Show report delayed one day because I am so pleased with Rodney.
We walked bareback for a handful of minutes on Sunday. The walk lacked sufficient animation for dressage. The pace was even too slow for western. Exactly as requested. We lapped the pen a few times. He slowed from my seat on the small downslope. We ambled a small circle. We strolled along the jumping chute with the cavaletti and poles set at the lowest level. Through it all, he maintained a quiet, relaxed attitude.
I posed very simple problems to him. I could not be more happy with his reponses.
So, here’s the important question. You leap up gracefully from the mounting block to the back of your 17-hand horse. You do not have enough momentum. You fail to stick the landing. Your horse shifts his weight. You slide to the ground. Does this count as a fall?
Virtual Brush Box 
Definitely not a fall.
There is a walk only Interdressage test. Just saying…
My black and white mind would love there to be a definitive answer to exactly what is and is not a fall. Perhaps we should make one up ourselves for the use of others. I also want a term for use when the rider is totally unseated and out of control but stays on by the good will of the universe and the horse. It’s not a fall. But it’s worse than some times when the rider detaches easily.
Been there, done that. Barbed wire on one side, concrete on the other…practically had my hands on his bit by the time the dust settles. But he did an exquisite passage back to the barn.
PS meant to also say well done and congratulation to both of you 🙂
“So, here’s the important question. You leap up gracefully from the mounting block to the back of your 17-hand horse. You do not have enough momentum. You fail to stick the landing. Your horse shifts his weight. You slide to the ground. Does this count as a fall?”
No. I think you have to leave some wiggle room for half-assed miscues. So that wouldn’t count in my book. In fact, in my world pretty much any slide-off when riding bareback doesn’t count as a “fall.” Good job on everything that came after!
Well done! As for the slip, do we really need to define and count?