A good result for first show of 2009

Fizzy and I competed in our first show today of 2009, and I am so happy to report that it went very well!

It was a small schooling show in Wellington, about a half-an-hour drive from our farm in Loxahatchee. I shipped him alone, figuring I could get someone to undo the butt bar and let him off once we got to the show. Unfortunately, there wasn't a soul to be found where we parked, so I ended up unloading him myself- he's such a trooper!

After tacking him up and doing a 10-minute-walk around the ring, I picked him up and just did some easy trot to loosen him and let him relax. He was so obedient and on the aids I couldn't have been happier. Michael came to warm us up, and he was perfect as far as having me practice a few movements without overdoing it.

Fizzy was, for all intents and purposes, wonderful in the test. He stayed with me the whole time, except for when he did some ad-lib one tempis at the end of our line (15,16,17,18,19! oops). A few other mistakes happened, but the piaffe and passage, overall, was very good and he was so happy and relaxed in everything. I am so pleased with him! We ended up getting a 72.3%, which I thought was generous, but I'll take it! For me, just to get back in the ring with Fizzy and have him be my "old" Fizzy again, well that's enough for me.

Michael had some really positive comments after the ride, and I am so grateful for his help. I originally asked him last week to "babysit" me at a horse show, and asked for a few lessons beforehand. He was so kind and came over twice to help me, and was really the deciding factor in me doing the show (I asked, after the first lesson, "So, if you think I should wait a month and do the next show..." to which he replied, "Absolutely not! You're doing that show next week." Thank you for the kick in the pants. :-)

And thank you, FizzyGig for being such a good boy! You are the best, and will have a much deserved hack day tomorrow.