I wish I had more energy to type up the days events, but I am feeling the pace of today catching up to me. Dressage was absolutely fantastic. In all honesty, the score was a bit disappointing and not a true reflection of the great improvements in our test. Ginger stayed regular in the trot rhythm and articulate in her gaits. We need to practice our simple changes out of the counter canter a bit more and our medium walks without any anticipating steps. All in all a great test with a score of a 51.5 placing me in fifth. My nerves started crawling in my skin as the stadium phase neared. This phase has become one of our strongest phases. Last year I hammered down on this phase after losing a CCI* due to a bad distance. This past year it was my goal to never let that happen again, and this year we have learned team work and finesse throughout our courses. It has made show jumping a joy, but has yet to take off the edge during warm up. Ginger seemed as if she was conserving energy as we warmed up, knowing that the true push for energy, stride length, and jumping ability would come as she entered the show ring. The course was full of tight turns, down hill oxers, and changing stride length. I entered the ring expecting for Ginger to turn into the strong horse she can be in the show ring (this Ginger can be hard to manage and unexpected, but a great jumper and full of self carriage), instead I got a soft, very ridable horse. To my excitement I landed from the first fence and softened my rein, turning my upper torso to feel her move through the turn with ease. I pushed for all the deeper spots and bigger jumps and she was right there to step up to the plate. I was so excited with our double clean round because it was so enjoyable and there wasn't one moment I would have changed. After this round we were bumped up to third place...how exciting. After walking the x-country course again, my nerves are starting to settle and my confidence is kicking in. It's not the size that raises my heart beat, but the technicallity of each fence. My plan tomorrow is to go clean in the jumping and allow my horse to gallop where she can. Wherever that places us, I am fine with; I am ready to take my time where it counts and make each jump count. I am so very excited, exhausted, and anxious at this moment. We will go tomorrow at 12:01pm. With that I think I am going to head to bed. Like always you can keep up with us on the web, at the link listed in our last entry below.
Until next time,
Ginger and Lauren
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