ITR - Equestrian News from Angela Spray ITR Australia for InTouchRadio.net (UK-GLOBAL)

Gymkhana Day, Dressage test and Last Ride at Pioneer Country

Angela Spray for InTouchRadio.net (UK & GLOBAL)
Report 2008 Date: 4th Oct

Hi fellow horse lovers,

Pioneer Country recently had their gymkhana day (27th Sept 08) with us and it was a really welcoming day with the sun shining and the horses in good spirits. I was looking forward to it as it is always an event of excitement and pleasure.

I have been to quite a few gymkhanas now and this one is to be my last at Pioneer Country. I was really happy with the results as Casy (the horse) and I came 3rd in the riding class.

We all had barrel races and trotting over polls and collecting brushes at the barrels which I missed out on as you have to pick up a brush at the barrel and then race home!! It is timed and three people get 1st 2nd and 3rd in all the exercises!

The horses have plenty of fun too and sometimes it can be amusing watching them as one horse for example, went up one side and back down the other side missing the polls on the ground which you are meant to trot over – not around to win the race!!!
That was quite funny to watch!!


Yesterday was my dressage test and a very good one too!! Ever rider had to perform with their horse that they had through the term, a prescribed dressage test. It wasn’t anything too difficult – figure of 8 and 20m circles which you had to canter. Always remembering your diagonals and being on the correct canter lead. That went well and my instructor told me it looked very fluent and correct with the directions and balanced.

One thing that all riders know and which is vital to your horse riding is your balance. If your balance it not correct, you can throw your horse out of sync. It is something that takes time but when you get the hang of it, riding improves by 100%.

I was please about how Casy (my horse) was so responsive and the day was accompanied by a lot of wind which I thought would make it tough to ride a test in being so blowy and can chuck the sand all over the arena!

So it was a job well done. My instructor said they will finalise the results for everyone and send them out in the near future.

We don’t get our mark on the day but our instructor can advice and tell us if it was successful and that is what she said. I have attached a few photos of the gymkhana day and the dressage test from yesterday.

I thought close ups would be better so my Pop took them while I was warming up with the horse!!

Enjoy and please send me your experiences or events too as I would love to hear from some of you!

Angela

Website - www.myspace.com/allthingsequestrian and of course here on InTouchRadio.net (www.intouchradio.net) and on InTouchRadio's other sites on MySpace.