The Royal Windsor Horse Show 2019 & Grand Prix Freestyle to Music class

It's not often that I manage to organise an actual day off from our horses, but Friday was one of those rare occasions where I had the chance to drag my mother along to day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show for the Al Shira'aa Grand Prix Freestyle to Music class. We arrived several hours early so that we could grab some lunch as well as check out all the stands (wow, there were loads!!) My absolute favourite stands were the Honest Riders, La Flex Equestrian, Carr & Day & Martin, Theraplate UK and the HorseHealth stand. Really really lovely people to chat to and everyone was so helpful and friendly that I had the best time wandering around! 🛍

The Grand Prix Freestyle to Music class started off with Nina Nilosaari with her horse KOM Ragdoll. I think this horse is wonderful, it has such a nice powerful trot but it did look a bit tired from yesterday's GP class. It also didn't help that as she was riding around the arena the horses did a massive spook at one corner and Nina fell on the neck... That can't have been easy to recover and get focused back on the test itself, so I can only commend her for the mental strength to do that! She was followed by Tommie Visser whose horse Chuppy Checker CL (what a name!) was one of my all time favourites in the class because it had a fabulous canter and Tommie rode a wonderful extended canter across the diagonal to a canter pirouette to one tempi flying changes, and just made it look so incredibly easy. Although the piaffes were quite slow, the trot half pass was the stuff of dreams 😍

31 Day Social Media Challenge Day 4 - What do you love about going to shows?

Day 3's challenge was on the blog's Facebook page, go check that out and tell me your opinion about the article!

Day 4: What do you love about going to shows? 

I love competing. I love being able to see how my horse and I improve over time, and a small part of me loves competing against other people too! I've heard that studies have proven that experiences make people happier than having possessions. And let’s face it, if you love competing like I do, you'll love the experiences that you gain with competing. I also love going to shows because you’re surrounded by people who love doing the same thing as you 💖 The sense of comradeship is astonishing, and I've had wonderful friends who I've only seen and caught up with at shows, who have always encouraged me and made competing into a lovely day out, rather than it being just a load of stress and anxiety. Also, the energy at shows is amazing. Whether it’s the nervous "go to the loo as soon as you arrive" type of energy or the excited "I've had too many energy drinks and don't what I'm doing" kind of energy, unless you’re a stone-hearted iceman, you will be excited when you’re there. And that feel-good excitement glow lasts at least for me well into the next week.  Which leads me to my final point, going to shows get us out of our comfort zones. As riders it's SO easy to get into the habit of doing the same thing each and every day. Leaving my normal routine helps me to get unstuck if I'm in a rut 💪🏻

HayGrazer E-Rider January competition, part 2

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about entering my very first online dressage test with the HayGrazer E-Riders, but I certainly was not expecting my results to turn in up in Finland SO quickly. We got the results on February 2nd and on the 9th I had the score sheet and rosette in my hands! Whilst I was really nervous to open up the scoresheet to see the comments, I shouldn't have been because the judge had written such lovely and encouraging remarks both in the comments for the movements as well as the final comments.

 (This blog post includes a free entry for a dressage test that was obtained in cooperation with HayGrazer E-Rider)

Like I've said before on numerous occasions, the reason why I stopped competing when we moved to Finland was that I was suddenly found the thought of going to a competition nearly panic inducing as I had made it into such a big thing in my head. Also, once my parents gave the ride on Vallu to me, there was no way that I could ride a very hot and spooky Vallu anywhere else than at home - even that was a terrifying experience some days! And once Vallu and I had moved to the U.K for my bachelor's degree at Nottingham University, the first year I was too nervous and then the following two years I had no transport. So the years accumulated up and then coupled with both boys' injuries it has taken me a while to feel like I wanted to compete again. So the opportunity to get back into the swing of things with an online competition was too good a chance to miss.

HayGrazer E-Rider January competition, part 1

A few weeks ago I was contacted on Twitter asking if I'd like to enter a class in the HayGrazer E-Rider's online dressage and showing competition, and of course I said YES because what better way to start the new year by prepping for competitions with an online competition that didn't require me to leave home! At least in Finland there are no competitions held over the January-Feb period as the weather tends to be too horrible so it was lovely to be able to 'do' a competition where I was guaranteed the chance to ride in a warm(ish) indoor arena where there weren't other riders riding over me. And the weather is totally abysmal that day, so having to leave home and drive an hour to get to a competition did not sound inviting at all. Instead I plaited up, then tacked up as normal and we walked over to our neighbour's indoor arena! 🙌🏻

(This blog post includes a free entry for a dressage test that was obtained in cooperation with HayGrazer E-Rider)

Helsinki International Horse Show 2017

Like I already wrote on the blog's Facebook page, Helsinki International Horse Show is always then highlight of my year and whenever we have lived in Finland my parents and I always try to go for at least for one of the days. Although there are plenty of big shows throughout the year, HIHS is the one to go to especially because lots of international riders come for the World Cup™ Jumping classes.

Daniel Deusser riding Cornet, photo from SRL's Facebook page SRL Laura Laakso

Cantinero, photo from SRL's Facebook page SRL Laura Laakso

One part of the expo-hall, photo from SRL's Facebook page SRL Laura Laakso

Helsinki International Horse Show

Helsinki International Horse Show is the one show in Finland that I want to go to whenever possible. Having missed it for the last three years whilst being away in the UK, I was super excited to finally have the chance to go once again to the biggest competition in Finland! It was made even more special by the fact that my big brother had decided to travel from Germany to compete in the Grand Prix class so obviously the entire family went to cheer him on :)

We were lucky enough to have the ring side table seats which are the best that there are as you are literally sitting behind the judges so you are really close to the riders. This made the show jumping classes and Grand Prix class even more interesting to watch simply because you were so close to the action. After having dinner and going round the Horse Expo area (so many shops!!) the GP class started at 9pm. Roble (Ravallo – Donnerschwee) and Henri managed to win the class being the only ones to break the 70% barrier with 70.460% and being nearly 4% ahead of the second placed rider. 

Henri on Roble in GP class 2016, kuva SRL Hanna Heinonen

SRL Hanna Heinonen

We are all obviously really thrilled that it went so well for him! There's nothing quite as special as seeing your big brother ride so brilliantly and then to top it off by winning the entire class ♥︎ I was so happy to see how pleased Henri was with the horse, Roble is such a great horse and I can't wait to see what they achieve together next year when Roble starts to properly relax in the tests and show just how good of a horse he is. I really believe that on a good day this pair can get 75% no problem! On Saturday we get to see them do the Grand Prix Freestyle, which should be really good.

Playing groom with Brooksby Dressage

On Sunday, I went off to a British Dressage competition at Hargate with Brooksby Dressage. I love going out to support friends, I have blogged many times about my friends' successes at competitions  and how much I adore being able to help out and support my lovely friends. 

Lili was doing her first Elementary outing, and she had two tests to do. She'd only done one unaffiliated Elementary test before this with Fons so when on Saturday she told me was going to go out, I offered to go help out. It's always lovely day out with the Brooksby-Dalby lot, I have a great laugh and I always come back with a big smile on my face no matter what the result and no matter how tired I am. 

The first elementary test was good. Considering how 6 months before Lili had decided to not compete Fons this year and concentrate on his training and de-spooking, it was fantastic. Apart from the complete slutdrop that Fons did after the buzzer went, in the actual test Fons was great. Soft, sweet and listening. A really good first attempt, which resulted in Lili winning the class with 65.6% and a big confidence boost.

The second test Lili hadn't even practised beforehand (we super quickly went through it together in the warm up walking around so she had some idea where to go) and I had to call the test for her. I absolutely detest calling tests for people - I have the biggest fear of messing it up for the rider. But even with some tension in parts of the test and Fons deciding not to know how to rein back, Lili and Fons came 2nd with 66.18%. These were also both on short arenas, and considering how big Fons is he really needs the bigger arena to show his big movements. But those results are amazing for a first attempt! Just image what the results are going to be with more tests under their belts.

I'm so looking forward to seeing what these two end up achieving, this is such a super pair and I am so proud to have been a small part of the team. Way to go Brooko, here's to many more super days out!

"Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already."

Competition success at our yard continues as S managed to win the Area Festival at preliminary level at Vale View yesterday! I'm so proud to be supporting this team, what a great win which has proven that hard work, determination and team spirit gets you the results. It was also a lovely day for me as I managed to meet up with lots of old friends and was able to meet some new friends too.

"True equestrians motivate, encourage, congratulate and yes, we 'leg up' one another"

Playing groom

Although I would have loved to be the one that was competing, being a groom and moral support is really good fun and I love supporting others. K did her Advanced debut, and also did an Advanced Medium as a warm up class (which they won!) What a super day out, points to Beaver Hall Equestrian Centre for being such a lovely place to compete at.

Well that was a surprise!

You know that moment when your horse totally surprises you? Yeahhh, well Vallu did that to me today! We went to a practise competition at a competition venue only a 30 minute drive from us, and Vallu surprised us all by being the most calm and collected horse ever... 

I was very shocked at how relaxed Vallu was, and so ended up having far too much time for my warm up. I'd prepared 45 minutes for me to calm down a hot spooky horse, but ended up spending most of that time walking. He was great in the warm up, but then we ended up with him being tired for the actual test. It was a bit of a shame, but I am incredibly thrilled at how well behaved he was! No spooking, no disagreements and just a very happy and lovely horse. 

I totally agreed with judge who wrote that I needed to ride him forwards and through his back. He was just too tired for me to get him going properly, but we ended up getting 63.25%, and I was more than pleased with this!! Our first competition (even though it was just a practise) and we got a good score from an international judge from a medium/adv medium test :) And with a few 7 and 7.5s, I'm looking forward to our next proper competition

Happy rider!

I learnt a few things today: 

1. Vallu is great ♥︎

2. I still have my 'test nerves', so that I don't freak out when I enter the arena

3. Even when you think your reins are short, shorten them anyway - they're always too long

4. Try to push Vallu just a tiny bit more forwards, even when he feels tired

2014 Goals

I think it's important to have some goals for each year, it gives you a direct vision of what you want to achieve during the year! Even though I've been riding Vallu for nearly a year and a half now, most of the time has been spent on me learning how to ride an advanced horse (massive learning curve!!!) and then also getting Vallu to calm down about everything and to start acting like a normal horse - which incidentally requires lots of TLC and time. And then last year's goals kind of went down the drain when Vallu hurt his leg, so our competition debut has moved to 2014, fingers' crossed that we'll eventually get there!

Getting there?

 Once again I've learnt that riding is not easy, and never straightforward. For the last 2 weeks I just haven't been able to 'click' with Vallu, and he has been so spooky and wild that I've felt a bit useless. But now, *fingers crossed* we're on the right track again.

This weekend Vale View is hosting the High Profile dressage show, and so new decorations were placed around both indoor arenas. After about 10 minutes Vallu managed to get over it, and act like a normal horse, trotting past without constantly staring/spooking/tensing. 

It's also been very windy, which makes the doors to the indoor arena rattle loudly and suddenly, which means that Vallu has been exploding and taking off with me lots of times. But today we got into our own "zone" and Vallu was able to ignore the sounds, which makes me so proud of him! Maybe we do have a chance of training properly indoors throughout the winter?

We worked on trot and canter shoulder-ins, and it was great to have mirrors placed at both ends of the arena so that you could see how it was going all the time. I learnt that in trot it feels like it's on 3 tracks, whereas Vallu actually isn't doing shoulder-in properly at all, and in canter Vallu easily does it too much, so I have to really concentrate on giving the smallest possible aids so that I don't end up over riding it.

Shoulder-ins in canter are really good for improving our weaker left canter, it makes the canter really bouncy and uphill! Since the left canter is weaker, it also means that I really struggle with riding canter pirouettes to the left, but after doing shoulder-in, the pirouettes were nearly textbook style! What a great feeling! 

Because of the High Profile competition, I think Vallu might have a few easy days and I will ride whenever I can (e.g. when it's quiet) But I'm really excited to watch the competition this weekend, there are some very nice horse + rider combinations that I will be on the look out for! Maybe next year we can take part in it ;)

30 Day Equestrian Challenge, Day #18

30 Day Equestrian Challenge

Day 18 - Your riding goals

1. Get more established in the more advanced movements, such as two tempi changes, piaffe and pirouettes.

2. Join British Dressage and do training sessions/camps, and get more experience with Vallu

3. Start competing unaffiliated and affiliated classes (advanced medium) with Vallu

European Dressage Championships

Henri with our parents (C) Hevosurheilu

 So Henri did really well yesterday, scoring 68.86% in the Grand Prix, with one judge giving him 73%! Although in the beginning there were a few tiny mistakes, thanks a bad spook right at the last minute in the warm up, the rest of the test was really quite alright even though Jojo was a bit hot and Henri had to ride a little bit on the safe side. But it paid off! Placing 29th out of He was the only Finnish rider (out of a team of 4) to qualify for the next round, the Grand Prix Special which is tomorrow morning.

Fingers crossed that it all goes well tomorrow ♥

Henri riding Jojo (C) Hevosurheilu

(C) SRL

(C) SRL

30 Day Equestrian Challenge, Day #3

30 Day Equestrian Challenge

Day 3 - Your best ride ever

Day 3's challenge has really been a difficult choice for me, because it took me a loooooong time to chose a single best ride ever. I've had three best rides all on different horses; Basse, Rama and Vallu, but for the sake of the challenge I have chosen my best ride ever with Basse, way back in 2008!!

Basse was just 6 years old, and it was our first year of competing together. We were at Hickstead, did a Novice 38 and got 72.90%!!! The feeling of euphoria when we finished the test was something that I can still remember five years later! It's so rare that everything just clicks together and falls perfectly into place at a competition, but this time it did.  

To get an 8 for my position and seat is simply amazing! The result of the test is my personal best score, and I will always treasure that ride and the feeling that Basse gave me. It is my best ride ever.