Loudoun Horse Trials

Last Saturday, we returned to Morven Park for the Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Horse Trials. It was a one-day horse trial, meaning all the phases were to take place in one day.

Poor Teco was still pretty fuzzy with his winter coat, and he was about to melt in the 85 degree weather! Fortunately we rode early in the morning, before the heat came in. He performed beautifully! It really does seem to be getting easier for him. We scored a 30.4, placing us in first! But what I was most happy about was that he held the counter-canter, which seemed much easier for him. Colleen had a little bit of an off day with Connor, and they received a 36, landing them in 5th after dressage.

Showjumping went really well for everyone, though! Colleen and I both went clean (though I had one time penalty) as did one of our friends, Molly Curtiss, who also trains with Paul and is going for the Young Riders team this summer as well.

I was a little anxious about cross country. At the Morven Horse Trials in March, we had two stops on cross country, as you may recall. Since the course was almost exactly the same, I didn't know what to expect. But I went out and rode hard, and we made it around smoothly until the third-to-last fence.

A few times during the course I had felt him considering dodging out on me, but I rode him very defensively and he seemed to realize that I really meant business. However, at the combination where he ran out at the B part last month, he ran out at the A jump. I had softened just a little too much right before he jumped, and he basically took advantage of that and leaped aside at the last possible moment.

While it was frustrating, it was my fault, and I certainly learned from it. And you can bet I won't make that mistake again! Colleen and Molly both went clean on cross country, and since the three people in front of them (including me) had stops, they moved up into first and second!

I have high hopes for Difficult Run this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes!

Til then -

Christie