Nixie and I qualified for the Dressage to Music Prelim and Novice in October 25, and back then the champs seemed like a decade away. I wasn’t exactly worried, as it was next year, but it was also still in the corner of my mind ticking away that this was a big deal. Obviously what I didn’t know then was that I was going to be the only Meoner going, or that I would also get an invite for a straight Novice test too!

Roll on April and I find myself 200 miles from home, Billy-no-mates, sleeping in my horse trailer, in a carpark for 2 nights running (a carpark with it’s own sound system playing the same music, on repeat, from dawn til dusk 😂)

 

Saturday 

After a very early start, a straight forward 4 hour drive, I arrived in good time, but then all of a sudden it was a last minute rush to get ready for Novice 3. Nixie was really good, nicely relaxed for her too, but I wasn’t entirely with it. I forgot the test, (something I never do) made errors, and was lucky to get the score I did of 66%, putting me 20th. The day actually was all a bit of a blur, Arena UK is very bright, white rails and white surface stretching in all directions, the sun was so strong I felt like I was in a dazzling dream. Nixie was so good standing on the trailer all day until her stable was vacated late afternoon. The evening’s entertainment was the Quadrille, 2 hours of music and mayhem, it was quite a laugh to watch really, but I was so glad I wasn’t riding in it!

 

Sunday 

Arena walk at 7.45am. The indoor is a big arena, TV cameraman, spectator seating, bar, sound system, judge box at E and C, and colourful flowers on stilts everywhere! I was first one in arena walk and last one out, I made the absolute most of the 30 mins available to make sure Nix really acclimatised to the whole set up.

My prelim freestyle was mid morning, Nix warmed up nicely I thought, but I was still very anxious, I probably warmed up too long, too much overthinking. I was just being called to the holding area to go in, I checked my girth, tucked in my stock, and off pinged my top button on my jacket 🙈 I literally had to hold back tears, I now had my stock flopping about, felt untidy, just before going on live TV, it was such a small detail I know but to me, at that moment, it was the end of the world.

Into the arena I went. I signalled to start my music too early, so my first halt was behind the music, then Nixie pooed in the halt 🙈 The music was playing but we were not moving, she would not move off, it felt like an age stood there, pooing a few feet infront of the camera. I tried to adapt to being behind the music but it didn’t ride well and Nix threw her head in the air in disgust and tried to get away from me, just to add to general scruffy performance. I was gutted, score was 64.44%, 20th again.

Out came my old black jacket and Nixie’s black fly ears, I was so glad I brought them along! 

I knew my Novice Freestyle in the afternoon would be better though, I was less nervous, I actually enjoyed it and it felt like we had smashed it! 66.11% for 15th. I was more than happy with that at this level, and celebrated with a double Mr Whippy, flake and chocolate sauce!

Next I got Nixie weighed at the BHS fat busters weigh bridge, and she was given a perfect score 💪 So at least we came back with one red frilly!

In the early evening there was a massive exodus, and I mean everyone left, bar one lorry in the hook up only carpark, and one pony in the stables! I had the entire place to myself, all the food places closed, officials and shopping stalls had gone home, but the car park music was still playing! 😂

I opened a bottle of wine, sat in my truck and had an early night….

 

So to sum up, Arena UK was tougher than most of the Endurance rides I do, but it was just as equally thrilling to have actually completed it. 

I must thank Meon Riding Club for giving me this amazing opportunity to push myself, far far out of my comfort zone. It was all a bit of a dream come true, to do my own music and floorplan, and perform it at a National Dressage Championships, so very glad I did it, and very proud of my gorgeous Nixie.