Tinkerbell and I were among several pairs selected to be Demo riders for the fall symposium. What a privilege to ride with Janet Foy and Debbie McDonald! It was a wonderful learning opportunity. In addition to that, it was great to listen to their opinions on what a lovely dressage prospect Tinkerbell is. Enjoy the videos as you learn what to look for when you search for a dressage prospect.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMzO84awfU
September always brings the Oregon Dressage Society State Championships. This year I had the privilege to compete Tinkerbell, a 6 year old Oldenburg mare, belonging to Catherine Ulrey of Salem OR, at First Level.
A Grand Entrance
On Friday, we showed Second Level Test 2, Tinkerbell’s 3rd time of competing at Second Level. The overall test went well, with us falling apart at one point, earning just a 4 when she lost her lead in the counter canter. She still received a score of 68.077%.
https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11C4tqckr8c
Then the Championship Classes were on Saturday and Sunday. We competed for a First Level Title in the Open Division. Saturday we rode First Level Test 2 and scored 65.938% Sunday we rode First Level Test 3 and scored a 69.118%. For the championship is averaged between both tests. We ended up 9th overall.
June 2015 brought yet another show for Tinkerbell. This time we stepped up the expectations and debuted at Second Level. Of course when one signs up for a show, you have no control of how the secretary will schedule the classes. Guess what? The first test of the show was a Second Level Test 1. We pulled off a 65% and were second in the class!
Tinkerbell
The second test of the day was First 3. Tinkerbell earned a 69% and first place.
On Sunday, we rode Second Level Test 1 again and earned a 67% and First 3, earning a 73%, winning both of the classes! I was so proud of her! She also earned the High Point Oldenburg award for both days of the show!
Tinkerbell Performing Medium Trot at Tulelake
Tinkerbell’s well earned awards
I’ve desired to ride like Stephen Peters or Edward Gal, but now my goal is ride and look like Charlotte Dujardin. What incredible harmony between she and her horse!
Charlotte hosted her first symposium in the US in March 2014. I didn’t get to attend, but the following bullet points were taken down by someone who did! I’m paying full attention, Susan Peacock!
The fall weather was great for a horse show in Southern Oregon. However, as one can expect with horses, not everything goes as planned. Tinkerbell was entered into three classes on Saturday, October 11th and two classes on Sunday, October 12th. Her owner, Catherine Ulrey, came from out-of-town to help, watch and enjoy her mare.
We hauled to the show grounds on Friday, set up and schooled. Tinkerbell became quite relaxed as she acquainted herself with her new surroundings. We settled her in for the night and left to feed and settle ourselves. We arrived early Saturday and took Tinkerbell for a walk before braiding. We still had some time to kill before tacking and warming up for our first ride. We left the mare to happily munch on some more breakfast.
When we returned to her about 25 minutes later, it was apparent that something was a miss. She had bonked her head and cut it open. Not a big cut, but bleeding. The USEF rules don’t allow a horse to be shown if there is any blood present. I appreciate this rule, as it protects the animals. Tinkerbell certainly had hit her head hard enough, as well, that she was uncomfortable, probably touting a headache. Needless to say, we scratched out of all our classes on Saturday.
Sunday being the new day that it was, started fresh. I had missed the Dressage Rider Test for First Level on Saturday. I really wanted to make it up, so we scratched from our First Level Test 1 class and did the Rider Test. It went pretty well for my first attempt at it. We scored a 65.6%. Next we competed at First Level Test 2. Tinkerbell came in second, with a score of 63.6%, missing first by one point.
We were able to pick up one more ride later in the day. It was First Level Test 3. I had never practiced the test on Tinkerbell, nor had I schooled her at counter-canter. I also hadn’t ridden the test in a year. It’s a good idea to bring along a test book to a show. You just never know what you may need to review. I practiced the counter-canter during my warm-up. She was great! In we went to the competition ring. Of course, it was the best test of the day and we didn’t get it on film! She scored a 67.5%. Again coming in second, one point behind the leader.
Catherine and I are very proud of Terrific Tinkerbell. For no more schooling than she has had and to arrive at her first Rated show, we think she did really great.
Here is the video of First Level Test 2.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvuJLoURc9c&feature=youtu.be
I just have to say how very proud I am of three particular horse 4-Hers: Jasmine, Kaelyn and Celena. You girls and your mounts did TERRIFIC at jumping and dressage this year.
Jasmine earned a Second Place award in Hunter Hack
Kaelyn earned a Second Place award in Hunter Hack, her first ever jumping competition!
Selena won her Jumping Class!
Each one of you have learned and progressed at jumping and your flat work. It really showed during your classes this week. I’ve enjoyed teaching you and your horses. I look forward to helping each of you learn more and more!
In usual style, the Jumping Clinic at Eastern Slope Ranch in Baker City, OR is always a blast. The students, some new and some repeats, were attentive and inquisitive.
Saturday morning session of flat work. One must have effective flat work to jump well!
Percy and Leslie Dickerson always do a nice job hosting the clinic. This year with the help of Kevin Rasmussen and others, they added a cross-country course to the ranch. They did quit a nice job of building fences and will continue to add to the course for seasons to come.
This fence was built all in fun specifically for long time student, Annika Anderson and her mount this season, Halo. They didn’t jump this obstacle, nor were they suppose to! 🙂
Annika Anderson aboard Halo contemplating tactics to the other side of this giant hay bale.
Saturday afternoon we schooled over a grid of gymnastics on the grass and then headed to the cross country course to school. Each horse and rider combination had an opportunity to practice jumping all the fences of the course, preparing for the following days competition.
Leah Vengley on Chewey, a very green, but willing horse, building confidence going through the grid.
Erin Swanson aboard Red. Red earned the “Most Improved Horse Award” at the clinic.
Sunday morning found me sitting at the judges table, with scribe, Drea Rasmussen for the competitors Dressage Tests. It was the first time for me to see each of these riders actually in a competition. I am very proud of each one!
Marilyn Williams and Blue
To wrap up the days Derby Competition, Leslie presented the awards. She went all out for the winners of each division. Awards for the clinic were also given to Marilyn Williams for The Most Improved Rider and Erin Swanson’s horse “Red” for The Most Improved Horse.
The Award Ceremony
All in all, it was a terrific weekend. I look forward to heading back across the state for another clinic at Eastern Slope Ranch in 2015!
Schooling Fences a Few Years Back
It is already July and that means it is time for the annual Jumping Clinic at Eastern Slope Ranch in Baker City OR. The clinic is on Friday and Saturday, July 18th &19th. The focus will be on dressage, hence flat work, and over fences. It is designed to challenge each rider, but to meet them at the level they are currently. It is open to riders of all experience and levels.
Marilyn and Blue
Sunday will follow the clinic with a Derby. Each competitor will have an opportunity to ride a dressage test and to take a derby round of fences. A derby is a combination of cross-country and stadium fences set on a cross-county course.
Last Years Group on Sunday
Eastern Slope Ranch always does a wonderful job of hosting and everyone seems to have a wonderful time. Details are available at www.easternsloperanch.com Come join us!
Marta, an experienced rider with a very green horse, ended very successfully last year.
Who says that dressage horses should just know dressage? Here at In Motion Sport Horses, I think horses should have opportunities to learn and experience different things. In this group of pictures, Tinkerbell is learning to be a pony horse, while Esmerelda learns to be ponied.
Tinkerbell ponying Esmerelda ~ getting the task figured out
The two mares, both of which compete at dressage, took to this new task readily. I told Tinkerbell if she needs a second job, she could get one at the track as a pony! She certainly would be the prettiest one there.
Yep, figured it out. Ready for trot.
Tinkerbell made her show debut on April 27, 2014. She showed at Training Test 2 and 3, placing 2nd in both classes with scores of 72.5% and 66.2%. What a good girl! Her owner Catherine Ulrey and I are very proud of her grown up behavior.