First CT Show!

Combine Training is a shortened version of 3-day eventing. It consits of a dressage test and show jumping round. Dressage consists of an exact sequence of movements ridden in an enclosed (20x40 or 20x60) arena. The test is judged by one or more judges who are looking for balance, rhythm and suppleness and most importantly, obedience of the horse and its harmony with the rider. Each movement in the test is scored on a scale from 0 to 10, with a score of "10" being the highest possible mark and with the total maximum score for the test varying depending on the level of competition and the number of movements. Therefore, if one movement is executed terribly, it is still possible for a rider to get a good score if he reorganizes and does well in the following movements. Show jumping tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, including suppleness, obedience, fitness and athleticism. In this phase, 12-20 fences are set up in a ring. These fenc.es are typically brightly colored and consist of elements that can be knocked down. This phase is also timed, with penalties being given for every second over the required time. Penalties are also added for refusals, run-outs, circles or moving backwards.

Anyway, Jazz and I spent two years training hunter/jumpers together. Before that, I did crazy riding on Largo for three years and he trained hunter/jumpers for the same amount of time. Neither of us have ever done anything like a dressage test. Ever. Never ever. Next to no training in it either. Hunter/jumper and lower level show jumping on a naturally forward horse have a fair amount in common so I wasn't particually worried. Plus, we have done two SJ shows before. The dressage was definintly intimidating though. Jazz has not been trained to go on the bit (yet) and has a tendency to get hollow through the back when I take contact which kills any chance of round and supple movement. We gave it a try anyway. I spent the 3 days before COMPLETELY flipping out and obsessivly running through my dressage test (Beginner Novice Test A) in my head and on scraps of paper at school. The night before and morning of, I was crazed. Horse shows, even the schooling shows like this one was, are always stressful for me but this dressage test had me freaked.

We got there and the first horse I see is gorgeous. A big dark bay with a braided mane along with a beautiful black leather saddle/bridle combo. His rider is wearing full formal attire. White breeches, black coat, white shirt and stock tie. I glance down at my show clothes: navy blue polo, black tall boots and tan breeches. The information sheet had said attire was to 'casual but neat'. I'll put this out here now, I HATE being underdressed about as much as I hate being late. Both are major reasons that often contribute to me freaking out at horse shows. Now, both my horse and I were seriously underdressed. I didn't have my coat and don't even own an acceptable dressage saddle. The hour and a half up to my test consisted of unloading Jazz, grooming, tacking up and flexing practice. Each of these activities was broken up by me having to sit down and remember to breath. Jazz couldn't have cared. He was busy with his favorite hobby: eating. Then up and on to ride. The dressage arena was running 30 minutes EARLY so our quiet, relaxed 40 minute warm up was crammed into 10. At least I wasnt late. While riding the course, I thought of nothing but Jazz and the pattern. It wasn't perfect, no where near, but we had both tried and it worked for me. We had mostly 6s with a few 5s thrown in for a score of 41.6. We had the comments I was expecting "above bit, counter bent, no frame, needs to be rounder, fell in, ect..." We stayed on course though and Jazz was confident in what he had done. After we left the ring, I started hyperventilating but it could have been a lot worse.

A short wait and bridle change later, we were ready for show jumping. By then it had started raining and the warm up area was grass. The ground got slick fast so I kept out warm up short. Jazz already has had one major slip that landed a girl in the hospital. I was not looking for a repeat showing. We hung around the ring for a bit waiting for the jump heights to be raised and checked then went in for out 2'6" course. We picked up a trot then canter and I immediatly new this was going to be a good run. Jazz found his pace right off and we were gone. The ring was getting messy from the rain and the jumps were hardly 8 feet wide but I don't remeber ever thinking that on course. On course, my thoughts were only on Jazz and the fences. With him, its all I need to think about. I do part job and he does his. We put a solid course together and I was proud of him.

Another, shorter wait later, and I was in the ring doing a second course. This one was just for kicks but a slight miscomunication had me going over 3' fences instead of the 2'9" I had signed up for. We hadn't schooled anything bigger than 2'9" in months but I was confident we could figure it out. Our course started out with me playing it safe (safe = slow) which resulted in eating (badly chipping) the first 3 fences. After that I just gave Jazz his head a let him decide what pace to use. I simply pointed him to each fence and stayed out of his face. Jazz set his own pace and took the jumps as he was comfortable. Most of them were really good.

After that we made a beline for the trailer and quickly loaded up to go home. Jazz got a bunch of carrots and hay for the ride home and even more once we arrived back at the barn. His behavior for the day was very good and I feel like we both learned something and gained a whole bunch of confidence from taking a chance and trying somethng new today. Can't wait for the next chance!

Videos of the day are coming!