1/17/10
Beginner Novice Combined Test

Laura's done one other Combined Test on Miaren. They
were first after dressage and finished 5th with some rails down
in that attempt.

Today he was sticky into the canter, so got dinged for the left lead
when he refused to pick it up for 1/2 the circle, and then to the right
he didn't get the lead and had to be brought back.

Still, he had sevens and an 8, but that didn't counteract the lower canter marks.

In stadium he jumped boldly, but Laura kept him to a trot, so she'd have control
going at the jumps. One rail down on a combination, but a nice course.
With the time penalties she was 9th over all.
He's pretty good at standing around and waiting.
 

Up the centerline.
Good bend and very relaxed.
 
His trot work was nice.
Reaching into the bit.
 
He knows how to soften and round.
We thought we had the left lead canter strike off, but he didn't hold it.
 
The second half of the circle showed he does know how to canter nicely.
The walk didn't have stretch, but he was moving.
 
Once he got the right lead canter, again it was very nice.
I know Laura was frustrated, because their work at home has been so good.
 
He was happy to canter around outside before the test.
Turning up the centerline.
 
He knows how to halt.
They trotted the course. It makes control a lot easier approaching a fence.
 
First fence. He does put more power into his jumps than needed sometimes.
Third fence. He didn't seem confused by the course.
 
Ears forward, looking for the next jump.
Not concerned about the smaller ones, but not hitting them like Nero.
 
He's not used to jumping out of a canter so much, but it's something that will come.
He's taking off a bit longer now and reaching for some of the jumps. At home he can get too close and chip in.
 
He doesn't seem to care what type of jump he's going over.
Again, having fun over the jumps. Not at all chargy, but showing he can do more.
 
We always thought he'd be good at jumping. As a youngster he'd jump things just because he could.
And the last jump. Laura says except for the stubbornness, he's an easy ride. Sounds like most of my horses....