As the season progresses I have had my eyes set on a goal of competing at the beginner novice eventing level (2’7″ or 0.79m). I had signed up for the Larkin Hill schooling horse trials in August but we were rained out. The next date was September 06th.
In preparation for the schooling horse trials my trainer suggested to us that we compete in the schooling Jumpers show at Saratoga, White Hollow Farm. The showgrounds is large and stunning, with over 100 acres that comprise of eight large rings with all weather footing. They also have stalls and camper parking. During the summer they host 10 weeks of USEF recognized hunter jumper shows. They also host seven schooling shows.
I wasn’t familiar with the jumper show lingo and prize list, so I was instructed to sign up for the “Blue Ribbon” round and the “Speed” round because they are most similar to eventing courses (no jump offs).
We woke up extra early in the morning, my spoiled eventer self was bemoaning it the whole way but really I slept in compared to my normal work hours. We arrived at 7:30am, signed in, picked up our numbers, and walked to the jumper ring. Our course was set up with blue numbers so we walked it and made a plan. By 8am they were ready to begin the 0.65m division.
Several of our friends were signed up for the 0.70m classes, so we watched the 0.65m rounds and they set off to tack up. I helped with what I could while Stanley hung out in my trailer. He was loaded up with plenty of hay and alfalfa to keep him busy and he’s a better citizen ON the trailer than OFF.
Hours after we had arrived I finally felt it was time to start getting prepared. I was already dressed, Stanley was already saddled (he trailers saddled if we are going locally). I put on his open front jumping boots and his ballistic bell boots. I put on his bridle. We unloaded and I let him have a look around. He was immediately drawn tot he green grass!
We walked around for a minute but I didn’t waste a lot of time getting on. Stanley would rather get to work than sit around getting anxiety about work. I could feel him getting antsy so we went right into the warmup arena and got his feet moving. Just like that I had my happy horse who was all business!
It feels good to finally start understanding what works best for my horse to keep him calm and happy!
We still had a long time to go before the .70m was finished, and the show still planned to drag the arena before our division… 0.75-0.80m.
FINALLY it was time to warm up…but for real this time. For our warmup I don’t like to tire Stanley out…the warmup is to mentally and physically prepare him and allows me to figure out how he’s feeling that day. We jump each fence off of each lead. First the cross rail. Then the vertical. Then the oxer. If we can do better we will repeat a jump on an as needed basis. To get the distance right, to get the timing down, or to simply wake ourselves up!
Our warmup went fantastic. Stanley could not have felt better and he was completely alert and in tune with me. He listened to every little thing I asked of him. I felt good and confident and so did he.
From how I understand it, the Blue Ribbon round is a schooling type round…but the benefit is you get to ride it first! In eventing additional rounds are always ridden AFTER the competitive round. The premise is…if you go clear, you get a blue ribbon!
We got a blue ribbon!
Stanley navigated our first attempt at the course like a champ. He questioned a couple of the jumps but I stuck with him and my confidence and clarity helped him keep moving forward.
We didn’t participate in the other course with the jump off but we DID do the speed round. The speed round was the exact same course but done for time.
I wasn’t there for time.
I wanted to get around clean and have a good ride.
Our second time out Stanley felt even more confident than the first time. He understood the questions and navigated the turns better. We didn’t get all of our leads but I didn’t spend time to dwell on it. We kept moving and feeling so in tune with each other I had the confidence to actually allow him to move out. In the past I have ridden defensively and I have gotten him into a teacup canter that takes away from his natural movement and rhythm. Lately we have been opening the stride into something more appropriate for a horse of his size.
I loved our rounds and we went clear on them both. I gave Stanley his protein shake (The Sunday Review: Purina Replenimash) and cleaned him up. I loaded him back into the trailer to enjoy his alfalfa and rejoined the ring to watch the rest of our division.
When they pinned, I learned that I had gotten SECOND place in the speed round…and I wasn’t there to go speedy!
It was a long but phenomenal day…and it helped boost our confidence for the upcoming horse trials.
Stay tuned next week as I am saving that article for next time!
The Green Horseman 
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