Our trip to Idaho for the Les Bois Dressage Spring show was a whirlwind but a successful one! Often the wins in dressage come in the form of blue ribbons, while others come as training opportunities and lessons learned. We had all three!
Natalie‘s KWPN – NA mare Karina G, who is just the sweetest, wondered why a horse would counter-canter when obviously flying lead changes are a much better idea! Even still, she showed off her awesome suspension and gamely splashed through puddles. On Sunday, she clinched the win for the open class at Second Level, Test 3.
Lysandra SFC, owned by Michelle Anderson, had some baby horse moments on Saturday as she stepped up to First Level tests 2 and 3. With tactful and confidence-building riding by Natalie, the 6-year-old Negro – Dutch Stallion daughter rallied to garner two better-than-70% scores on Sunday, securing the day’s Open High Point award.
On Saturday, Laura Swenson and her Thoroughbred gelding Brooks delivered a solid Fourth Level, Test 2, score for the adult amateur win, and on both days the pair placed second in the AA Prix St. Georges. “I figured some more things out,” Laura said about riding this complicated FEI test.
Nancy Weaver and Harvard R, by Sir Donnerhall, won Saturday’s Fourth Level, Test 1, adult amateur class. On Sunday Nancy rode Fourth Level, Test 3, for the first time and earned a qualifying score for Region 6 Championships. “My centerlines are much improved, and Harvey and I nailed our flying changes every third stride!” Nancy said.
Thank you to Noah Rattner for managing this fun, lowkey show and Nadine Schwartsman for hosting it at her beautiful facility!