A day off on Friday (woot!) to take Q to Stilebridge for a couple of Novices.
Firstly
<brrrr> completely and utterly TATERS. I could tell Noodal Didn't
Wanna. And I couldn't blame her. In fact, I went to fling myself on
Sid's mercy by asking if it would be bad if we didn't go in view of the
bitter conditions. I was hoping for "of course not darling, you must do
as you think best". Instead, he fixed me with a merciless eye and said
"it's up to you darling. What you have to remember is what auntie Liz
will say if you don't go". We left soon after :)
Q's mane is currently an utter bog brush of thick and randomly growing
hair and is, as such, suboptimal for plaiting. In fact, a veritable plaiting
nightmare, especially for one such as I who only really knows how to do
a running plait. Knowing this, I stopped off at Speedgate on the way
home the other night to arm myself with a thinning comb (pink, natch), some
Lynn Russell Miracle Plaiting Spray (also pink) and some silicon bands
(white). Decided against the bows.
I opted to do battle with it in the stable, having provided him with
a net of haylage with carrots secreted within. This turned out to be a
good choice as he stood there munching very happily while I fiddled
about. The only problem was that after two plaits, my fingers stopped
working and I had to hand over to Noodal. Thereafter we handled the task
in relays; one to do the plaiting and the other to thaw their red,
stiff and frozen fingers in gloves, slipped under his rug for the body
warmth. This went well and he was very magnanimous about the thinning
operation. I can say that we would certainly not have won any prizes for
said plaiting but at least it was done. For his part, he was extremely
chilled (possibly quite literally) throughout the preps. Needless to say
there was no bathing to be done. Also, he has had a spot of mud fever
of late and has had some ointment applied. Ointment which, it turns out,
actively resists the application of water for cleaning purposes. We
were running rather late so time for niceties (and scrubbing) was
strictly limited, so in the end we had to leave, some 30 minutes late,
with a certain brownish tinge clinging remorselessly to his pasterns.
We arrived at Stilebridge 30 mins before my first class, our (well
my) mounting distress aided by the fact that the swine were running
EARLY. Horse things never run early. This is the accepted way of things.
Everything starts later and takes longer than anticipated; this we all
know. Except, of course, when we are running late. Quick tack up (should
have left the bandages) and on board, pausing only to consider the
mystery of the missing glove from the show box. Argh. Argh.
I now know that having 10 minutes to warm up an excited stallion
whom I have not ridden since Sunday is suboptimal. Those things I
normally like to aim for in the warmup, such as working in, attention, a
return to some semblance of calm etc were given a only fleeting nod,
and then it was time to go in. Precious moments were lost in removing the bandages.
Since we had been to Stilebridge the previous week for a schooling session and Q had sailed
past the judge's box without a glance, I was pretty sure the same would
be true. And it might have been, had it not been for a crash from within
at an inopportune moment. "Sorry!" said the rather owlish face peering
out at me from behind the window. We took the opportunity to converse
(and for me to apologise) about the missing gloves, the bell rang and
off we went.
I had very little to work with, as may be imagined <g>. He
felt tense and hurried. This caused a few errors and I was (a) not hopeful and (b) glad we went HC. Was quite pleasantly surprised to get 60%, having been
ducked two points for the gloves. I wondered afterwards whether it would
have only been one point if I'd worn the one glove.
Back
to the trailer and he stood on it munching haylage quite happily and nickering to his neighbour for
the hour or so that Noodal and I whiled away with coffee, cake and
learning N39. N39 is not a nice test in terms of symmetry and general
learnability but I did learn it. Plus, I borrowed some gloves from a
very lovely lady called Ann.
This time went for a 20 min warmup and he was much more settled and
attentive, though still on the "busy" side of submissive. I didn't want
to overcook him either. Did some nice mediums in the warmup (and some
crap ones) and I look forward to the day when we can reproduce those in
an actual test. I am unfortunately one of those people whose already modest ability in the saddle has a tendency to desert me when it comes to test riding, although slowly improving.
N39 felt much better and in a moment of madness I even caught myself
grinning and enjoying it. The ubiquitous few errors of course and
needless to say a rushed trot in place of the mediums but tbh I was very
pleased as this felt better in the main and plus it is the first time
we have been out when I have managed to remember two tests all by
myself. Also 60%.
In the end we had a great day out. We avoided any gnarly behaviour
on account of the lateness and rushing; Q was an exceptionally good lad
throughout and much much more relaxed this time, and the cake at
Stilebridge is legendary. I do enjoy going there as it is very friendly
and it seems to suit us.