Remember how I went to show back in April. You know. The show where I nailed down one of my Third Level scores for my bronze? Well, I finally took the time to sit down and touch up my photos. The results are fantastic... enjoy!
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Have you ever seen a prettier head on a horse?
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The show was at beautiful Morven Park, home of a gloriously fancy mansion (not the house pictured).
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Awkward halt is awkward.
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Aside: Morven Park is also home to the turkeys pardoned by the President every Thanksgiving. Gobble, gobble.
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I honestly can't tell you what movement we're doing here. I think it's the medium trot?
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Half pass left. Needs more bend.
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Pig's silly grimace face has grown on me. Especially as he makes it all the time (no matter who rides him), and it doesn't indicate unhappiness in the contact.
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Half pass right. Need to keep shoulders leading, and way more bend.
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Extended trot. At least there's a little moment of suspension?
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We did have at least one nice change. The photographer did not catch those moments. This picture fills me with giggles.
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Listening ear and focused expressions. Perfection.
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Whee! Changes!
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I guess this photo makes it look cleaner?
Note to self: Pulling on the reins in the change will not make fix it.
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Extended trot and dapples!
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Halt perfection right there. Scored an 8. Damn right.
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We're both happy with ourselves!
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And now for our other test of the day (3-2, actually the first test. Note my I didn't have time to finish my hair or change out of my contacts. Whoops!)
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Uh oh! Attention is going... going...
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GONE! (Points for square and balanced, though? Additionally, note the wind flinging his tail.)
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Medium trot gets started.
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We have the power, but those honkingly huge shoulders are blocking the way forward.
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Renver. Needs more bend, but there is still considerable hind leg cross over.
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Girl, lookit that turn on the haunches. Note the open inside rein begging Pig to keep his bend.
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I think this is where the test reads "M-C, make a demented face". It's a coefficient movement. NAILED IT.
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Last stride of half pass before we straighten for the change.
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SURPRISE CHANGE! We surprised his left hind for sure, it's so surprised it forgot to move. Oops.
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This is the photo that shows what my face will look like when I'm 90. Hopefully I'm still riding fiery red horses then.
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Big pats for a job well done!
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And big smiles all around!
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I love that these photos show a strong happy horse performing things that (except for changes) are well within his ability. I can nitpick about a lot, but I'm thrilled with Pig's expressions in these photos. He looks genuinely happy to be out there doing his thing, and that is extremely important to me.
Which one is your favorite?
I'm not sure what my favorite is but the change photos make me giggle.
ReplyDeleteMeeee too!
DeleteI love all the close ups of his handsome face!
ReplyDelete<3
DeleteLooove these! The last one with your smiles is great! :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteThat last one is the best... but there's also one of the changes where he rocked back SUPER far, and that's pretty frickin cool.
ReplyDeleteROCKET LAUNCH!
DeleteI love the grimace! My turtlebred does the same thing and it's grown on me, too!
ReplyDeleteI know it's a typo, but I kind of love the word "turtlebred" :)
DeleteGORGEOUS!!!!!!!! Pig's expressions are just fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHe's quite the expressive little bugger.
DeleteI have such a hard time avoiding nitpicking my own photos, but I loved going through these "with" you! Pig is just a love. I love the first photo (teach me to braid), and the Renvers one. And the patting smiley photos. And the square halt. Lots to love!!
ReplyDeleteBraiding tutorial ON THE WAY!
DeleteI Lol'd at the leg "so surprised it forgot to move". Y'all look great!
ReplyDeleteThat picture made me literally lol when I saw it!
DeleteUm so I laughed pretty hard at the "filled with giggles" pictures because yeah I do that move now... I thought it would maybe be eradicated by third, but apparently not.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. No. That move will always be around. Embrace it. Love it. Use it to scare bystanders.
DeleteI love Pig's facial expressions. He's so cool! All the pics look awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThey are ALL great pictures! Pig looks very happy.
ReplyDeleteHe likes showing, I think. :)
DeleteHis awkward smile is the best
ReplyDeleteWe are THE kings of awkward.
DeleteLove the renvers shot. The surprise lead change is hilarious though.
ReplyDeleteHis eyes are literally bugging out of his head.
DeleteAw you guys look so fantastic - not a bad pic among them :) love the captions too, lol'd at "so surprised it forgot to move!"
ReplyDeleteWell. Maybe it'd move if I wasn't sitting on it ... ;)
DeletePig looks so fancy!
ReplyDeleteI love the dapples and extended trot-you guys look like bosses! :) All of them are awesome, you two both look like you love what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks! The dapples are kind of rare for him, he has to shed out just right.
DeleteI love them all but I loved at your "this is what I look like at 90" caption. Sidenote, you are both so soft in the contact, love it
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw that photo and asked me what it felt like to be so damn old. Hahaha!
DeleteI like the "last stride of half pass" one and the last one. Pig's expression is gorgeous in it and you look so happy!
ReplyDeleteThe first change photos could be pirouettes to my uneducated eyes *whistles*
ReplyDeleteYou guys look awesome in all of these. Much ♡♡♡