Stuttgart 2011

As the 2011 show season is winding down, Orion and I received the privilege of being able to start at the 2011 German Master's in Stuttgart. This is the most amazing indoor show I have ever ridden in. The best way to summarize the entire experience is.... Wow :-)

Orion and I competed the Grand Prix Class for the Special. On Saturday we were the first started of the class, nice and early at 7:30am. Although this test was not the best score that Orion and I have achieved to date, both Heike and I both agree that it was the best test that we preformed yet. We spent a lot of time preparing and focusing on only the Grand Prix because it is always the most important test of the competition, as it is the result from the Grand Prix which determines wether or not you get to qualify for the Special of the Freestyle. 

So Orion and I started with our best foot forward and performed a clean test with as total score of 65. 766%. As always, there are still many details that we need to improve on, such as more expression (especially in the passage- because this is really something Orion can do, so I need to make sure I help him show it off more) and we need to make sure that Orion's frame say open. But I must admit I came out of the test exploding with gratitude for being able to have Orion as a teammate! He was SO focused and listening and tuned into me the entire ride. And because I felt so prepared for this test, it felt like it went by me is slow motion and I was therefore really able to really ride and even enjoy it a bit. 

Then on Sunday Orion and I preformed the Special. Important to note is that we rode the new GP Special test which has been prepared for the 2012 Olympics games. The purpose of changing the test was to decrease the total length time it takes to complete t test, because the old Grand Prix Special is a very long test and really demonstrates a horses condition. But I agree with the majority of the criticisms of this new test, I don't like it! By removing all the "passage- extended trot- passage" transitions the beauty of the Special is lost, because it is all these transitions that give you goose bumps when a horse performs them.

For the Special, I must admit that my nerves got to me a bit and I didn't have the same sense of calmness as I did in the Grand Prix. The first mistake I made was that I wanted so bad to show the same standard as in the Special- and I know better than this because as soon as I put to much internal pressure on myself I start to freeze, and my reactions in the saddle no longer flow as naturally as they should. Then as a rode into the ring, I ended up in a race against the 40second timer to get down the centre line on time. Although there was also highlights and many good points to the Special, we made a couple to many mistake which one cannot afford at this level.  But all in all, being able to ride in Stuttgart was an incredible learning experience for me. Most importantly, I became even more aware of how strong the connection is between Orion and I because on Saturday, when I was complelty confident in the test and felt 100% prepared and focused- Orion was right at my side, dancing every step. But then on Sunday, when my nerves started tickling and I became a bit unsure, Orion also became unsure and tense. So moral of the story is... I need to ride down that centre line with the courage of a lion- I say a lion because it has to be enough courage for two! Orion and me :-)

Here is the u tube link for our Grand Prix test: 

Stuttgart GP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZNGqupdVtQ

Thank you so very much for tuning in!!!