The Green Horseman

Last year I was committed to getting Stanley out and about in the world. We had a goal to travel 2-3 times each month and we did that April-November. We did well (Stanley Travels, Suceeding With Stanley)! We were also spending the first half of the year searching for a new saddle(s).

Though we did finally get our tack sorted out in the later half of the year I also was committed to western dressage. I was only showing walk/trot at the time because we were still having trouble regularly picking up the left lead. I loved how the WDAA Intro classes rode and found them more interesting than classical dressage. Added bonus: You’re allowed to talk to your horse! Encouraged, even. I was allowed to tell him he’s doing a great job, and it really made a difference.

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This year we have our English tack sorted out and we are back to English riding. We have been consistently getting our left lead canter departs. We have begun jumping more.

We started this year by entering some online dressage shows. To get more feedback. For the first time ever I am riding training level tests.

We also attended a local schooling show at Larkin Hill. I rode Training test 1 and 2. A friend came with me but we brought Stanley alone. He was calm and well mannered the whole time. In warmup we were soft, supple, and the leads were easy.
Something about that bell and white rails does something to me. I don’t know what it is but I change when I go down centerline. At home. Away from home. It’s something I’ve come to realize about myself and I’m glad we’re doing the virtual shows to allow me to practice getting through that stress on a smaller (and more affordable) scale.

Last weekend we stepped it up in a big way.

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Last weekend three of us took our horses to an ENYDCTA schooling show. For the first time in 2 years Stanley rode in the trailer WITH Tiger to a show. At the same time it was our first show in 2 years that I was registered to jump.

It doesn’t sound like a lot but that’s huge. I normally step him up incrementally but with all the practice we’ve gotten this was the only option and I felt it was worth a try.

Stanley was first to leave the trailer. We left the two horses calmly and walked up to the showing area. We walked into the indoor arena and warmed up. Calmly. He felt SO RELAXED. I was walking on cloud 9.

When it was my turn to ride we stepped out of the indoor arena and proceeded to the dressage ring to have a look. One of the horses at the trailer left to go to warmup and Tiger was left…and he began to whinny and cry. That set Stanley off. We rode our starter combined dressage test unfocused, whinnying, counterbent, and ugly. But we did the geometry accurately and we got through it with no serious tantrums. I wasn’t happy but I was glad to have gotten through it. Back at the trailer he wouldn’t settle any better. He was swinging his butt back and forth and having a fit. In situations like this I feel hopeless. I don’t have the tools to help him cope yet I feel I need to let him have it out. So I waited, guts twisting, while he had his moment.

My other friends rode their tests and within a couple hours we all tacked up and rode over to the jumping area.

We were all together because the classes were so small and that was to my benefit. While the beginner novice horses waited in the shade I warmed up. Stanley appreciated knowing where Stanley and Cassian were.

We warmed up wonderfully. We took a cross-rail off each direction. We took a vertical off each direction. Then we jumped a small oxer. Great!!! He was starting off wonderfully. He through in a few dramatic moments when I asked him to canter but otherwise he was feeling good. When it was our turn to jump we walked in, trotted past a bright yellow and black jump, and made our way. The signal (a duck call) sounded and we picked up a canter and rode to the 1st jump. Clear! We were doing it.

Suddenly everything changed. The world melted away and I felt Stanley fully come aboard. He was WITH ME. Listened to EVERYTHING I asked of him. He didn’t look for his brother. He didn’t rush. He didn’t balk. He brought me to every jump without hesitation. I also tuned in. I had a plan and I was committed to my plan. During our last lesson with Andrea Waldo we did so many fun things I didn’t think he would do but it was because I had a plan and was confident in it. I kept that in mind and we had a fantastic jump round.

I tried to wait with the girls but realized it was coming time for my second dressage test. I elected to ride Training level test 2. We last the pack and went back to dressage. Stanley was concerned and looking around for his friends but at this point he was getting tired. He was already warmed up so I didn’t tire him out more by “warming up.” We entered the arena and the judge asked…”I saw you earlier but on a different horse.” Nope. Same horse. Finally a little more relaxed (and tired). It worked in our favor, I felt that we had an excellent ride. He was slightly distracted but not to the level of our starter test. I was slightly thrown off with the geometry because they kept the ring full sized. I’ve never ridden in a full sized court so my markers and geometry felt wrong.

My entire goal of this show was to HAVE FUN. I needed a little bit of enjoyment and I wanted to channel the relaxed and fun way we were in 2022. I always knew Nahe was special but he made it TOO EASY for me. He was simply a joy to ride all the time anywhere, so 2022 was the best year…first year showing and spoiled by a most perfect and seasoned horse. I remember a photo from a show in 2022…the three of us girls all enjoying a truly wonderful show together. Meeting new friends and cheering everyone else on. This is the feeling I wanted to recreate.

The photo below was that feeling. The three of us. Three years ago. Having FUN.

I don’t know if I can say we fully recreated the feeling, but we had a good shot at it and we’re on the right track. We had moments of that joy. I can see Stanley improving more and more and I have to remind myself of that regularly.

We are on the right track!

It hasn’t been easy, it won’t be easy…but I’m confident it is going to be worth it.