It's a Whole New Test

Jess and Coda attended the Good Horseman Foundation’s Three Horsemen Dressage Show recently in Conyers, Georgia.  Although it “doesn’t count” for the Festival of Champions or North American Junior and Young Rider Championships qualifying scores, it was a good opportunity for Jess and Coda to get some show practice at the Young Rider’s level.

The warm up, prior to the test, was wild!  We were all unsure if it was the excitement of being at a show, or the warmer weather, or maybe, just Coda being Coda…but he was very, very fresh!  In their first test, the Young Rider team, Jess scored a 72.895%!  They have NEVER scored so high before.  And, it wasn’t a perfect test, either.  They missed their last “4” and Coda had a “bonus” change in his entry.  The Extended Canter was described as “a brave effort” by the judge…they went for it!  But you can make a few mistakes like that when you get 8’s on your shoulder-ins and half passes and 8’s and 9’s on canter pirouettes (co-efficient, no less)! 

The next day Coda was still a Fresh Mess!  The Individual Test didn’t go as well with Jess scoring a 61%.  Jess was disappointed, especially after having such a strong showing the day before.  But, that’s what it’s like at a horse show riding a “hot” horse…some days are fabulous and others aren’t.

Jess’s barn-mate and friend from Top Hat, Heather Beacham, is also vying for a spot at both Championships as a Young Rider.  Heather is 21, so this is her last year to qualify.  Her horse, “Puff” is an adorable chestnut…much smaller than Coda, but they could definitely do a Pas de Deux!  Heather was very stressed her first day and it showed…she and Puff were “stiff”.  But the next day, she was so relaxed and that translated into a different partnership for the test.  Heather and Puff scored a 68% and everyone was thrilled for them!

Part of competing with your friends is sometimes being beat by them…and sometimes beating them.  But, I think the benefit of this experience is that these young women learn to be there for each other…learning to juggle a range of emotions and do so being completely genuine. 

The lessons my daughter is learning from showing and loving horses, being a part of the world of Dressage, is something that can’t be replicated anywhere else, definitely not in any classroom.  Where else can a young woman, a teenager, really, sit atop a 1500-pound animal and know that anything is possible; this is a new day, a new test, and a new opportunity to be their best together?