Riding in the Championships

At the 2010 Regional 8 Championships, Piper and I contested 2 classes per day over 4 days.   While a little bit of a gamble, in the end, this worked out really well.   It meant that prior to the Training Level Championship class on Thursday and the First Level Championship class on Friday, we rode a warmup test.   And the night before the Freestyle Championship, we were able to ride our Kur in an open class in the same ring as the Championship.

Two years ago, in September 2008, we took Piper along to Saugerties when Jeddien had qualified for the Third Level Open Regional Championships.   This was the same year that Piper started to compete in the USA and was dealing with wicked phobias of judges stands, tents, booths, and whatever else was used to house judges.   And with golf carts, show jumping, banners, flowers, dogs, cyclists, lots of horses, stabling away from home, and everything else that keeps the Saugerties show atmosphere buzzing, Piper was overwhelmed to the point of submission.   He found SAFETY in the quiet calm of the dressage arena, and was actually a good boy, although a bit shy and withdrawn at times.

Last year, injury sidelined Piper in the summer.   This year, he came into his own and became a little competition star.   And at Saugerties, this became even more apparent.   From arrival to departure, he was braver than he'd ever been, taking everything in stride.   The few little moments he did have would have been expected from most horses.   Especially competing in the impressive Ring One for the first time.

Day One - Training Level Championships

With a fabulous first ride time of 9:12 am, Piper went into Ring 3 and pulled off a very nice, calm Training Level Test 1 test.   The super score of 69.565% was enough to earn him 2nd Place in a class where the scores ranged from 70.87% to 46.957%.

An hour later, we were in the same ring again for the Training Level Championships, Open Division.   As expected, the class included several well known professional riders on really nice horses.   Knowing this, I was hoping we would finish in the top half of the large class of 24 combinations.   Earning an okay 65.4%, we finished 11th out of the 22 who started.   (There were 2 scratches.)   Scores ranged from 71.6% to 53.8%.

Day Two - First Level Championships

Our warmup class on Friday was Training Level Test 2.   Another good sized class with 18 starting.   Making it more interesting, the class was watched by about 20 judges attending a judges' forum.

I like Training Level Test 2 because it has two full trot diagonals in it.   With Piper and his very steady trot tempo, these movements offer a great opportunity to earn easy 7's and 8's.   However, to earn those, the rider has to remember to perform them!   And sure enough, I did not remember one of them, thus earning a deduction of 2 points for going off course.   However, a quick wave to acknowledge the judge's bell, and we went around again and did a nice diagonal.

In what should have otherwise been a quiet and easy test, Piper decided to start tossing his head and going well above the bit.   This was a new behavior for him, and not welcomed at all at this point in the game.   Of course, the judge saw it too.   In the end, we earned 66.071% in a class ranging from 70.714% to 55%.   6th Place.

The First Level Regional Champion, Open Division followed later that morning.   And by then, Piper had decided he really liked this new game of head tossing, pulling against the bit, and ignoring the rider.   It was not a fun ride at all!   And when the score of 56.184% was posted, I was not surprised.   We came Dead Last in the class of 23 combinations, a class which won with a very respectable 69.605% score.   I can't remember the last time I came last....   Talk about a bump in the road.   I was not a happy camper after that test!

Day 3 - Open Classes Only

Saturday morning, bright and early, Piper and I rode in the Training Level Test 1 class of 13.   Scores ranged from 69.565% to 55.652%.   Our score of 66.087% put us in 4th Place.   While this is an easy test for Piper, he was still playing up.   And now I was really starting to wonder why... and had a sneaking hunch it was to do with the bit.

A week before Saugerties, I switched Piper's thinner KK ultra bit for a thicker one.   The thinner one was what we had spent the whole season competing in.   At home in the runup to this show, he was really great in the thicker bit.   Responsive, light, happy.   But we had not tried it in competition.   And this was, in retrospect, not the competition at which to be testing new tack!

Riding in Ring One

That evening, we were given a scratched slot in the USEF / FEI Freestyle Level of Choice test.   Since it was in Ring One, where the Freestyle Championships were scheduled to be run on Sunday, and was being held during cocktail hour in front of the grandstands and VIP tents, it was a perfect opportunity to press all the buttons of both horse and rider and see how well we were BOTH going to cope.

Ring One can be intimidating.   Even the super brave lionness of a horse, Jeddien, thought twice when entering Ring One in her 3rd Level Freestyle Championships in 2009.   Entering under the pedestrian bridge into the sunken fishbowl arena is awesome and can really get the blood pumping.   For Piper, it was a true test of his new found bravery.   But with a little encouragement and help from the NEDA volunteers, he squirted into the arena and we made our way around past each of the 5 judges booths.   I introduced myself and Piper to each of the 2 presiding judges and took a deep breath.   "This is a practice run", I told myself.   "Ride it and have fun."

Then, the bell.   Positioning ourselves outside of the arena near K, I signaled the announcer and within a few seconds, our "Tic toc tic toc" music intro began.   I made a supreme effort to find Piper's trot and adjust it to get into sync with the music, pulled off our halt at X, then headed directly on the diagonal to M, as planned in my choreography, thus avoiding having to head directly towards the judge.

The rest of the test is mostly a blur...   as they sometimes are for me...   with exception to Piper pulling against the bridle in the canter, but only to the left, and the final centerline where Piper suddenly took great exception to the view of C several meters ahead.   With our final line from A to C being a zigzag legyield movement, it was just impossible to keep Piper trotting, flowing sideways, and going forward.   He walked the final legyield into our halt at G.   None-the-less, I saluted and smiled, happy just to be there, happy to have ridden our freestyle, happy to be done.

Suddenly the audience reappeared out of nowhere, bursting my private little bubble in which I tend to ride my dressage tests.   People were applauding on three sides of the fishbowl.   A moment of mushiness swept over me as my eyes welled up and my heart filled with immense pride for my horse.   It was good.

When our winning score of 65.833% was posted, I was thrilled to see that not only had we won the class and a nice $50 gift certificate donated by NEDA's own Beth Jenkins & Paddock Saddlery, we had earned our first qualifying score towards the 2011 Regional Championships.   An excellent result!

Day 4 - Freestyle Championships

Bright and early on Sunday morning, we entered Ring One for the second time.   After the night before, I was confident we could pull off a bit more accuracy on our choreography, now knowing that Piper might back off a little in this ring.   I could adjust for this.   I also felt confident that I could get him to trot the full final zigzag movement.

As the test progressed, I was pleased to see my confidence in Piper's confidence was well placed.   And while he was able to finish the zigzag, his head tossing was no better than before.   And with the same judges viewing the same freestyle in a space of 16 hours, they were a little less tolerant of Piper's lack of submission.   Our score dropped nearly 1.5% to 64.375%, putting us in 4th Place in the Regional Championships for First Level Freestyles.   The final scores for the class ranged from 68.333% to 59.167%.

Considering it was Piper's first complete year of serious competition, 4th was still a good result.

Day 4 Continues - Tack Change

The weekend was nearly over.   And with it, we had one ride left to go.   Another run at First Level Test 4, the test in which we earned a disappointing 56% two days earlier.   Even though we had just started competing at First Level recently, this score was not acceptable to me.

Before tacking up, I put Piper's old bit back on the bridle.   In the warmup, he was FABULOUS.   I had my 2010 season partner back under me again.   But, enjoying the warmup so much, I probably left my competition test in the warmup area.   Piper was running low on fuel.

The last test of the show was polite and Piper behaved.   I left the arena beaming like someone who fully believed they had just won the class with an unprecedented winning score.   Yes, I was very pleased with the boy.

We finished in 6th Place with a 61.842% in a class of 15 where the scores ranged from 72.368% to 55.263%.   We had improved our earlier L1T4 score by over 5%.   However, more importantly, I remembered the advice I always give others....   Never change your tack right before a big show!   A mistake I will not make again....



The Awards Ceremony

The last thing we had to do before packing up the trailer to go home was ride in a Mounted Awards Ceremony in Ring One during the lunchtime break.

Leading up to the Championships, I was able to worry myself to sleep at night, thinking what might happen during the Awards Ceremonies, which in my dreamworld we would of course be attending!   But when it actually came to pass, Piper acted as if he had been doing Mounted Awards Ceremonies all of his life.

He stood.   He waited.   He got bored.   He tried to eat the long white ribbon hanging from his bridle.   And he happily did a circuit of Ring One with the other competitors from the First Level Freestyle Championship class.   No problem.   He was a super star!

Good-Bye, Piper the Wuss

Looking back at this competition year, it's really amazing to see how much Piper Warrior has matured.   Piper the Wuss is finally growing into his real name.   While not quite a Warrior yet, he has certainly come a long way towards being a braver, more confident competition horse.   And that, in turn, makes him all the more fun to ride and partner in competition.

It'll be interesting to see what next year brings....

Arriving at the Championships

The 2010 USDF Region 8 Championships are now history.   The final weeks and days leading up to this huge event is all a bit of a blur now.   Suffice to say, training continued and several practice runs of the tests and our kur took place.   And a small tack change was made...   which I will get back to later.

After a four and half hour long drive, arriving at the HITS showgrounds in Saugerties New York is always a relief.   Piper traveled very well, arriving in excellent condition.   During the trip he munched on some of the wet hay provided in his haynet and he enjoyed apples at our two fuel and rest stops.   As always, the first priority was to get Piper out of the trailer, and this was done within a few minutes, as soon as we got the first bag of shavings into his stall and a water bucket in place.   The next hour involved unloading everything and carefully arranging the tack stall out of which we would "live" for the next four days.

While some training & boarding farms decorate their show barn areas with very handsome custom embroidered curtains, chairs, and wall hangings, with farm names and logos proudly displayed, we are still doing things on the Home Depot scale.   A 12 x 12 foot plastic blue tarp works well as our floor rug and allows us to keep our hay off the dirt floor of the barn aisle.   Two $6 shower curtains hung on the inside of the tack stall offer some privacy.   We also string a heavy rope diagonally across the tack stall, providing a place to hang clothes, blankets, gloves, coats and more.   Full length folding lawn chairs and pillows, positioned towards the back of the tack stall, provide comfortable places to rest, read, and nap.   A cooler of drinks and snacks between chairs acts as a coffee table.   It's certainly not luxury living, but it works for us.

By the time we has settled in, moved the trailer to the trailer parking lot, and fed Piper dinner, it was dark.   The trip to our hotel, one at which we had stayed two years prior, was short and easy.   Settling in there was simply a matter of signing in and dumping off our suitcases.   Then, we were off to the nearby Mexican Restaurant for dinner, back to the barn for night checks, and finally back to the hotel for the night.

The next day, Piper was going to be competing in his first ever USDF Region 8 Championship class.   It was a long journey that was about to reach the final milestones.

Forget the Milk! How About "Got Registrations!?!?"

This week, I checked out the USDF current standings for 2010 season awards and was delighted to see Piper Warrior and I ranking fairly well for our first real full year of competition together.

For USDF Horse of the Year (HOTY) awards at Training Level, we are ranked 166 in the USA.   The HOTY list bottoms out at median scores of 60%.   So far, 385 horse / rider combinations across the country have earned a spot on the list.   Our median score is 66.2%.

At First Level, we are ranked 161 out of 333 with a median score of 64.737.   I hope to see that jump up a little at the next competition.

For Musical Freestyles at First Level, we are currently standing at 13th with a score of 68.958%.

AND, as an older rider, I am now registered with USDF as being "Vintage".   And accordingly, we are now also listed in the "Vintage Cup" award standings.   At Training Level and First Level respectively, we are currently ranked 18th and 14th in the USA.   Very cool indeed!

The USDF also offers "All Breeds Awards" sponsored by different breed associations.   As a registered KWPN Dutch Warmblood, Piper is also eligible for USDF All Breeds KWPN/NA awards.   However, in order to earn the awards, all of the proper registration information must be completed and filed with the KWPN/NA.   And sure enough, for Piper, it is NOT.   Whoops!

And so the mad dash to get this completed has begun.....   Have you got your registrations in?

Qualified X 3 !!!

Just before the 2010 competition season came to a close, Piper and I competed at the two back-to-back Vermont Dressage Days competitions in Burlington VT.   There, we rode in three classes per show:   Training Level Test 4, First Level Test 4, and USDF Freestyle.

The journey up to Burlington is not excessively long at 2 and a half hours, nor very challenging with most of the drive being on one highway.   However, talk about hilly!   At times, my truck labored up the Green Mountains at just under 50 miles per hour.   But, the truck soldiered on and we got there and back home perfectly well.

The Vermont Dressage Days competition is held at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center in Essex Junction.   The dressage arenas, warmup areas, and stables are all towards the back of the large site, on level ground.   Being close to the impressive Lake Champlain, the showgrounds enjoyed strong breezes, keeping the potential summer heat at bay.   The nights were pleasantly cool and Piper seemed comfortable in his temporary accommodations.

Qualifications Complete

One the first day of showing, Piper put in a good effort.   Enough to complete qualifications for First Level and First Level Freestyles.   That allowed day two to be free of any pressures and goals.   We were now fully qualified for the USDF Regional Championships in three categories!

The second day, however, turned out to be challenging in new ways.   The winds were quite strong.   Piper was on his toes while also being a bit tired.   An interesting combination.   He needed some reminding to pay attention and stay focused on the job, but also confidence to keep things together.   However, overall, he was more confident than I'd ever seen him.   Spook-free.   Braver.   More trusting.   It was pleasing progress for the naturally timid boy.

As for our freestyle, in the end, the music was not radically changed leading up to this competition.   A couple of little blips in the mixing were smoothed out, but that's all.   Instead of editing the music, I adjusted the choreography to match the phrasing.   Overall, the judges enjoyed the music, as did the audience.   And scores close to the 70% mark were earned, earning blue ribbons in both classes.

What's Next ?

The season's goal was to get to the USDF Regional Championships.   We have qualified, but we are not there yet.   And with horses (and life in general) you just never know what will be thrown your way.   However, the intentions are clear.   We are now entered in the 2010 Championships.

Until then, we will continue training, with focus on strengthening and balance with an eye towards improving our lengthenings.   While our lengthening scores have improved from 5 to 7 in the past couple months, there is always room for improvement.   And the work needs to progress from mere lengthenings to true medium paces.   And then eventually extended paces.

We will also continue to work on the contact, seeking a quieter more subtle yet more effective communication between horse and rider.   And from that, the ability to finetune the movements within the tests.

Dressage is a long journey.   First Level is not our final destination, but an enjoyable stop along the way.

Who's Next ?

Meanwhile, one of our 4 year old horses is now being prepared for his very first competition in October.   And THAT actually feels more exciting than anything else right now.   Competing at USDF Intro Level A & B, aka "the walk-trot tests", Big Ben and I will be taking those huge first steps together.

Very exciting indeed.

July Shows & Qualifications

The past couple weeks have been focused on competing.  Training, traveling, and riding.

After the GMHA June show, Piper stayed at the facilities for a week, enjoying a 4-H Camp week with his junior rider.  They participated in all sorts of activities from flat work to eventing, showing to trail riding, and hanging out.  Upon Piper's return home, we got hit with the heatwave to end all heatwaves.  When it came time to get back to dressage, Piper was heavy in the hand and not as light on his feet as one might like.

GMHA July Dressage Days

And so, the GMHA July show was much harder work than the June show.  We did not sweep, but we still put in a good showing.  Piper was Reserve Champion High Point of the Day at Training Level Open for one day and earned a few nice ribbons.

And, we completed our Qualification for the USDF Regionals at Training Level Open.  A mean feat, that, as open riders have to earn 68% in order to qualify.   68% scores do not come easily at any level.

But the big event for GMHA July was Piper's freestyle debut.  The music was not perfect.  The choreography wanted a bit more fiddling.  But we froze both, committed to practicing with what we had, and showed it on Saturday to a small but appreciative audience of about 40 or 50 people.

Nerves.  Riders can suffer from them.  So can horses.  And that's okay as long as the horse and rider take turns being nervous, with the calmer one providing support.  If both are worried at the same time, effective riding goes out the side door.

As our music started and we headed into the arena, I could feel we were not in sync with our trot music which has a very strong "clip clop clip clop" beat.   Instead of half halting and getting Piper's footfalls to match the beat, I just sat there in passenger mode.  Piper, meanwhile, was having serious second thoughts about approaching the judge at "C" at all.

And so the 4:45 minute ride progressed.  Piper continued to avoid "C", each time cutting a couple seconds off the ride and putting us ahead of the music.  Fortunately, his lack of impulsion (not a good thing, by the way) prevented us from getting too far ahead.  And the rider, overheating in a jacket which was not required in the humid 90 degree heat but was highly recommended, just hung in there, knowing it was not going to plan but not doing much about it.

We survived.  And that's about it.  We earned 62.5% from one judge and 65.625% from the other.  Final score:  64.063%.  Not horrible, but certainly not what we are capable of when the horse is not spooking and the woman in the saddle is actively in charge.

I vowed to actually RIDE my next freestyle the following week.  And did.

UNH Dressage on the Seacoast

At the UNH (University of New Hampshire) show, as soon as the music started, I helped Piper latch onto the beat.   Then, throughout the test, I rode the movements as best as possible technically, while listening for the music cues and making adjustments as necessary.   The final centerline, with zig-zag leg yields, went fairly well, and I beamed with satisfaction in my final halt.   The ride felt pretty good.

Both judges rewarded us with just over 69% and we won the freestyle class with a qualifying score of 69.271%.  We used the same music CD.  And the same floor pattern.  But this time, the rider RODE every step of the test as well as every phrase of the music.   And that makes a difference.

Qualifications

So, at this stage, Piper is qualified for Training Level Open and half qualified for First Level Freestyle and First Level Open.  We have two opportunities left to chase those qualifying scores.  Until then, we've got a bit of time to train, tweak the music, and work on our technical execution of the the choreography.