WOO HOO!! (show results)

[AUEquine]

Dressage Saddle: $80
Dressage Bridle: $25
Quarter Horse: $0
Kicking all the big warmblood's butts w/ my 2yr old QH: Priceless

Took Fiddler to his first dressage show this weekend, and despite all odds he did amazing! It was butt freezing cold, 25 mph winds, and sleeting at times! The arena was 6 inches deep in water, and was slick as hell! But despite all these things, my little man did amazing!
We got 2nd place in the Intro A test with a score of 62.5%... we even got some 8s!!! Then we got 1st in Intro B with a 62%!!!! I'm totaly shocked with the 1st place in intro B, I pretty much gave up while we were doing that test, and I almost quit half way through. I was so cold I couldn't feel my feet, I couldn't even keep my stirrups. But we apparently did better than I thought!

I gotta go finish unpacking and make some dinner, I'll give more details/answer questions later!
But before I go here are the pics!

[AUEquine]

One more pic... gotta show the poor boy freezing by the trailer! Had to keep his cooler on while we tacked up!

ETA: why is the insert image button not working?

[Gypsy Rose]

Wow! That's fantastic! Darn good scores there!

If you don't mind me asking, what did you get the 8's in?

I'll check back for the other pic.

[Annasmom]

Thats awesome! :) GREAT JOB!
thats pretty amazing... way to beat all odds
you must be so proud
may I ask where you got that dressage saddle hahah what a steal!

[Horseaholic]

:clap: wahooo you go girl!! Congrats!

[PoniesRock101]

whoo hoo! sounds like you did great and had fun despite freezing your butt off!

[Dakota Sunrise]

Great job!!!!!:D Congrats to you and Fiddler!:D:D:D

[mare]

Excellent! Your horses is in a great frame for only two, even long two. Good job on getting him there.

[FoxFireEMT]

Wow congrats. Always feels good to kick butt when your against all odds!

[Annie&Dixie]

That is soooooo awesome!! You must feel so proud! :)

[gaited07]

Congrats to you. GOOD JOB!:clap::clap::clap:

[elleng]

Congratulations. I also show a quarter horse in dressage. Just an FYI, if you wear the white breeches you must wear white gloves. If you wear tan then you can wear the black.

Continued good success to you.

[Country Girl 43]

Wow!! Great job!!

[mandisue]

GREAT JOB!!! Congradulations, he looks good!

[AppyLady]

Good job! You have a right to be proud. You and Fiddler look great. Keep up the good work!

[AUEquine]

Thanks guys! I'm just so proud of my boy! He got so many compliments, and no one could beleave he was only 2. He was just so well behaved despite all that was going on... you know how the big green monsters come out in the wind!

If you don't mind me asking, what did you get the 8's in?
We got 8's in our 'down center line and halt through medium walk'... which is funny because that's the main thing we've been struggling with is straighness and him halting without leaning forward on my hands.
Other was in "submission." Other than some lack of impulsion, with I can't really fault him for since it was so windy and the footing was awful, he was very submissive and soft!

may I ask where you got that dressage saddle hahah what a steal!
Equinehits.com. Gotta be carful shopping on there, but you can really get some good deals if you're willing to spend some time digging! I figured the saddle would be crap, but I just needed on to get me though. But when I got it I was oddly suprised that it is really nice and very comfy! I just love the suede knees, you don't find that in dressage saddles much. It offers amazing grip!

Excellent! Your horses is in a great frame for only two, even long two. Good job on getting him there.
Trust me I'm shocked... we've only been working on this frame/dressage for 3 weeks! He's really just that smart. Day one I couldn't get his head at all, day two I lunged him in side reins, day three I can get his head (but he can't hold it due to lack of muscle). Then with 2 weeks in a training fork he developed enough muscle to carry himself through the test! He really is sooooo smart and willing, he'll do anything I ask, just as long as he understands what I'm asking!

Just an FYI, if you wear the white breeches you must wear white gloves. If you wear tan then you can wear the black.

Actually there is no governing rules over glove color. It state only that from training to 4th level gloves should be of a conservative color. The 'rules' you speak of are only current trends; around here white gloves arn't worn until 1st level.

[Tatesgram]

Great job! Where was the show? Was it around B'ham?

[CircleR]

Awesome!! You guys look so good!! Congrats and keep up the good work.

[AUEquine]

Where was the show? Was it around B'ham?
Yes, it was up around B'ham. The address for the place says Pinson, but I think it's more in the Clay area because we drove past Clay City Hall just a few miles before the barn.
I went up for the whole weekend, Fiddler and I spent the weekend at my friends place! He got spoiled rotten with a big cushy stall and attached turnout! Other than the weather at the show we had an absolutly wonderful time!
Friday we went to a neighbors arena up there and had a lesson with my friends trainer. It was nice to have someone on the ground helping me since I can't see everything from his back. I had actually been working him behind the vertical a little so she helped me learn where his correct head should be (guess I need to get some mirrors or a video camera for at home work). But this arena we were at was amazing, and on that great footing Fiddler just moved out and carried himself so gracefully! I can't wait to take him to somewhere like Poplar Place to show under good conditions!

Of course I'm sure I've only got a little while longer to work him in well dressage for a while. I have a feeling in a few months he'll hit another growth spurt and that butt will jack it self up in the air so high it will make it hard for him to collect! Oh well, we'll just go back to some easy trails til he evens out again!

Oh and for those who may be worrying about his age, don't! He only gets worked 30 minutes at a time and only 2-3 times a week. Mostly walk trot, with a little loose rein canter work on a straight away. I have consulted 4+ Equine surgeons who have examined him and assure me this work routine is just fine for him!

[AUEquine]

Here's the other pic. I had to keep his cooler on him while tacking up, it was so freaking cold! He got kind upset when I took off his leg wraps... 'but mom, those were warm!'
Fiddler also got spoiled by the spiff ride he got to cruise around in all weekend! That is my friends brand new Hawk trailer! It was a dream to haul, and Fiddler would practically jump right in it! He didn't want to load back up in my ugly stock trailer to go home... guess momma needs to save up for a new trailer!
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/AUEquine/Dreamweaver%20Dressage%20Show/Dreamweaver6.jpg

[Mandzanita]

Awesome!! You must be such a proud mommy, that is a huge accomplishment :) :) Loved the pics!

I don't want this thread to turn bad at all but I'm just wondering if you can start QH's earlier then others? I seem to remember people getting really jumped on if they start riding their horses before three years old? I know you work in the equine medical field so you know what you are doing but I was genuinely wondering :)

[rums_mom]

Oh congrats to you and Fiddler! That is fantastic, just fantastic.....

BTW, we have not formal rules about white gloves and white breeches for any shows we've been to either.

[AUEquine]

I don't want this thread to turn bad at all but I'm just wondering if you can start QH's earlier then others? I seem to remember people getting really jumped on if they start riding their horses before three years old? I know you work in the equine medical field so you know what you are doing but I was genuinely wondering :)

No that's perfectly fine, I deal with this question alot! And alot of it is just people's different beliefs, and I don't really think any of them are 100% right or wrong. I work mostly with stock breeds (QH, paints, etc.) we usually break them around 18 months. And this depends on their mental state and their conformation. The longer the pasterns, the longer we wait. I also have done extensive ground work with these animals so that the actual mounting/breaking process is usually a piece of cake and involves little to no drama (ie chance of injury). And also when I say "breaking", here's what I mean... basically we get on the horse at 18 months. It does no damage to this horse to hold a rider for 10-15 minutes while it's lead around in a round pen. Once the horse is comfortable with the rider, we remove the leader and 'ride' the horse around the pen. Again these horses are 'riden' for 10 minutes twice a week. They don't trot for a couple of months, and don't canter until they are well into their 2 year old year (real age, not jan 1 date), so basically they are learning to carry a rider and steer. We start work with moving away from leg pressure and flexing from side to side at this point too.
I have no problem with the people who chose to wait to break their horses... that's their choice! I do have a problem with people that think nothing can be done with the horse until 3 or 4 (ie no long lining, no saddling, ponying, etc.) I also have a problem with people that think that their way is the only/best way to do something! I've come accross many people who agree and disagree with my method, but usually the only agrument I get against it is "I read something, somewhere, online that said you shouldn't!" Like I said in my other post. My horse has been seen by 4 or 5 equine surgeons and I've been told my methods are just fine!

[Tatesgram]

It's been my understanding that each horse is different and that it totally depends on that horse. My neighbor had a little mare that I swear still looked like a baby at 4 years. Like she just wasn't developed right.