Day 4 and competition day 2

Day 4 and competition day 2

  Another day chocked full of learning! We started our day again at 8am meeting for a wonderful German breakfast, yum.

   Since today was the first day of team competition many of the people we would have liked to talk with were busy competing. However, a highlight for me has been the crowds here in Aachen, they are amazing. They are so focused on what is going on in the arena that you will actually hear the whole stadium make the low "oh too bad" when a rider that is having a really nice test has a mistake. That is so cool that the crowds understand the sport well enough to react like this.

     We still had a very packed day with Charlotte and Jen consistently testing us, asking what we saw with each horses and rider combination. Our brains certainly worked hard today! With each horse we had to pick something to say about the ride, weather it was that the poll was too low or the horse got wide in medium trot, there is always something to keep us focused and learning!

      Charlotte was super helpful today and I made a huge mental breakthrough in understanding how to prepare for the canter zig zags! I know that many of us struggle with getting the right count and the correct bend. I could never figure out the count correctly, and it was always super frustrating. Today Charlotte told me that the flying change counts as the first stride. I'm sure many people have told me this before but somehow today watching all of these top riders do this it finally clicked.

   We had the pleasure of meeting Christoph Hess and the opportunity to chat with him. Not only is Mr. Hess a top judge he is also a well respected trainer. He emphasized to us that to become really good rider you have to have a passion and love for the sport and to pay attention to detail. When asked how he would start a horse in Piaffe, he told us that from the very first time he sits on a horse they must have a very good clear two beat rhythm. That the trot to walk stay very active behind in the spirit of piaffe. 

     A truly incredible experience for me was rooting for team USA! Today after the first day of team completion the US issitting in second! Stephan Peters, of course, had a truly beautiful and harmonious ride, 77.257%. What wonderful memories we will take from this all  made possible by the Dressage Foundation!

    Looking forward to tomorrow and what new things I will learn in day two of the team tests!