So, it appears that winter has finally arrived. Don't get me wrong- I love winter. I love the holidays, the cold, the snow, and the way the world becomes muted when the clouds are low and the snow if falling. I just don't love winter when I'm two weeks out from the first event of the year and trying to fit in a few gallops.
Next week, a troop of us are heading to California for the first event of the year at Twin Rivers. I love this event- its well organized, the courses are nice, the footing is good (its California, after all), and... it doesn't snow. I did miss the year the whole event got rained out, so cross your fingers for no repeat of that! The only problem with Twin Rivers is that it runs on California time. No, dressage doesn't start 15 minutes late, the whole event is frankly, too early! Ok, only early for those of us coming from the frozen tundra of anywhere except California and Arizona, but still. None of the horses have been out schooling at all, although thanks to the up till now, mild winter, all the horses have been out of the indoor arena in the past several months (this is a huge upgrade- usually I head off for the first California event and have to plan in an extra day just to get the sillies out!)
The game plan heading into the first event of the year is a good, confidence-building run for everyone. Improve on the things you can, and take the rest in stride. If that means taking the time to trot through the corner of the water to get your horse's feet wet for the first time since last fall, thats fine. All the lower level horses are plenty fit to cruise around the cross-country, but I anticipate a few time faults with Cha Cha, who isn't as fit as he will be later in the season. I'm hoping to get him settled early on course and work on developing a good, forward rhythm. I've been working hard at keeping a more forward canter to my fences, so I hope I'll be able to establish a canter with the same quality as I've had at home. I've been through my dressage test several times now (yay for New Years resolutions!), and my goal is to maintain the rideability throughout the test, and to keep riding forward, even when things (inevitably) go south.
If everyone comes away from this first event more confident than before the show, and with a real idea of what they need to improve for next time, I'll be a very happy trainer, regardless of final placings. After all, there is plenty of time for that later in the year- the 2012 season is just starting, and spring is just around the corner, which is good, because I really need to get a few more gallops in!
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