The First Real Tests at GMHA

Nice while it lasted. Jutta had high score for the day until a training level rider went her some better.The GMHA Spring Show was the first real test for the Appledore Gang. Jutta and Arne rode each day and kept the horses busy. A great team of helpers and supporters along with the GMHA staff and volunteers made the weekend outstanding overall.

When we arrived on Friday morning for the first ride, it was clear that our friends at this South Woodstock equine institution had been hard at work over the winter. New parking arrangements for the countless trailers were available, the rings were in very good shape, grooming crews were clearly ready for a long day, and there were plenty of staff members and volunteers on hand. 

Arne had a weekend of ups and downs. A school overnight meant that he was very sleepy for his mid-morning Friday ride. It took some effort on his part to get a good ride, a 62.4% for Training Level, test 3. Saturday was a very different affair. He was riding Training Level, test 4, as a qualifying test. In every respect, he was far better than the day before: he warmed up very well, was fully focussed during his ride, and did very well. All the greater was his disappointment when his lively and clean ride resulted in a 57.2%. Sunday was better to a large part because he got Nandalino to work better in his First Level, test 1: 61%. This was a deserved result and a better indicator of what this pair can accomplish.

Jutta's weekend was a busy one. In addition to helping Arne get underway, she had her Glory to deal with as well as Cathy Stern's Frodo and Lucky. On Friday, Frodo competed in his first real test in two years, a Second Level, test 2, and showed what he is capable of with a 70.8%, one of the highest scores of the weekend outside of some training level scores by open riders. Glory followed with his Second Level, test 4, in the White Ring as well. For once, he lived up to his full name and kept his head together. His 72.0% was the high score of the day for some time. Jutta continued in this vein on Saturday with a 67.6% on Frodo in a Second Level, test 4. 

And then came Sunday, suddenly threatening and wet after two warm and glorious days. Arne's third ride came first with the result above. We all then had a deserved break before the last two rides of the show, FEI Young Horse tests for Glory and Lucky. After a sound warm up, Jutta entered the White Ring with Glory ready and began the test on time. After about 45 seconds, the judges rang the bell, because she was off course. But she wasn't. She was doing a preliminary test and they had the sheet for the final test. Getting this straightened around took longer than anyone wanted, including Glory who faded in the heat. After a 20-minute delay, he started again and finished with a respectable 69.4%. He was faulted for not enough impulsion, which came as no surprise. Upon leaving the ring, Jutta was approached by a member of the drug control team who informed her that Glory was the subject of a random test. Taking a urine sample proved not to be possible in the stall set aside for this purpose, so Glory was taken back to the truck, which was converted to a single stall for him, and the wait began. Sue volunteered to wait with Glory.

By this time, we were way behind schedule for the next horse, Lucky. Everyone pitched in to get him tacked up, but  there was very little time for lunging and a warm-up ride. Because of a scratch, her time was moved by 7 minutes, but this did not get to the judges on time, and the bell rang at the moment she came near the ring. An explanation did not help; the judges rang again as soon as Lucky reached A on his way out for a warm-up round. Without having time to familiarize him with the surroundings - it was only his second test under any conditions - Jutta rode the test. 

By the time we got to the truck, nerves were a bit frazzled there as well. It had started to rain, and Glory was uncomfortable with the noise and the unfamiliar people. After another 45 minutes, blood was finally taken and we could head home. 

Overall, this was a great show both in terms of the organization and the results. The unfortunate Sunday could not take away from the great rides for Glory, Frodo and Nandalino. And Lucky too! Jutta got some high score ribbons, and Arne was consoled by the fact that he knew he had ridden very well on Saturday and Sunday.

Many thanks to our crew of Jill, Cathy, Linda, Candy, Sue, and Fleur for all of their help and moral support. The weekend would have been much longer without them.