The French and I facing off with Christine Traurig. Pretty sure she could take us :) She is back at Tower Lane at the end of the month then back to Cavallis in October HIGHLY recommend auditing her. Very passionate instructor and really gets right to the point. We are rapidly coming up to Championships. Leaving a week from tomorrow. I have never been going in to a Championship in a better position. I have had a super season and learned SO MUCH about test riding. I can ride but test riding is a skill and one I highly admire in those who do it well. As we wrap up the season I can say I understand test riding on a whole new level and my tests have reflected that. French is a super horse and I am really happy with my riding. I know that we are capable of a mid 70s mark if we have a perfect test. (we have never had one yet) That brings a whole new level of pressure. Riding is such a mental game and for me from now until it is finished it is all about getting into that perfect mindset. It is so easy to want it so bad and over ride and make silly mistakes (dont ask me how I know that) ;) Then it is easy to say okay I know that about myself so just super low key casual. Well then you arent riding at all. What I said to myself for the last show that helped was French is a great horse, he is trained, he wants this as much as you do. Set him up and get the hell out of the way and let him do his job. I had moments of this at our last show and he broke 70% every test with no clean tests. We got several 8s and our first 9. The visualization and mental practice has begun. Spent last night watching some old tests and cant wait for the opportunity to do better. Really excited to have the extra amazing prep of getting to ride for Anne Gribbons this weekend before we leave to get the best test presentation feedback around! Plus we have the amazing position of all of the crazy helpful feedback and advice from the awesome Siggi Wolff who I will never be able to repay for all she has done for me. Thank you Siggi
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:41:42 +0000