When you have a red mare... and start to event

​Last year, I spent the entire year trying to get Belle to stop spooking in a dressage test. We had to retire from the first 2 tests we did last Spring because we barely got down the first centerline. By the end of the year she was still being spooky but was also bored and so was I. I spent all fall and winter working on getting her jumping confidently and getting my position, timing, and eye back to where it used to be. As you know, she jumped in Aiken like a champ and was calm, confident and focused both in SJ and XC. Although we had a few set backs, she was feeling like a million bucks over fences. 

The Groton House Farm 2 Phase was our first 2 phase and first jumping show and she was feeling great both on the flat and over fences, so we were pumped! It was a H.O.T day so our warm up was brief. She was focused and listening and handled the atmosphere like she had been to a million shows and won them all. The whistle blew and she laid down a super solid test. Everything that I asked her to do she did. She went down both centerlines like they were made for her and I think I heard the mic drop as we saluted. I was so proud of my red mare... for even getting down the centerline! We were FAR in first after that test with a 19 (OMG... our scored ened with TEEN!!!) When I took her out for SJ she was calm and cool. She jumped the cross rail in text book form and then crashed into the vertical. I have no clue what happened. I felt her lock on to it, she powered up like we were going over and then she must have realized how big the field was and all of a sudden became overwhelmed. So, I patted her, lowered the fence and trotted it. She was somewhat willingly jumping after that but it was like someone let the air out of her tires. We headed over to the ring before our time, half knowing that I couldn't do anything else for her but give her a shot at jumping jumps she hadn't run into yet. The second I entered the ring, I could feel her eyes get wide and her become overwhelmed. I trotted the first fence to give her some extra time to focus but we stopped anyway. She then jumped that one but stopped at the next. She then just body slammed that one and I knew she wasn't emotionally ok. I tried for the 3rd but she just wasn't able to compose herself. That earned us a big old "E". Since it was a schooling show and I had paid for a second round, they lowered the 3rd one and we trotted over it twice and retired. I was so heartbroken for her. My little jumping bean lost her mojo and I didn't know how to help. I patted her and hoped that she thought we won.

The following weekend we headed to GMHA for her first event. I had no expectations and was just planning to listen to her and make sure I didn't let her get in over her head. Since looking forward was our issue, we galloped in both the Dust Bowl and Upwey arena the night before. Our dressage test was tense since she was waiting to be able to gallop again, but my eye was on SJ. As I called for the cross rail, I told her that it was time for her to tell me what she thought... she answered with a confident jump. I called for the vertical and she jumped the thing like she had been given wings and I was finally letting her fly. Ok, on to the course. I took a super long tour around the arena after our salute the arena and watched the clock count down. I wanted her to see as much of that place as she could before we started jumping. We approached the first fence well, but she slammed on the breaks last minute. We came around again. She didn't even hesitate and I couldn't help but let out and incredibly exuberant "GOOD GIRL!!!". She landed searching for the next jump and locked herself onto it. She questioned the third but ultimately decided to use those wings. I let out another "GOOD GIRL", knowing that I sounded crazy but she liked it and that was all that mattered. The rest of the course was just about getting her to let me put her eyes on the fences and by the last one she was on a roll. She left out an entire stride before the last fence, which made me let out a "WOO" but that was her plan and she was proud of it. I was SO proud of her! The amount of "bounce back" this girl has is amazing! 

​XC Day was a long day of waiting but I didn't care what happened as long as she walked off the course feeling safe and confident. She warmed up like she was getting ready for the Olympics and left the start box positively. The first log was relatively easy but we had two stops at the 2nd fence. She questioned the 3rd and 4th fence but went when I told her to. We had a stop at the 5th, but it was justifiable for a super green horse as there were a lot of things to take in. After getting over the 5th, I knew she could to the rest of the course and rode it a bit more aggressively. We trotted A LOT so that she could take in the sights before focusing on the fence, but each jump added more and more confidence. We finished the course with 3 stops and a lot of time added but she went through the finish flags! 

I have revamped the rest of our show season to continue to give her more confidence rather than challenge her. But I am incredibly optimistic that once this little red mare gets the game, she's going to be a force to be reckoned with.