Western Dressage

A couple of years ago, or something like that, I joined NAWD, North American Western Dressage and I’m guessing there’s an association in there somewhere. I thought Rusty and I could do the ground work tests. I love to compete and we weren’t at a place where we could do any local real type shows.

We never got it done.

This year I received a reminder that there was a ranch horse show coming up. I looked up the tests, found one we would be capable of, did a very little bit of practicing, and got it done!!

Only life can never be that easy.

Our go felt wonderful. Rusty was relaxed, happy, and he even stopped when asked! It was nearly perfect, or felt that way, looking back at video things are never as good as they feel. Finding that center line is hard! Watching the video I realized how far away the GoPro made everything look. It was set not too far away from the marker but even that looked to be far off in the distance and Rusty was the size of an ant. I sent the video to a friend of mine asking if she thought it would work. She was very diplomatic in saying that no, it would not.

Redo number one.

Riding is easiest when I’m home alone. That wouldn’t work for this. I’d have to corner my very busy husband and beg him to film for me. The day was cool and cloudy. The film very dark. It worked though. We had a run that I was very happy with. Watching it I noticed more little things that were wrong, center is SO hard to find apparently and I needed more bra 😉

I got it cut down to only the parts needed and was ready to send it to the friend again to make sure I hadn’t messed anything up this time. When I noticed that I didn’t trot for the first part where I was supposed to.

Grrrr

Managed to get my husband again. Twice in one weekend, it has to be some kind of record.

Rusty did not feel good. He was sick of this pattern and doing it AGAIN. He was off and running for our first try. We went through it fast! Missed most of our marks. I asked for a redo.

Western dressage sounds easy what with being able to do your tests at home and send in a video only once you get it absolutely perfect. In real life it isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Getting that perfect run is never easy, even at home. Getting it filmed just right isn’t easy either. Remembering when a show is going on when you don’t have to be there at a certain time is as difficult as getting a couple of weeks to get a test rode and sent in is great.

Our second try of the day was okay. Rusty slowed down a little. I think we mostly found center? The biggest problem is stopping at C. It’s up against the only real barrier in the whole “arena”. You’d think being about to crash into the hay trainer would make it the easiest stop in the test.

Every single time he wants to run through on that stop. Almost only that  stop, stopping is never easy for such a forward horse. We ran over the marker (lick tub) but the rest of the run was good and I did not want to do it yet again. So we  called it good. Now I just need to figure out how to submit the video. Should be simple right? 😉 Except I am incapable of reading directions.

p.s.

No I’m not wearing the same shirt for every ride. Not quite. I may have fallen madly inn love with the shirt and color and bought quite a few of the same one 😉 A solid colored shirt is required so why not choose one I like, over and over again…

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