Working it at First Level

I haven’t been posting much recently, though I have been riding quite a bit.  I feel like we’re in a zone of no huge epiphanies, just retreading ground that we have already gone over to fill in our cracks at First Level.  Our tests 1 & 2 are workmanlike at home with just a bit more suspension needed in the trot lengthens.  It will come, but it requires riding with a bit more energy which can lead to a bit of tension, especially when showing.

So, the plan is:

~to get my show warmup dialed in a bit more with walk yields, serpentines with yields, straight line yields, lateral work, and a leg yield zig-zag all on a loose rein then transitioning to picking up the contact to do our First Level work

~to ride the full sequence of the canter work in Test 1 & 2 even on days when we are not test riding

~shoulder-in at the trot on a 20 meter circle to a half circle of lengthen and repeat 2-3 times each way to help develop the trot lengthens(has been very beneficial so far)

~full test rides with judge’s stand and loose rein work in all the scary parts of the farm the week before the shows

Our next show should be August 10, with three more shows after that to pick up the scores we need for year end awards.  All things being equal, that is, best laid plans and all that!  I’d like to start working on the counter-canter sequence from First Test 3 after the August 10 show, doing more lateral work at the trot, and laying more of the framework over the Fall to dip our toe at Second Level next year.  Stay tuned!