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# Lisa's Blog post # 53
- URL: https://www.myvirtualeventingcoach.com/lisas-blog-53/
- Published: 2012-04-10T19:08:00.000Z
- Updated: 2012-04-10T19:08:44.000Z
- Author: Administrator
- Tags: ~Lisa's Corner~, #Import 2026-01-20 00:55

Fourth and Third out of six riders each test… In the eventing world my scores translated to a 42.5 and a 36.8\. We were blessed with a sparkling, crisp day and particularly encouraging and gracious people at Gone to Ground Farm!

The first test was a complete bust. Cotton acted like a red-neck visiting The Big City! He trotted into the covered arena wide-eyed and amazed – and in periscope mode. Yes, sweetie, there is a world outside of Oak Hill Farm! I’ll give you a tour *after* the test!

He was much more in touch with his rider for the second test. I have yet to see the video of it but the remarks from the judges were about all of the issues we have been working on – only Lesley and I will know from watching the video if there has been any improvement.

My only true disappointment, so far, has been the remarks “rider only sits left”. My heart sank when I saw that…

Here’s the deal, on the 2 recent videos of my schooling Cotton at home I **am** sitting up straight, in the center of the saddle – no collapsed hip – 99% of the time. I thought I had resolved that issue once and for all. But that little demon was back to torment me during the show!

Why?!

Because during the test I went into auto-pilot mode – that’s a death sentence for a good score! I physically have to pick myself up out of the ditch Cotton’s slanted hips create and place myself in the center of the saddle. I have to mentally tell myself to sink my weight into my right leg going to the right and keep my right leg on him going to the left. At home I correct myself *constantly* throughout my ride but I completely forgot to do that during my test! I think if I had been conscious of that **one** thing I would have done *so much better* during our second test. Only a correct riding position can create a correct horse.

Lessons learned –

1) There’s a colossal difference between riding a dressage test and riding *your horse* in a dressage test! I was *very* thankful that I remembered my tests. I was thankful that I was calm and not nervous. I should have mentally prepared myself to “ride every stride” and focus on the “big rocks” like my centered position. We have lots of issues to deal with. I need to remember to deal with the important ones during a show when everything gets a little blurry.

2) Even with my super-tight budget, I need to get Cotton off the Farm as much as possible. I need to learn how to manage him when he gets distracted. How to insist he pay attention to me without making him feel like I am forcing him into it – which makes things worse.

When I was little and my mom, who was an *official* GRIT, wanted me to do something all she had to do was smile sweetly and say, “Lisa, don’t you want to go clean your room now?” She said it in such a way that I new I better drop everything and go clean my room! Did she force me to do it? No. Did I want to do it? Yes and no. Did I do it? You better believe it! I never found out what would happen if I didn’t! (Yes, I was her compliant child – she had it so easy)

And Cotton is a compliant horse – he really is! I just need to work on my steel magnolia delivery! and my position...