THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY
M
y favorite place at a show is the warm up ring. Though the booths selling incredibly fashionable riding
gear that I would have to sell a kidney to afford are great, and the classes themselves are informative and
ever educational, nothing tops the melting pot of emotions, skill levels, riding and training styles that must
co-mingle in the warm up.
There are a cast of characters that are ever present:
The Arrogant Professional – You move for them. Period.
The Young Horse Rider – Aside from perhaps the judge,
The First Show – Though they are in a training level class
Mr. Hyde – Whenever this horse is at home he is perfectly
If they are half passing across the warm up and you and
Dobbin are on the other side attempting a stretchy circle,
well then you better pray Dobbin isn’t intimidated by the fire
breathing dragon that is heading your way. Didn’t you know
that this horse won the CDI Schrizenhofchenberg last year?
And by god they are not going to let that young girl in pig
tails posting the trot across the warm up get in the way of
their success! Keep your head on a swivel, Susie!
that is not going to stop them from trying to do the entire
warm up in an eight meter volte, tucked into the corner
closest to where their trainer is standing. It is as though
their trainer radiates an aura of safety that diminishes at
around ten meters and woe be to those who move beyond
that perimeter. And, really, we don’t have to canter do we?
I mean, a canter free warm up isn’t ALL that unusual is it?
How about a canter free test? In fact, is it too late to change
riders? I need to pee! I’m thirsty! WHERE IS MY READER?
The Confident Kid – Deep amongst the jungle of
warmbloods a pony appears, war paint on its haunch. The
little girl sits deep and drives her steed into an extended
canter across the length of the warm up. It swoops under
the legs and bellies of its larger brethren as onlookers watch
pop eyed and gasping. Her pig tails are sticking straight out
behind her as she rides a few playful bucks, grinning all the
while. She doesn’t notice her mother fainted by the sidelines
and her trainer has gone pale. She is show ready!
The Walk of Shame – With head held low, both horse and
rider walk back into the warm up in a despondent circle
after their tragic test. The rider waits for the horse to cool
down so she can dismount and begin some serious heavy
drinking.
this thick skinned individual receives the bulk of dirty
looks from riders and onlookers alike. Steering is on the
fritz and her horse cannot be bothered with the concept
of ‘aids’ when it is so busy screaming to its stall mates who
have all abandoned him. And what is that? A baby stroller?
Nay, methinks it is an ogre! Now I shall bolt across the ring
bucking, heading straight to that lady making an eight meter
circle in the corner. That sounds like a great plan!
on the bit, executing his changes effortlessly and is a general
pleasure, but once that last hoof leaves property, he changes.
The skin beneath his coat turns green and a wild glint
appears in his eye. By the time he reaches the show grounds
he has forgotten what it to be collected, roundness is a
foreign word and no amount of sobbing on top of him while
a horrified trainer looks on is going to change his mind.
The Fashion Plate – As you lug yourself into the saddle
wearing your first edition troxel and fifty pound black
wool coat you see her pass. Everything is flawless from her
perfectly tailored coat with real baby unicorn skin cuffs
to her matching boots, tack, pad, bridle and earrings. In
fact, did you know that the super healthy, gluten free, raw
diet, vegan breakfast that she ate this morning was color
coordinated to her outfit?
The White Rabbit – They are running late, running late,
running late for a very important show! Their trainer has
been warming up the horse for the past twenty minutes
while looking wildly about for any sign of them, when
finally they screech around the corner wearing two left boots
and pulling on their show coat. Warm up? Nah! Just head
straight into the ring….. What was my test again?
It is something that I try to remember as I am riding before my test. Amongst the nerves, the preparation and the handling
of my horse I try to remember that we are all doing the same thing out there, working hard and trying our best. So wish
someone good luck, give them a smile and don’t begrudge them if they look at you like you are an alien. These characters
are the reason I love the warm up, because they are us. They are dressage. Dressage is by its nature an individual sport for
the most part, with one horse and one rider. It is only in the warm up that we get to see the triumphs and tragedies of all of
these individuals together.