Diamanten Dave made his first appearance in the show ring today! You never really know with a horse who has not shown before how they will react to the show atmosphere and to being alone in the ring having left the other horses in the warm up ring. So today was the day for Dave and his rider Belinda Trussell.
As I was driving to the showground I saw the sky was darkening.Then the heavens opened and a torrential rain poured down. I thought that perhaps I would not be seeing Dave make his debut. But as I drove into the parking lot the rain began to moderate. I learned that the competitors were warming up in the indoor arena.
The rain stopped and I saw Dave and Super Groom Lexi walking toward the outdoor warm up arena. I got my camera organized and put on the small dogs raincoat that I fit over the long lens. Just in case it rained again.
But the Weather Gods were smiling on Dave and Belinda. The clouds parted and blue sky appeared! I watched Belinda and Dave warm up. Dave looked like he was handling it all very well. Soon they went into the ring. They were doing Third Level Test 1.
The Judge at C rang the bell for Belinda to start the test. Belinda is an experienced professional and she did not rush to get into the arena. She trotted Dave down the long side outside of the arena. Then she slowed to a walk and turned him giving him a pat and then , up the longside, another pat and turned into the arena to start the test.
I am not familiar with this test but I could tell Dave was calm and listening to everything Belinda was asking him to do.Belinda told me later that she felt that Dave got better and better as the test went on.
I think it can be said that Diamanten Dave’s debut in the show ring was a great success. They received a score of 72.7 !! A fabulous score for their first time out! When Belinda dismounted back in the warm up area she put her arms round Dave’s neck and hugged him. I think he knew he had done well.
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