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My oh my, what a weekend. Returning to the real world from the whirlwind of a weekend that was War Horse is surreal. WallE, my mom (Tammie) and I left for Carolina Horse Park at 7am Saturday morning and returned at 6:30pm Sunday night. It was great fun with lots of learning mixed in.
Saturday
We arrived around 10:00am on Saturday and settled WallE into his stall. After a rest, I briefly lunged WallE and then got on. We headed to the dressage warm up, where we did some light schooling working on a small square and circle and growing as needed. For the most part he was very focused and willing to work. We headed over to the jump school, went over a few fences and then headed into our practice round for the Novice course. Our first practice round was a bit of a struggle. The arena was new, the jumps were very shinny and there was a liverpool. We did okay over the first few, but after the liverpool we were so happy to have made it over in once piece, we could not continue. WallE refused the next jump, but it was not nasty or bad behavior...I think he was telling me he just needed a moment. We took the moment and then proceeded to make it over everything else. After a brief rest outside the arena, we went back in and did the full course without issue.
WallE then went out on cross country with our trainer Laura as the pilot. Historically WallE has been very difficult for me on the Carolina Horse Park cross country course. He has difficulty taking it all in and is very expressive with his excitement. So Laura agreed to ride/school him on course...not necessarily over the fences, but just to help him stay focused and less spastic.
Laura intentionally walked WallE away from the group, had him watch the other horses jump and canter away and all the things that have triggered him previously. When he would misbehave or want to get excited and follow the other horses, Laura would ride him in a small circle asking for collection and bend. Sometimes he complied, but for the most part he did not. I watched as they circled and he bucked, kicked out and had small fits of furry. When he would relax and trot or canter nicely on the contact, she would stop and walk. Laura and WallE did this exercise several times throughout the cross country course...just working on keeping the focus. After a long walk out, I took WallE to the wash rack, where he ground tied perfectly and just contemplated his life (other horses were pacing and moving, but WallE just stood). I think he was in shock that someone had told him to behave better...
After tucking WallE in for the afternoon, Tammie and I headed to the Pine Crest Inn in Pinehurst. We took a rest period to relax and freshen up before heading to an early dinner at Elliotts On Linden. The farm to table freshness of the restaurant was divine! Very delicious. We had a lovely meal and then went back to the horse park to take WallE on a walk, feed him his dinner and tuck him in for the night.
Sunday
Sunday morning we awoke and enjoyed the Pine Crest Inn's buffet before returning to the horse park. We arrived at the park around 7:30am. I took WallE for a walk while Tammie cleaned his stall, freshened his water and hay, and made his grain. After I put WallE back in his stall, we walked around the show ground and watched a few other riders. About 8:40am I took WallE to the lunging area to help him warm up. After this weekend, I have decided I really like lunging before riding. WallE does not do anything particularly expressive on the lunge line - he walks, trots and canters (no buck or gallop) - but I feel it helps me get into the mindset that he can go straight to work once I get on. He is already loosened up and warmed up, so when I get on and ask for a little collection it is okay.
We headed over to the dressage arena and ventured towards a far corner of the arena that seemed less inhabited. WallE and I began working on a small square at the trot. I tried to channel what I saw Laura do the previous day - when he was not responsive, put him on a small circle with the pressure on. This worked relatively well, but he did become quite expressive. He bucked and crow hopped and went into the canter quite a bit, but I continued to keep the pressure on. Laura appeared and began instructing us and pretty soon we were walk, trot and cantering without much issue. About 15 minutes before our ride time we headed over to the arena. The ring was running ahead, so we got to go right in. For the most part the test went really well, I did struggle with the first canter transition, but other than that I was very happy.
After our test and walk out, we settled WallE back into his stall and went out to watch the other riders. During this time we got a quick bite to eat from Roasted and Toasted, the preferred food truck at the show grounds (yum).
Our show jump round was at 1:15pm, so at 12:45pm we headed to the warm up. We had a steady warm up, utilizing the same focusing techniques as our dressage warm up. WallE was very responsive and was excited and willing to begin jumping. Laura had to leave us after our warm up, so we walked around outside the show jump arena until it was time for us to go in. We went in and rocked it. WallE was forward and willing. I used the crop several times and he said 'yes, I understand,' instead of his normal impatient kicking out of his leg. We came out of the show jump arena double clear and happy with our round.
After a long walk out, hose down and liniment, WallE went back into his stall to decompress before our long drive home.
The whirlwind trip was a blast. WallE and I defiantly had our very best dressage and show jump rounds to date. I feel that I learned lots about how to deal with WallE's shenanigans and how to help him to be his very best through it all. Until next time, WallE and I both need a break for now!
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