Individual Test

Okay, I'm really tired and ready for bed but I'll post this real quick before I forget everything.

Today was the Junior Individual Test. My ride time was 10:29. It went pretty well, we had a few mistakes (these judges are so observant! Haha.) that killed our score, even though Nash was being really good. We ended up with a 61% and change. Our ride was interesting, and although I would have liked to score higher, I'm pretty happy with it. Here's why:
Usually at shows, Nash is (understandably) a little tense, particularly in the actual show ring. We usually spend the warm-up loosening up and trying to get him stretched over his back and through. Then when I get in the show ring he starts looking at everything,I get a little tense and grip with my thights too much, he gets a little tense in the poll, and blocks me through his shoulders. So what we've been working on in the show ring is maintaining a through yet RELAXED frame, where he is soft and bendable through his neck and poll and I am loose and supportive in my seat and legs. Today, I feel as if I achieved that, albeit at the expense of a high frame and level of collection. We went in the show ring and instead of him looking all around and getting worried/tense, he stayed loose and pliable through the neck and shoulders. Unfortunately, I think he was also a bit fatigued and as I said we had a few mistakes and weren't as "up" as our first test, which is reflected in our score. But despite the score I feel as if I achieved something today with Nash, and in the long run that is, of course, what is important.

On another note, Jamie Pestana and Winzalot won the Individual Gold Medal with a score of 71%! GO JAMIE! It was a beautiful ride and the awards ceremony was a ton of fun. Region 7 is lucky to have her!

We're still waiting on videos of my rides, I promise those and more pictures will be up soon. Tomorrow are the freestyle tests, and I'm actually a little relieved I don't have to ride mine although it would have been fun. I'm about to go to bed, ta ta for now!