Arriving at Whisper Wood Stables and first ride... -- Fantail's Show Board

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Date Posted: 16:12:47 08/20/02 Tue
Author: Susan
Subject: Arriving at Whisper Wood Stables and first ride...

Susan drove the trailer easily into Whisper Wood Stables and parked in a field assigned for parking. Mike drove in behind her trailering the other two horses. Susan hopped out of the truck and began to check on the horses while, Alli and Laura went to get everyone�s numbers. After getting set up, it was time for Susan to get ready for her first rides on pre training level. She got Chance and brushed him off quickly, because he had been groomed earlier. She tacked him up for his first dressage test in a show! Mike gave her a leg up and she smiled. The colt was calm and eagerly awaiting her signals. She took a deep breath and said, �Mike, dear, could you tack up Splash?� Her husband nodded and she began her warm up with Chance. She pushed her heels down and arched her back. Chance arched his neck elegantly and walked smoothly forward. Soon they were trotting serpentines, figure eights, and circles with incredible accuracy and balance. Chance was lightly on the bit, trotting energetically on a twenty meter circle. She sat deep in the sloping saddle and squeezed with her outside leg. Chance surged into a light, energetic canter, balanced and relaxed. �Good boy.� Susan praised. After a 20 minute warmup, she dismounted and handed his reins to Mike. She mounted Splash, who was also doing pre training level, and pushed the sweet, willing Paint colt into a walk. He came nicely round and on the bit. Susan guided Splash on a few circles (10 & 20 meter) and then squeezed. He trotted steadily forward, balanced and rythmic. After a few serpentines, Susan nudged the colt with her outside leg. He cantered forward nicely, tucking his head even closer to his chest. After 30 minutes of warm up at walk, trot, and canter, Splash was ready for his test. She dismounted and saw that the first pre training level rider had begun their test. She mounted Chance and walked him on a few circles while she waited. Then she began trotting around the outside of the ring, posting lightly and firmly. He moved energetically, his strides long and relaxed. The judge nodded approvingly and blew the whistle. Susan sat deep and made a smooth turn onto centerline, pushing Chance up as straight as possible. A few strides before X, she asked for a halt and he came down smoothly, halting squarely. She saluted the judges, smiling. She knew that Chance was going to blow them away! She squeezed and after two strides of walk, she pushed Chance into a working trot. She posted lightly but firmly, and at C, they turned smoothly to the right and continued up the long side to B. She guided him onto a circle, bent, accurate, and on the bit. As they passed F and entered their corner, Susan sat deep and slid her outside leg back. She squeezed lightly and Chance sprang into an energetic, smooth, right lead canter. He was stepping under himself nicely as they circled at A. As they reached E, she bent Chance and slowed him to a working trot. They continued to C, pushing deeply into their corners. At C, a slight squeezed on the reins caused Chance to walk smoothly forward to M. They turned onto their diagonal and the colt dropped his head, stretching out his strides and neck. Their freewalk was superb! At K, Susan pushed him into the contact and they picked up a medium walk, trotting at A. Susan pushed her heels down and guided Chance on a circle at B, accurate and balanced. They headed for M, round and calm. Susan sat deep and squeezed with her outside leg as they passed M. Chance sprang into an energetic and perky left lead canter and continued to E. As they passed E, Susan held her elbows firm, sat deep, and sponged the reins. He dropped to a smooth trot and made a lovely, balanced turn onto centerline. Susan tugged softly on the reins and he halted squarely at X. She saluted proudly and rode him out of the ring! �We did it!� Susan said in excitement as she rode over to the trailer. Mike gave her a hug, pulling her right off Chance! Then she smiled. His first dressage test had been a success!

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