Dressage, day 1

   Yesterday kicked off our Rolex 2013 experience. Dressage started at the very civilized hour of10 am, so we had a leisurely breakfast at the motel and made our way over to the horse park.  Crisis #1- Suzi's ticket was at the Pony Club office... There was no way to talk her in- security was there checking bags, so I took Mom, and we hiked over to the USPC offices.  This required going out thru the in gate and then back in, which meant another security check... Luckily, no one seemed to care about all the food I'd packed in (unlike the WEG) so we happily had a healthy and cheap lunch!
    We watched most of the rides yesterday, and I don't think I annoyed too many of the people around me by clucking. No one got up and left, at any rate, so I'm calling it good.  Both William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson simply outriders the rest of the field.  Their horses were much more connected and through, and it was reflected in the scores. Of the Americans, Caitlin Sillman gets my vote as "most proficient American rider." If I were a senior team rider and I saw a rider of that caliber chasing me down, I'd be spending some SERIOUS time with a real dressage coach, and making damn sure my horse doesn't look for all the world like its always schooled in draw reins!
   The judges seemed to be looking for (surprise,) good uphill balance, consistent connection, and accurate movements.  It appeared that they were penalizing wobbly shoulder-in's, haunches leading in the half-pass, and crooked or swinging flying changes. Of course the few really good movers scored relatively well, but the top of the leader board was full of more average horses who were really well ridden.
    We also saw some really great rides that didn't score particularly well. Beth Perkins did a masterful job containing Sal Dali, and gave a real lesson in how to ride a tense, hot horse in the dressage ring. Sally Cousins mare, Tsunami, is a far from spectacular mover, but she eked out every point- the test was so accurate and while some of the more gifted horses scored better, she managed to keep herself snugged right up to the pack with some very smart riding.
   Post dressage fun, we went shopping! I found some new breeches on super sale, a biking soft shell (Rolex is always my go-to place for clothing for my other sports...) and Summer and I both bought new crash vests. The vests are Kanteq, and they are the most comfortable things EVER! I'm excited to give mine a try (and excited to hang up my old Tipperary!) We're getting ready to head the the horse park for more dressage fun today, and we are going to walk the course. I'll update again tonight!