This is Grace in October 2010. The venue is the BLM in Lexington Virginia. The test is First Level Test 3 and of course we are in the Championship Test. Our division is for riders who have previously shown 3rd level or higher. We did ok. We placed 13th out of 33 entries.
Grace was a dressage machine. I just pointed her to a letter and asked. She can ride through tests endlessly and loves to show. For this I am grateful, because three weeks prior to the this show I broke 4 fingers on my right hand, and could not ride or practice the pattern. I had not shown Grace in all year. I had to read it and ride it. Thank you Grace.
This picture exemplifies the perfect first level horse. We see swing and thrust through her body, a very good stretch to the bit over the crest of her neck and an open throat latch. The fact that I display a long lower leg and a stretched heel tells me that she is carrying me in balance and that I do not in this movement have to drive her trot. This is what I strive for. I simply want to step on the gas once, set the speed and ride my figures. Of course all dressage riding requires constant longitudinal and lateral adjustments and you have to apply aids for your figures, but I do want to work to keep my horse going forward.
P.S. I would like to see more foam on her lips, but I was remiss all summer and Grace needed her teeth done. Once she saw my dentist, she foamed up like good ale.