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Last Friday, WallE, Tammie and I ventured to Carolina Horse Park for the War Horse Series. We were signed up for the Novice CT and planning to let Laura (The trainer) ride cross country on Saturday. Before leaving on Friday, WallE decided to have a wild run in the field and while loading him onto the trailer, I thought I might hear a loose shoe.
After unloading him in southern pines, I knew it was loose and pulled it off. We got WallE settled. Tammie setting up the meticulous stall, just the way WallE likes it and I unpacking the rider items.
We tacked up and headed over to the schooling area to catch a dressage school. The arena was not desolate, in fact, there were a great many riders and horses hacking around. WallE was a champion. We went in, found a semi private area to begin our warm up and started working on a square and then circle. Several horses came into our space with little or no reaction from WallE. He was focused and happy to be doing his job. When Laura arrived to help us, we put a little pressure on with lengthening and shortening on the circle...he responded great (even when I used the crop). No buck, no spin, no melt down. We headed over to our dressage arena and practiced our test one time. We did not nail it, but I would say it was a solid 7 out of 10.
The next day we arrived at the barn around 7am. WallE and I took several walks while we waited on the farrier to arrive. As soon as the farrier was at his station, we rushed over to have his shoe put back on. Around 11am, we lunged, then warmed up in the jump school. There was a Killdeer bird with a nest at the very edge of the arena. When we would venture near to the nest, she would come out and chirp at us. It was very comical to see such a little bird stand up to such a big horse. We tried our best to avoid the nest area after the near miss (the almost bird attack). WallE and I headed into the show arena where we proceeded to jump everything, but not with grace. WallE was an excellent horse, but his rider (me) needed to make better decisions. We went back in and did a better job (still with no refusals).
I was exhausted, but WallE was barely sweaty. We got back to the barn, picked up our neighbors and headed to meet Laura for cross country. She got on and from the moment WallE's toes touched the cross country field he was a champion. Well behaved, easy to bring back to focus and quick to jump anything Laura put in front of him. It went so well, Laura had me get on at the end to jump over two fences. Gone was the unsure horse from previous Carolina Horse Park rides, this was a confident horse game for anything. I was very pleased.
On show day (Sunday), WallE went out into the dressage school knowing his job. He was focus, he was round, he was unflappable. Two horses cut us off. WallE gracefully came to a halt and then continued on like nothing happened. In the show arena, he was focused (despite two people running by and horses galloping by in the jump school next door). It paid off and we received several '7' marks. WallE headed back to his stall, knowing he did well.
A few hours later we tacked up and headed to the jump school. WallE trotted around one time and then told me it was time to canter. After a short canter, we jumped a few fences (Forward, strong and adjustable). Then we headed to the show arena. Without looking at the course...
After entering the arena, I realized the course had changed from the previous day. Note to self: ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THE COURSE. If you assume it is the same...you make an ass out of the you and the horse. Nevertheless, after a quick scan of the numbered jumps we cantered forward and began. WallE was AMAZING. I am not quite used to him having so much power in the canter. In our video, you can see me struggle a little with the distance, but he is GAME. We cantered on, cleared all the fences, had a time fault due to taking the long route and jumped over the standard of the last fence.
Though we completed our classes and had a great show, the biggest success was his attitude. WallE knew his job and wanted to do his job. And I just got to enjoy the ride!
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