I was determined to end on a good note. We've had mostly a rubbish season and I wanted to go out on a high.
The day dawned much nicer than the previous year's event which was torrential rain and the blowers on the lorry broke so we had to go home soaked with the windows open! Not pleasant.
Lexi started the day like a dragon as she usually does at Aston but settled and produced a nice test. I didn't really ride the first half - it seemed very simple after the previous week! Then pulled myself together. We produced a customary clear round SJ and went to get ready for cross country.
I had been a bit worried as we were eliminated at a fence going into the water at our last outing here so I was thrilled to see they offered an alternative. Usually I would push her to go direct but I wanted a nice outing to end the season so I decided to take it.
I mucked up my course mapping so I wasn't sure of my minute markers so I just decided to ride forwards and hope the alternative would take enough time to prevent us getting too fast penalties.
What can I say? She was awesome. Popped fence 1, fence 2 needed a smack on the bum as there was a herd of ducks on the other side of the jump! The next part of the course was going into the low sun and we could barely see but we were going then. The alternative went well although the sharp U bend to go into the water resulted into a loss of rhythm and we casually walked into the water. From then on we were flying. I had my old girl back. We even took a flier to the corner and she gave me that wonderful feeling of being on autopilot. We sailed round and finished on the optimum time, on our dressage score to win!!!
I've learnt a lot this season. I've learnt my horse is as good as I am. I've learnt we can do an excellent dressage test. I've learnt I'd rather drop down a level than screw up higher. We've scored over half our dressage tests sub 30 and clocked up 12 consequtive clears SJ.
We didn't make novice. We didn't even make be100. But that will come, we're back on track and we know each other a whole lot better now.
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