Totally exhausting yet rewarding week away with horse, child and friends. It really was the show I had been building towards - the two previous recent outings were a warm up and as I had said, gave me confidence that Lou would rise to the occasion. Putting ourselves up for consideration at national level showing was a little nervewracking in that I knew that no matter how much we improved afterwards, I was never going to live it down if she blew up! I know I shouldn't care what people think but hey, I'm human.
The good news is that she was GREAT. Hot and fiery and eyes popping out but overall happy and obedient and FUN to ride. A couple of minor placings but in my world, we won the title! I was just so thrilled that we pulled it off and did it the way I wanted to.
It was inevitable that I was going to be down the line from horses displaying their tension in more 'acceptable' ways - hollow backs, dropping behind the bridle, broken at the crest, open mouths so I wasn't disappointed. If that is what that judge wants - yay them. I'm happy to wait for our time.
There was plenty to see that horrified me, of course. Horses being lunged in what can only be described as rollkur with a drop noseband in the heat (and it was HOT), lame horses being bullied in double bridles, draw reins of course...lots of miserable looking horses and to be honest, miserable looking riders! The only thing that seems to get most of them smiling is a red ribbon or championship sash. How depressing.
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