He’s baaaaack! Almost 6 months after our last Modified (at Stable View), we had our first run back at the level last week at Ocala Winter 2.

I opted for the Thursday One-Day division, because I’ll almost always take a one-day option if it’s available. It’s quicker, it’s easier, and it’s less impactful to the rest of my schedule. Love it. Love love. Of course, those one-days are always Open divisions full of pros, but whatever. I’d rather be in a more competitive division and not have to be spread over two days or have it take up the whole weekend, since I’m almost always working on the weekends.

The downside of Thursday this time is that it was hot. Hot hot. Like almost 90 degrees.

Presto was oddly not too obnoxious to braid that morning. Usually he’s a nightmare, spending the whole time wiggling, trying to knock me off the stool, or bite me. This time he mostly stood still. I almost took his temperature to make sure he wasn’t sick (true confessions: have done that before when he was being a little too normal). I got him braided in record time, and off we went on the 45 minute trek to Florida Horse Park.

My ride times were superb… 11:39 dressage, 1:22 stadium, 1:41 XC. Close together, but workable, and late enough that it meant I wasn’t in a rush in the morning. I got there with plenty of time to spare and Presto just chilled (quietly???) at the trailer while I slowly got ready. The only time he really perked up was when two horses got loose from a neighboring trailer and took off down the road.

I got on to head to dressage warmup and he was STILL QUIET. I was like um ok is he about to have a heat stroke or something, why is he chill? He was fine, just like… acting so normal and trained and seasoned. It was unlike him. I only trotted and cantered for maybe 8 minutes and then just walked until it was my turn. They were running early, so it worked out.

The test was fine. Like it was accurate enough, and he went around pleasantly, and there was nothing majorly wrong with it. I thought (and Megan agreed) that it just lacked the usual extra sparkle he has when he’s really in the mood to show off. I assumed it was probably because of the heat. Like my lengthenings were all blah, one of the leg yields (usually one of our best marks) was crooked, and a few transitions were a bit abrupt. It was a good enough test but we left points on the table for sure.

We ended up scoring a 28. After a lifetime of having horses that weren’t particularly talented in the first phase, I’ll never be sad to now have one that can go put down a blah test and still score in the 20’s. We were tied for 4th after dressage.

Hillary was able to come out that day too, which was super helpful because she babysat Presto at the trailer after dressage while Megan and I went to walk courses. I had walked XC the prior afternoon and just wanted her to look at a couple lines/combos with me. We ran out and did that, then went over to showjumping and were able to walk most of that on a drag break before we got booted out. Good enough!

Warmup was brief and uneventful. The gate was sitting open waiting for some people that were supposed to go before me, so I volunteered to go early again. I’m all about shortening my day.

Presto went in and jumped really well. Like I think it’s one of our better rounds at the level, he was really trying and being super rideable. It felt like we finally had our mojo back from last summer.

We did roll the front rail at 7… I just needed to keep his balance a tick more uphill to it, but not a major mistake. I was honestly super happy with the round because it felt smooth and rhythmic and in sync, and he jumped so super otherwise. Not losing sleep over that rail.

After that it was a quick pit stop back at the trailer to put on his XC boots and my vest before we got to the good part… but that’s a story for tomorrow.