground repeatedly. *sigh*  I knew I had no chance of getting him to stand at a cone with the wind and rain blowing.  We made a lame attempt to do the pattern, but it was a mess.  The only thing I got were my quarters during the judge's inspection.  The weather was totally out of my hands, but it was frustrating since I had been practicing so much.

It continued to rain throughtout the morning and the winds were high. I decided not to ride, since I would be penalized in horsemanship and pleasure if Spencer spooked in the wind or was acting goofy because of the rain. 

All in all, show 2 was a total bust.  That happens, but man is it frustrating when you are ready to go.  I should have maybe showed anyway, but didn't want it to be a big mess with a goofy horse.  Show 3 is in two weeks, so we will keep practising and hope for better weather!