Carolina Horse Park puts on a show series called War Horse Event Series that runs on a monthly basis from May-November. You can choose between doing a CT or HT that runs on Sunday, and they offer a schooling day on Saturday where you can school the courses and go play in the dressage rings, so great for green horses.
So even though I’d only been riding S for a couple weeks, I felt like the format would be a great way to see how he handled himself at shows and around a real jump course. Originally we were only going to go for the schooling day so he could get on XC and go around the SJ ring, but with Florence dumping so much rain on the venue, they cancelled all XC for the weekend and offered it only as a CT. So I signed up to compete.
Definitely a weekend of firsts: this horse’s first time staying overnight somewhere, his first time jumping in a show, and his first time jumping a course of more than 5 jumps.
Here’s how he stepped off the trailer:
That was about the most excited he got all weekend. So…really impressed with this guy’s brain.
I entered him in the Maiden division (2’3″) to keep it simple, but we had wanted to school him over the BN course in the big ring also. Unfortunately the times just weren’t in our favor: they had BN run from 9 AM-11 AM, and Maiden run from 12 PM-3 PM. It didn’t really make sense for him to do the bigger course first, so we opted to not take the chance of blowing his brain and just schooled over the little Maiden course.
Did I mention that was his first time schooling over more than 5 jumps? Winner, winner.
The next day I hopped on about 30 minutes before our test. He was super chill in warmup, even when this horse came straight at us and I had to sharply veer S away. The woman’s response? “I’m on a TEN METER CIRCLE,” like I’m supposed to know. Love lower level warmups. Whatevs. We did Intro C, which is a terrible test in itself, and S was a bit distracted (lots to see), but I was pleased with how he handled everything. He scored a 37, which was a little higher than I thought, but as always, I wasn’t exactly there for the dressage anyway.
Unfortunately no media exists of the dressage test. Trainer B and his working student were both riding at the same time I was, so the moms were busy back at the stalls. If it had received a great score, I’d be more upset!
S got about an hour to chill before I started tacking him up again. Sequence of trying to take a picture of S without the sideeye business.
I love that WHES allows for schooling the day before, but I also weirdly put pressure on myself because of it. If schooling goes great, what if I screw up the competition round? Sounds dumb, but it really makes the nerves kick in for me.
I shouldn’t have worried, though:
Which moved him up from 7th to 5th and earned his owner a ribbon and some treats from sponsors!
Yay! I’m glad it was such a good first outing with S.
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you guys look really great together – congrats on such a smooth outing!
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how much fun was that?? LOL AND his stall. I am pretty sure P whispered in his ear before you all left for the show ” BE THE PIG” 🙂
Glad you guys had fun and he was a star. TOO bad no crosscountry though BOO HISS:)
I am glad you kept it easy for us to ride a gray. IF I squint my eyes i just think its P:) HA
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You and S look awesome! Congrats on such a good show! How’s P been doing? I bet he’s been “wild” after all that rain huh? lolol
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He’s actually super chill! He didn’t get out Sunday or this AM since I was gone, so I’m hand grazing him now and he’s being perfect!
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What a great first outing for S! Sounds like he has a wonderful brain 🙂
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I was mighty impressed!
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Wow! Super impressed with how S handled everything, and how quickly you’ve been able to adjust your riding to him. Hope P is holding it together!
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Adjusting my riding for him has been the most difficult part. P is doing great- he didn’t get out Sunday or this morning, so I’m handgrazing him now and he’s being a perfect gentleman!
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He’s so cute! I’m so glad you have something fun to ride while P is recuperating. Once he’s back in action it’ll be like you never missed a beat.
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I hope so!
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YAY!! Glad you are having so much fun with S. He seems like a super chill dude. Is he for sale? Asking for a friend….. 😉
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He actually IS for sale 😜 And is a total blast to ride. Tell your friend! 😂
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How awesome that he handled everything so well! (except for the stall…) you guys looked great 🙂
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P is the most disgusting pig in his stall so I was hoping for something even the teensiest bit cleaner 😂
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So much fun!!!!! To bad you didn’t have a 6th person in your group who got 6th place b/c you guys got 1,2,3,4, and 5!!! 😀 hahahaha
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Bahahaha, that would’ve just made the picture even more perfect!
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What a good egg! Congrats on a team sweep of ribbons.
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It was a good day for everyone!
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Nice! Congrats on the win. I’m glad you are still able to show while P is resting.
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Well, ribbon not win. But placing is winning in my mind. 😉
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Bahahah, it was so fun to hand over the ribbon to his owner! Like, “hey, look, I’m totally not messing up your horse, I swear.” 😂😂
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I’m sure she didn’t think you’d mess him up! 🙂
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How fun! S is so cute!
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Thanks, he is!
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This is such a brilliant concept and I HATE we don’t have anything like it.
Well done you!
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It really is! That specific show series is really the only one like it in this area and it’s wildly popular (typically 300+ entries) because of the format.
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Can you tell I am just now catching up on all your posts? I LOVE him. I have a fondness for greys that wear cribbing collars lol… Glad he was so chill and SO GOOD. What a fun horse to have until P is back in action.
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Bahahaha I’ve never really been around cribbers so this is a whole different side to horses I’ve never seen before! He’s definitely fun though. A bit challenging, but in ways pretty much opposite to P so learning new skills every day on him!
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