Dressage Beginner (Show)

[Super <3]

The test began for Grace and Jack would ride after.

[Peanut Loves EVERYONE!!]

I waited nervously outside the ring, Bingo dancing under me. We were good at running and jumping, not so much with dressage. I took a deep breath and pushed Bingo into a trot once we'd got the signal to start. We trotted straight up the centre of the dressage arena, then turned to the letter M. I'd spent all day trying to memorise the letters, but there were so many! I kept Bingo trotting, not used to seeing him clipped. For the test, I'd had to shear off his gorgeous fluffy-ness, leaving his mane free flowing. He looked really weird. I kept pushing him around the arena, only remembering once we were past C and on our way to H to look down and check my diagonal. Naturally, I was on the wrong one. I sat for two beats and rose again, feeling a bead of sweat roll down my back.

Calm down, Grace I told myself, breathing deeply. Trotting down the long side of the arena, I focused my attention on getting Bingo to trot steadily and actively. He tossed his head, gnawing on the bit. "Shh," I whispered inaudibly to him. When we reached the bottom of the arena, I nearly forgot what we were meant to do next. Luckily, Bingo started to cut the corner like he always did, and I remembered we were meant to do a 20 metre circle. I kept Bingo trotting, trying to use my outside leg to make him bend. He just trotted in a wonky square until we rejoined the track. I frowned, and tried to keep focused, but I was losing confidence.

Before we got to A, I pushed Bingo into a canter. He was better the faster he went, so I tried to stay positive. Turning in another circle exactly where we'd just done it, Bingo cantered the circle much smoother than he'd done at a trot. I smiled and then brought him back down to a trot as we passed the corner. Trotting down the side of the ring, I sat deeper and slowed Bingo to a walk at M. He sighed and swished his tail lazily, and I tried to use my body to keep him moving forward but he wasn't having a bar of it. Plodding along at his own pace, Bingo nickered suddenly to a horse outside the ring.
This is so humiliating I thought as we proceeded with the test. I was making a fool of myself! When we got around to the top of the ring, I lengthened my reins and let Bingo stretch out, guding him down across the diagonal of the arena. Bingo actually walked faster in the free walk than in the medium walk, and I sighed.

As we changed directions at the other end of the ring, I was about to push Bingo into a trot when he slowed. "No!" I muttered, kicking him forwards. Bingo put his ears back, halting completely. "Come on Bingo!" I pleaded, kicking him again. If only I had a crop! Bingo sighed and grunted, then stretched out and spread his legs out.
Oh God. Not now! Why does he have to pee NOW!? I screamed inside my head. I stood up out of the saddle as the splashing sound of Bingo's pee reached my ears. My face was burning, and I tried hard not to cry. Groaning, Bingo finished his toilet stop and realigned his legs, walking forwards again. I kicked him angrily into a trot, forcing him to speedily trot the whole long side of the arena. When we reached the top, I turned him in a circle, kicking him every few strides to make sure he wouldn't stop again. As we neared the track, I sat and nudged Bingo into a canter, rocking with him. As angry as I was, I didn't want the rest of the test to be sloppy.

Completing the circle, I slowed Bingo to a trot and rode down the long side of the ring. Thankfully, we weren't facing the judges, and I cringed as we rode past the gaint puddle Bingo had created. Reaching A, we trotted down the centre line and halted in the middle. I dropped my head and hand in a salute, then turned Bingo and left the ring. As soon as we were out, I felt tears sting my eyes. I drummed my heels into Bingo's sides and cantered away, not wanting anyone to see me cry.

[Super <3]

Jack got an important phone call at Whispering Wolves about a new boarder and was late. He was forced to forfit the competition.