Well, we've wrapped up the qualifying season and I couldn't be happier! I've been trying to make it to both the North American Junior Championships held in Kentucky at the end of July where both team and individual medals are awarded and also the National Junior Dressage Championships in Gladstone at the beginning of August where the National Champion is crowned. Our last show was in Flintridge, California where I competed two horses, my own Verdicci (Chance) and my trainer's horse Wynsum. They were both amazing and I couldn't have asked for more! Since Chance and I already had all of our scores needed to qualify already I entered him in a Third Level Test Three class to get my last score needed for my USDF Bronze Medal Rider Award. We won the class with a 67.9%! I was so happy because Chance had gone through a little rough patch earlier this season when we found out he was Insulin Resistant and also had low thyroid levels, which left him feeling a little out of order and causing some show nerves. He's gone right back to normal now that his diet has been modified and I was more happy to see him happy and relaxed than anything else. We also got to do our Junior Freestyle because I really wanted more practice. Freestyles have been a difficulity for me because I felt like I could never perform my best while riding with the music. I think I finally got over that hurdle, and we won with another 67%, our highest score in a freestyle! We still need to clean up a few things, but I was very happy with the progress we made.

Wynsum was also fantastic! I've only shown him twice before and am still getting to know him. We needed one more score to qualify for Nationals, where you can take two horses, so we had entered him in the Junior classes. He was awesome and got and won his class with a 67% and he also got a 66.6% on his first freestyle ever! With them both qualified I am leading Region 5 in the Junior standings to make the team on a 66.4% average with Chance. I am also currently ranked third in the nation with Chance and fifth in the nation with Wynsum on a 65.4%. I can't wait for this summer and the Championships and I know we're going to have an amazing time! I'll let you guys know how the Championships go, wish us luck!!!

To watch our videos from the show visit: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crcdressage05&aq=f

~Catherine~

P.S. Wynsum is currently for sale, so if your interested in learning more view his Barnmice add at http://www.barnmice.com/forum/topic/search?categoryId=1773158%3ACat... for more information.

Chance and I performing our Third Level test.

Wynsum and I performing the Junior Team Test.