ADDINGTON

4th February 2008

Our first trip of the new year was to Addington for the warm up premier league.

I have quite a few horses to compete this year, throughout the levels. A few of them are at that point where they aren't quite established at their new levels, so therefore, won't be out for another couple of months.

I took 2 horses to Addington. Nurejev and Ramazzottie.

Both competed in the Inter II.

This was the first test at this level for Ramazzottie.

We finished 3rd and 4th, with Nurejev beating Zottie.

Nurejev put together a great test and is getting more secure now, also building strength therefore more quality.

We made one mistake in the one tempi Changes, that was my fault, he is really secure in these and I rode them too forward.

With it being Ramazzottie's first time at this level, the movements took him completely by surprise.

Even though he is working well on all the Grand Prix work, doing it all in a test, in a competition atmosphere is totally different.

It takes a few tests to get to the point where they expecting these movements therefore being ready for them.

I was very pleased with him. He made some mistakes in the tempi changes , which was very expensive. he was good in the Piaffe - Passage tour. He has such a great character, he never stops trying. A couple more tests at this level and he will move on to grand Prix.

Source: Aspen Grove Dressage