>>> Test A said "Nice Test! Make sure you ride deep in your corners and make your circles round." Test B said "Accurately ridden! Keep up the good work.".
Cool. Sounds very positive, and the minor negatives are specific things they can work on. Accuracy is a very big part of dressage tests, so that's a nice comment. >>> On each part most comments were complimentary--the ones that weren't said 'drifting', 'rythmn slightly hurried and unbalanced', 'late transition', 'circle could be bigger, inconsistent rythmn'. I'd bet you're right, that the gait-breaking was the 'inconsistent rhythm', but the "drifting" might have been about the pattern, maybe a slight loss of accuracy in the pattern...? The "late transition" and circle size are specific things they can definitely work on. There will be a limit to how "three-gaited" you can make Gat of course - and I don't think you'd want to try - but they know where they can work for improvement. That's cool - and it sounds like the judges gave little "Gaited Gat" a fair shake. Good for all of them: Alex, Gat and the judge. >>> Alex told me later that when she passed the judges station she heard the judge say 'she's so calm' but she wasn't sure if the judge meant her or Gat. To me they looked fantastic! I'm biased of course! That sounds good. Believe me, of an ex-horse-show-mom of a horse/child pair who at times was "calm-challenged", I know that's a huge deal. No one has fun if the horse or rider isn't calm, and often if one gets ruffled, the other will too. See - what Gat may lack in trot, she can make up with her other qualities - maybe not always and not infinitely in the show ring, but certainly as Alex's partner. They are a good team. Give them both a hug from me please! Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
