Holy smokes! It’s way past my bedtime—the PSG Awards were scheduled for almost 10 p.m.—but a quick update, because: Could it GET any better?!
Fender won his first foray into first level, test 1. Don’t get too excited—with a whopper 72 percent! He was just lovely in the test with some really stunning moments, but that’s all particularly entertaining because he was such a little prick in the warm-up, you don’t even KNOW. Mortifying. Careening around like a 2-year-old, cross-cantering, jumping around. Really!
I just did what we do with young, naughty warmbloods: gallop until they apologize. It rarely takes long. Then I had to use a bit more leg than I’m used to in order to get him around his test, but he was perfectly civil and delightful. And then was so tired he nearly rolled down the hill back to the stabling. Whoops. (He had enough energy to bang around for his dinner; he’ll be fine.)
The PSG Finals had some FABULOUS horses, and I knew we were in for a battle. Tres, unfortunately, was uninspired. I think I may have spent my best horse yesterday. Whoops. He still went around and was perfectly pleasant and adorable. He had the nicest walk I’ve gotten in the ring but was rather underwhelming.
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Midge went last, and the pressure was on. Fortunately my warm-up plan from Wednesday night seemed to have worked—he was still a squirrel warming up in the semi-dark, but he was markedly less squirrel-like. He had a few funky moments in the test—a really dreadful first centerline, a volte that lacked fluidity, a funky line of fours. But he was really, really lovely the rest of the time—balanced, organized, graceful. And his last centerline was absolutely amazing; his halt felt a little parked out, but he was SO straight and SO rideable and just FLOATED into the halt.
So I was tickled to WIN the class, but even more tickled when I got the score sheet back—the judge at C gave that last centerline a 10!! My first!! WOW!!!
Tomorrow is the fourth level finals for Midge and Tres, who both look pretty pooped; we’ll see. As for me, I’m going to need to whip out the Tylenol PM, or I’ll never get to sleep! I want to shout from the rooftops!
