NEWS FLASH!

Show Update: Iron Bridge 2008

Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country and Uncrustables

The fall show season was a real highlight this year.  Most of my students don’t show a great deal, but this fall, they decided to go to a couple of local horse trials and see how things turned out. The first of these was the Iron Bridge Horse Trials.  I always enjoy going to the horse trials and watching the different horses.  The color of the events – particularly in the fall – and the drama always makes for a fun day. 

Iron Bridge has always been a fun, low pressure event where the riders can come and get a taste of competing and enjoy a day with their horses. Nikki took Serge and Kris to Black Jack.
 
For Nikki and Serge Iron Bridge was their first ever show, and they came through with flying colors taking third place in their class.  A couple of weeks before Iron Bridge, Nikki rode Marco in his first walk trot test at the Merry Acres Fun Show.  Having enjoyed the experience she decided to take Serge to his first event.  A steady dressage test was followed by a clear round in jumping and then another clear round on the cross country course. 

For Kris and Black Jack, the big debate these last few weeks has centered around what his show name should be – the current favorite name is You Don’t Know Jack.  At any rate, Black Jack was very nervous when we first arrived at the farm and never really settled through his dressage test.  On getting her test back, Kris noted that she got a 4 on one of her scores, which I pointed out tends to happen when your horse is going side ways and breaking into the canter when he is supposed to be trotting. She laughed that at least he had plenty of impulsion.   

Jack settled well for the show jumping and turned in a very nice ride, going clear.  Kris was also thrilled with his cross country.  He did have two refusals, but it was his first show in two years and he was jumping nice and big. Despite the two refusals Jack and Kris came in second in their class.

One of the highlights of the show is the Uncrustables that Kris always brings.  You may well ask what an Uncrustable is and what on earth it has to do with a horse trial.  Valid questions indeed, but let me assure you that Uncrustables are becoming the corner stone on which a successful show is built.  An Uncrustable is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without any crust – and quite delicious when you need a bite to eat at a show. There is nothing quite like sitting back with a cold bottle of water and an Uncrustable between rides!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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