Pink Rosette

Well we survived, even the part where I was backing out Horatio unsighted with only Pony-girl to direct, forgetting that she lives on another planet and her eye might be caught by any of the 16 fine dressage horses passing through the box park:

"Am I still OK, J?"
"Yes, fine - I mean NO! NO!! STOP!! The fence - !"

Since the other competitors were large haughty ladies on proper horses, it was with some trepidation that we crept up to the mark board after the test, especially as Clyde had been in frisky mood and thrown in a sprightly buck on the canter transition. We were totally thrilled to find he was placed 6th (out of 11) and won the pink rosette, which we were truly not expecting, and here he is, characteristically unimpressed:




That was the dreaded Prelim 10, which was 'restricted' - to competitors who have not won first place in Dressage before - in the unrestricted Prelim 18 they were unplaced, but scored respectably which is not bad for a pony who used to pull the fish cart round Evesham Market, I think you will agree. So we are thrilled to pieces, and Horatio chuntered happily along round the 18 roundabouts, and I only stalled once, which OK was while crossing the busy A44 in the path of oncoming traffic, but we were cool, we made it, and now we can rest.... well at least until Sunday, when we return for the Showjumping....



"Actually, I were only planning on doing 30, if you don't mind..."