I WILL pay off my debts!!!

TooMany4Legs

Sounds like we have a similar taste in neddies!

A bit of friendly competition to get backsides into gear sounds like a briliant idea - apart from the fact that no competing is my rule to myself whilst I'm paying stuff off - I honestly can't afford to do both, competing just gets SOOOO expensive Real shame cos our dressage scores and very similar to yours, lol! (Although not quite down to 44%, our lowest was 51%... but I'm guessing that was an exceptionally quirky day for your mare!), and a bit of friendly competition would have been good for us both!

There are those on-line comps where you send a video of your test in - would you be up for trying that? I could probably stretch to that!

My no competing rule is probably why my motivation has vamooshed - I'm not working towards anything and although I have fab hacking a 10 minute ride away I find it all a bit boring now my mare has finally settled and become sensible (relatively speaking, she still loves a good zoom, and still sticks in the odd stand up on her hind legs, but it's very tame compared to how she used to be).

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LAM2011

I totally understand where you are coming from. Its why I have not done much for so long (over a year now) I have been chipping away at my debt. Fortunately for me moving off the farm and coming back to civilisation has put a bit of extra cash in my pocket and my local RC is now less than 20 mins away.

Yeah 44% was pretty much a one off - my next lowest was 54 ish I think. That day we had an argument at the point where it was 'enter at A' with her spooking at the board which blew over (very windy day) and the rest was a downhill fight. I nearly retired but thought if I am going to do nothing else madam you will finish this test even if its to trot around. Needless to say the canter had three perfect changes down the long sides and a wonderful lippizaner moment in mid air for the medium strides!! :mad: By the time we got to halt at X she was lathered from head to toe! Even her ears were dripping sweat

I am up for trying the online thingy but will have to be towards end of July as will probably only get go ahead to work her week commencing 11th and then I have farrier on the 15th! Never ending isnt it!

TooMany4Legs

I sat down and worked out the costs of doing dressage comps some time last year - and it was about that point I realised why my debts were going up not down! It's scary by the time you've added in diesel, entry fee (and no point doing just one class - need that to warm up!), bacon sarnie and a coffee you are looking at £60 - and that's for somewhere local! It just had to stop - particularly as I was doing it most weeks.....! And of course then I needed lessons too to actually improve :rotfl:

Oh bless her, that sounds like a nightmare test - I'll bet you got a big grin from the judges for carrying on though, with some, 'lovely horse but not on your side today, tactfully ridden' comments! I have quite a few of those :mad: Well done you for sticking it out and not retiring :T Mine's trick is to stand on her hindlegs and wave at the crowd, always good for a laugh, and a guaranteed 2 or less for that particular movement! :eek: She also knows tests better than her mum and is a toe rag for going up a gear too early - this despite the fact I never ride throug tests at home because I'm well aware of this issue - but it seems - do a test once and we have the problem affter that! :cool:

Well tell you what, lets aim for August - that gives us time to get them back into work and to have a bit of practice time - I've also got a duff shoulder at the moment and am not quite sure that I will be able to lift her saddle up to tack up! She's not huge, 16hh but I'm a very diminutive 5'1" - and it's a long way up! So how does mid-August sound? Any particular test you fancy having a whirl at?

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TooMany4Legs

Still trundling.....

Position today is:

LTSB Loan 2 £3101.38 down 959.62
FD CC £0
Barclay CC £5600.40 no change

New Total: £8701.78 down 959.62