1st day (Victoria White & Quantum)

[Maggie]

Weather: Cold with few snow flakes falling.

Indoor/outdoor: Indoor

Limit: You have two days to complete your post, if you do not make the limit you will be disqulaified from the event.

Course: Dressage Test

Tips: You may add in flying lead changes pirouettes and so forth to earn judges attention. Make post longer 150 words.

[raquelle]

V i c t o r i a & Q u a n t u m

Bright and early i was up. I can't use the same adjectives for myself, i was rather disappointed with the early start. Always had been, but i had a schedule, so i bolted out of bed and was down at the stables in 20 minutes max. New record. Hanging over one arm i had my show clothes, and i hung them up carefully in my tack locker before getting Quantum ready for the first phase, dressage. It wasn't our forte as much as jumping was, but at least i didn't have to wash her or pull her mane this morning, i'd done all that yesterday. She gleamed when i took off her rugs, and when i had finished preparing her she looked wonderful, the nice row of rosettes down her neck, and her tail nicely braided and her hooves oiled and shiny.

I led her out to the showgrounds, being grateful for my show jacket and long sleeved shirt, it was rather chilly out and small frosty sections of path were defeating the unwary rider, so i made sure to avoid those bits. I reached the warmup arena, and swung myself into the saddle, and felt Quantum perk up a little beneath me. She walked off eagerly into the ring, where two other riders were warming up. I had about half an hour, so i'd prepared well this time round.

Quantum set straight to work, becoming engaged, supple and obedient withing moments of beginning our workout. She seems to know when its important, any other day she'd be mucking about. Her paces today felt cool and smooth, and she was relaxed and excited at the same time. Canter, trot, walk, halt, transitions, lateral moves, rein changes, half pass, pirouettes, they all went smoothly and so we were ready. I rode to the arena gate, and the bel rang and i swallowed.

Lets do this.

I ran through the test in my head as i walked down the center line. Quantum's walk was perfectly straight, and i kept a look out for the markers and she halted square on X. I mean square in two contexts there by the way, and i smiled to myself. I dropped my head, saluting the judge, and then looked up, gathered my reins, and began.

We walked from X to M, before Quantum took a nice bend around the corner to C. She kept her head low, but slightly tucked in, and to me she held a nice rounded frame, and i could feel her pulling her hind legs under that little belly of hers. We got to C, i applied my aids and she moved swiftly into an unhurried, yet lively trot. generally in a competition i was so wound up i forgot to check my rising diagonal, so now out of habit, i opted to sit deep. Sitting trot: its all in the hips. So i sat there, going round from C to H. when we got to H, i turned down the long diagonal, and headed for X, then F. When we reached X, i sat tall, and as a little extra, i applied the correct aids for Quantum to perform a pirouette.

She executed it to my satisfaction, and we continued on our line to D. we reached F, and turned the bend, and i blocked my seat a little and squeezed my reins. As wanted, Quantum slowed to a walk and i turned my attention to the next move. I rode to E, then picked up working trot and rode across to M, keeping a nice curve, bend and outline throughout the turn. From this short diagonal i rode to B, then like clockwork i picked up a steady working canter right leg. It felt so good to be riding tall above Quantum's floaty, smooth stride. I continued down the straight, keeping her head straight so the rest of her body would follow, and her ears tilted back to listen for my commands.

I forgot about the cold, and the snow drifting down outside, as the rhythm involved me completely. Canter: my favourite gait. And thankfully this dressage test had plenty, although only one move, it was still a good amount.

Around the corner i went, keeping a good bend, and coming a little short of the entire length of the arena. The reason for this was simple: i pushed Quantum into a canter pirhouette at A and her feet went round in their little dinner plate routine and once again i was proud of her efforts. We continued down the short side, going around the corner again, and riding the whole long side with the neverchanging, controlled, bouncy rhythm. It wasnt a reckless tearing down the arena, i kept Quantum in check so she didnt do just that. The dressage test was coming to a close, so for the final movement, i prepare and turned onto the center line whilst completing the downwards transition form canter to trot.

Straight down we went, and to make it a little more technical, i went straight from trot to halt, missing out the walk phase as i had been told i could do. I lowered my head once more, saluting, and as i straightened i felt the sense of pride and elation; everything had gone to plan. I wouldn't have cared if one of Quantum's feet had been out of square, i was pleased with her for remaining focused and not wanting to sabotage everything. I waited for the judges signal, then rode out of the arena smiling, once out of sight letting my reins go and flinging my arms around her neck.

"Right, dressage down, now for our best sport. Lets fly girl!"