it was a busy but wonderful 10 days with mom and her amazing friend Leslee here in Denmark. The time went so fast, I can't believe they're already gone. However, now I get a chance to catch up on a few things, like sleep and web updates.

First of all, mom & Leslee brought our enormous Ecogold order, and we are stacked up with new saddle pads, coolers, and horse boots. it was like Christmas, all of us oohing and aahing over our beautiful new goods. With my new "Dressage Arve" jacket, even when I'm not clever at least my horses and I look good.  

The horse show last weekend in Ikast went good and not-so-good. It was our first National show, as opposed to the local competitions we've done up until now. Let me just say, the judges don't mess around at this level. Honestly I can't imagine they'd be much more strict for a CDI, so I'm getting some great experience. 

With Countess I rode the Prix St George and Intermediare I tests.  My goal for the PSG was to keep the mistakes down, keep the flow better with a more relaxed tempo and feeling, and KEEP THE NECK LONG. I succeeded in all those goals, but the judges were a little bored and scored us a very safe 61% 

I hoped to kick it up a little bit in the Intermediare, with a bit more energy. I had such a good feeling but too many mistakes kept me from a better score. Even though the results weren't stellar, I was really, really happy with her. I know once I can figure out how to set things up better she will answer with super performance.

Double Up did the Prix St Geoege also and then a slightly easier M test. In the warm up for the PSG he was amazing. Wow. He's NEVER felt that good. Up in the frame, light in the contact and on his feet. We were going to ace it.

Ace it we did until... well, the end of the first diagonal! As we came back from our extended trot, Double Up saw something in the corner that was surely a horse-eating dragon. Poor baby just stopped and forgot how to go. I was able to get past the corner eventually but I never really got us back to where we were and I made too many mistakes. Bummer.

The next day he was just so tired. Super obedient and accurate, but without any brilliance. I was happy with his efforts though, and he went back in the trailer with lots of hugs and smoochies.  

The horses have had an easier week, including a hack today. Out in the field though I tried some flying changes with Countess and I am inspired to get out there again next week if the weather stays a little dry. What a great feeling, she just knocked them out forward and straight, including some one's! 

I would have loved to score better in the show, but it was a great experience for me and the horses. Showing in front of judges this strict, and against a lot of combinations I saw at the National Championships is only going to up my game. I don't want to be a big fish in a small pond, so it gives me motivation to work harder and try to be more competitive in this level. 

Here's the Intermediare 1 with Countess. 

Things have been going really well, as usual :)

I am so glad I started this work with Sommer Christie, the sports psychologist. It's no magic pill that makes me suddenly able to put 15 one-time changes on any horse, or able to resist the pull of a chocolate cake, but it has made me more aware of my thought process when training and competitng.

Where I've noticed it the most is when I make mistakes in training. Instead of just blindly pushing on, getting frustrated with myself and/or the horse, I find myself now saying, 'okay, that was a mistake. Why? What did I or the horse do? What can I try next time to make it better?'

This has prevented me from making the same mistake over and over again. Maybe I make a new mistake, but maybe I get it right. What's great is that with a hot tamale like Countess, it keeps us cool and calm when we are working on something challenging for both of us, like the one-time changes.

And the one-timers are coming! Twice this week I was able to get four in a row! It may not sound like much, but it is a huge step in our progress, and I know that since they already feel easy the next step, 5 then 6, will be easier and easier.

We've made huge leaps in the piaffe and passage work too. While the quality of both moves have been dumbed down to work on the transitions, the transitions are getting better and better. Once I have these oh-so-important transitions more seamless, then we can put the expression back in to the piaffe and passage and go from there.

WOW!

All the other horses are going great. We've started the three year old boys again after a summer in the field. I am always smiling and happy after riding them; the pressure is so low and any step forward is a big accomplishment. YAY! We went on the bit! YAY! We didn't do a motorcycle turn through the corner! YAY! We got the correct canter lead when I asked for it! YIPPEEE!!

Double Up is just getting stronger and better. He may not be the most talented horse in the barn (even though he don't suck!) but I don't think any horse tries harder than he does. What a good boy.

It's just a fun, great job. We also got two new kittens a few weeks ago, and this week we added a parrot to our animal collection. Really, what dressage barn is complete without an amazon parrot? Scared the bejeezers out of the horses the first day, sitting by the arena talking at everyone, but now it's just another thing that they learn to deal with at this place.