Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

Last weekend was Southern Pines horse trials. What a great event! The cross country course this year was designed by Tremaine Copper and he really gave the course and new look with lots of galloping room. Murphy was in the intermediate and was a really good boy. After a few bobbles in the dressage ( he reared, he thinks he should be part of the spanish riding school) he managed a 38. I am really please because his flat work is really coming along. THANK YOU BONNIE! 

Cross country was a BLAST. I love this horse. He was very bold into the water, which was a big drop in, three stride up a bank, one stride off the island, three strides up a bank, and then one stride to a skinny. He was awesome. I had to circle him once on course at fence 7 abc two palisades to a corner. The ground jury made the decision to allow up to circle due to the challenging nature of the question. Since it was the first combination, Murphy was a bit strong so I opted to circle to avoid a 20 giving me some time penalties. Otherwise he was foot perfect. I am so pleased with our cross country. I feel very confident in the job placed before me and my horse has never felt better.

Unfortunately showjumping is still a battle. I was having actually a really great round jumping clean and forward. Towards the middle of the course we had a triple bar 6 or 7 strides down the line to a wall, like you see in the bareback jumping classes.  Well I think I stalled about half a second after jumping the triple bar and never rode down the line for the six strides. Well Murphy put on breaks and off over his head  went. I guess it was time calling since I have never fallen at a horse show in my 11 years competing. I know the mistake I made and have had two great jump schools since. I am really looking forward to the Fork this weekend in North Carolina as a last run before the CCI** at Florida and to improve upon my showjumping performance. I have been told you can't learn if you don't make mistakes and Im glad I made the mistake at Southern Pines verses the threeday. Hopefully my mistakes will have taught me the skills I need to keep getting that much better.