#extraflex

[goodtype]

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"Extra Flex" by @joachimvu #goodtype #strengthinletters #calligraphy #letters #lettering #handletter #handlettering #extraflex

[kcdressage-blog]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

I am truly awful at updating this on time so apologies (again!), here is our belated report from the Trailblazers 2nd round. Unfortunately it was not the top 10 finish nor the 65% I'd hoped for, more like a disappointing 60% and 20th out of 23!

But to put that into context, the judge was marking incredibly harshly (as agreed by most people there that day), I think it was the occasion that meant his marks were hard earned and he really was looking for the best. Denby did a lovely little test, there were a couple of tiny things that could have been better like his walk was a bit tense and joggy, but no major disasters and even his medium trot work was quite nice! He came out looking pleased as punch with himself, so it was a disappointment to be scored so low when it felt like that test was better than our first Novice outing where we got 65%.

The judge's comments were predominantly that Denby was 'tight', and he was due to see the physio anyway - low and behold he was incredibly tight in his right hindquarters and technically could be classed as lame. I felt awful that I hadn't noticed, so the judge was actually spot on with his comments.

So now it is operation 'get the old man supple', he is having a full horsey MOT! His teeth have just been done, apparently these weren't great and probably were causing some pain so that's one thing checked off the list. He is having regular physio treatments for his tight hindquarters being zapped with lasers and tensing machines. His massage pad is getting more use than ever before, with 1/2 an hour before I ride and 15 mins after I've ridden. He has a brand new supplement (ExtraFlex) to help with the stiffness. New shoes are on and feet taken a bit shorter to help him to turn and bend easier.

All of this seems to be working, if a little too well! Whenever his owner takes him out to the field he is like a stallion, rearing and flying off as soon as the head collar comes off. Not sure whether it is all of the changes we have made, or whether it is just the spring grass but he is like a new horse and really making me work hard to control him when we are schooling at the moment. I like him to be so responsive and eager, but hope he calms down a little as it is really affecting our walk and trot, he just wants to canter everywhere!

Our next outing will be Saturday 8th June I think, trying Solihull RC this time if we can find a 4x4 to tow the trailer for us (lorry still hasn't been sold unfortunately). They have a summer series with the championships in September so it would be quite nice to qualify for that when we missed out narrowly on the winter championships back in Feb/March.

It was a tough day out at the 2nd round of Trailblazers, with very few positive comments on our score sheet and a stiff old man to work with I did question whether it was worth trying to carry on. He is an old hunter after all and perhaps I'm not being fair to him to want to progress up the levels in dressage?

But after a few days of sulking and a couple of fabulous lessons with our visiting trainer Ken Sudsbury from sunny Spain I am motivated again and ready to give it another try. Ken told me that his wife has a horse who she used to compete side-saddle then switched to dressage when the horse was 18, and they made it all the way up to Advanced Medium so there is hope for us yet.