Show Report, Winter Tournament #3, 2017

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Winter Tournament #3
B&W Stables
Hartselle, AL
February 11, 2017

Advance Horsemanship WTC Adult – 6th of 7
Advanced Equitation WTC Adult (Pattern) – 5th of 7
Pleasure Horse or Pony WTC Adult – 2nd of 8
All riding classes with Robert.
Academy Driving – 1st of 1 with Alvin
Thank you to the Wamble, Upton, & Huguley families.

I hate when I forget how to ride.

Why? Who knows.
I had two excellent lessons beforehand and got complacent?
I am spending more time, at least mentally, in hunter/jumper land and got confused?
Brain fade?

For whatever reason, I spent the first two classes letting Robert push me around. The horse needs to participate in the conversation, but not lead it. Some of Robert’s ideas on Saturday included a lovely transition to counter canter and a few steps of rack. Unfortunately, those movements were not called for at this level. I kept trying to fix it. I did not succeed. Hello pastels. (I consider sixth place – green – to be pastel by association.)

Coming into the third class, I finally rediscovered a clue. Lengthen. My. Reins. I know this [LYR]. But I forget. I cannot sit back while the horse is pulling me forward. This is a tug-of-war the rider will never win. Slip a few inches of rein. Remove myself from the argument. Sit back. Organize self. Only then am I in a position – literally and figuratively – to organize the horse. Duh.

So,
I had a problem. Boo.
I fixed it. Yay.
It took me 2 & 1/2 classes to do so. Boo.

Alvin was his stellar self.

In other news, other folks had a better day. Katie [Why I Ride] swept the three Adult classes with Snippy. Go Katie! Go Snippy! Stepping Stone won 20 of the 26 classes we entered. Go Team!

Greg and I then headed up to Tennessee for a driving lesson.

Related Posts
Show Reports, Winter Tournament #1 & # 2, 2016/2017
List of Winter Tournament posts over the years

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott