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Show Day 2: Sunday

Fortunately, Sunday brought absolutely beautiful weather. I did a light ride early in the morning to let Hans settle, and then set about getting him cleaned up and braided.

He felt much more settled right from the start, which made me hopeful. Jeremy had me focus on getting him loose, so we used a lot of canter and canter-trot transitions, as well as leg yielding in the trot, sweeping back and forth across the arena. From there I was able to put him more together and touch on elements of the test. He was still a bit overreactive in the tempi changes, and I made the mistake of riding too many lines when I should have just let it be.

I still felt the tension build a bit when I moved over to the small warmup in the other arena, but it was more manageable, and I knew this time I would be able to actually get through the test. Overall, there was a lot to like about our test, but unfortunately we had too many mistakes due to tension and distraction. We had mistakes in both lines of changes, a spook in the right canter pirouette which caused him to walk when he startled, and he broke in the last extended trot. Despite all this, we still finished on over 65%, so the good was quite good! And my friend Richard Malmgren, even managed to take these fabulous photos of Hans.

Overall, this trip was such a positive experience for both me and Hans. JJ and Jeremy gave me a lot of good input on how to manage a sensitive, easily overwhelmed horse in an electric environment. And I got to spend so much one on one time with Hans over the nearly two weeks I was there–it was such great bonding that I don’t always get with him at home due to all the demands on my time.

Huge thank you to The Dressage Foundation for the grant that made this trip possible–it it so hard as a professional to have the time and money to focus on yourself and your own horse for a concentrated period of time, and this grant made that possible for me. Thank you as well to both JJ Tate and Jeremy Steinberg for all of their help both during this trip and over the many years we’ve been working together. It was a treat. Lastly, I have to thank my wonderful horse, Hans. He makes me smile every time I see him, ride or no ride.

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Show Day 1: Saturday

About the Author

Siobhan Byrne

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Qualia Dressage LLC

qualiadressage

Siobhan Byrne
Grand Prix Rider and Trainer
USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist
Poolesville, MD
https://linktr.ee/qualiadressage

If you have a horse prone to scratches, like my cu If you have a horse prone to scratches, like my cute friend with three white socks here, I highly recommend @medicaequine products . Hans has extremely sensitive skin, and is very prone to scratches. Last year, I struggled to keep them in check despite trying everything in my arsenal—keeping legs clipped, chlorhexidine, stints on antibiotics, and other topical treatments—including ones that have usually been successful for me.  @jeremy_steinberg recommended I try Medica Equine, and the treatment wash and salve did an amazing job of clearing his legs up entirely. If you are struggling with skin issues, check this line of products out. 
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#dressage #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #kwpnhorse #equestrian #horsegrooming
A little @dressageatdevon dreaming for #throwbackt A little @dressageatdevon dreaming for #throwbackthursday . 
📸: @bethanypphotography 
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#dressageatdevon #kwpnhorse #dressage #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #marylanddressage #dressurpferd #handsomehansi
Grateful for the amazing people we have here at th Grateful for the amazing people we have here at the Locks Edge. They got me a set of these beautiful director’s chairs with my logo on them for Xmas (I guess no one showing with us was impressed with my $10 chairs from Target 😂). I’m so lucky to have an incredible group of kind, generous people here at the farm. ❤️
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#dressage #dressagetrainer #horseshowlife #equestrian
Waki doing his first I-2 in 2018 for #throwbackthu Waki doing his first I-2 in 2018 for #throwbackthursday . Always such a photogenic boy. 🖤 
📸: @richard.malmgren 
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#tbt #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressurpferd #hanoveriansofinstagram #hanoverianhorse #equestrian #squawkiwaki
So proud of this little super star! Vamilja got to So proud of this little super star! Vamilja got to do her first jumping lesson today for some winter crosstraining, and she rocked it. Great riding by my right hand girl @cassidy_hageman , and great instruction by my friend @kmhsporthorsesllc . Thanks ladies! 
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#danishvarmblood #crosstraining #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #equestrian #mightymilja
I always enjoy having a break from competition to I always enjoy having a break from competition to focus on training. Hans can get tight easily, so we’re working on consistently having a looser, more expressive trot. 
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#dressage #dressagetraining #dressurpferd #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #equestrian #roadtograndprix #kwpnhorse #handsomehansi
Now, for a belated report on the VADA Fall Show/Re Now, for a belated report on the VADA Fall Show/Region 1 Finals in October. 

Congratulations to Lucy Tidd on a win in the GP AA championship, and top placing AA in the GP Freestyle. 

Grace Lotsikas was 6th in the Jr/YR Second Level championship on my Wachenheim—they had amazing trot work, but unfortunately Waki decided that he needed to spice things up with some piaffe and flying changes in the walk and canter tours. 🤪 Grace did a great job riding tactfully on my (as the judge commented) “talented but spicy boy”! 

Sierra Stewart’s Furst of All and I did his first Second Level tests. He got a bit overwhelmed in the coliseum on Thursday, but came back strong Friday and Saturday, with scores of 70 and 71%. 

Last but certainly not least, Jessie Ginsburg earned her first Gold Medal score at GP on her Vodermus. Incredibly proud of this team. ❤️
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#dressage #dressagetrainer #equestrian #usdfregion1
Just another spectacular fall morning in the Lock’s Edge driveway. So lucky to be able to work in this special place. 🍂🍁
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#fall #dressagetrainer #happyplace #marylanddressage #equestrian #driveway
My most amazing Hans tries so hard for me. Two sup My most amazing Hans tries so hard for me. Two super lessons with Jeremy Steinberg this weekend. 🖤
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#dressage #dressagehorse #dressagehorsesofinstagram #dressurpferd #roadtograndprix #kwpnhorse #equestrian #dressagetraining #handsomehansi
“If you look at any field, whether it’s in bus “If you look at any field, whether it’s in business or sports, the best of the best all have one thing in common: they are students and always learning. If you are a good student you will never truly ‘lose’ a competition. One of two things will happen when that competition is over: either you’ve won or you’ve learned something, and if you’ve learned, you haven’t lost. You need to always have that mindset because success tends not to be a great teacher. Failure is a much better teacher. Accepting and utilizing that is a quality of a good student.” - Ian Millar 
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📸: @susanjstickle 
#dressage #dressagetraining #dressagerider #dressurpferd #festivalofchampions #kwpnhorse #mondaymotivation #handsomehansi
Little Milja was a rock star for her first field t Little Milja was a rock star for her first field trip! Huge thank you to Cassidy Hageman for giving her such a confidence-building experience—it’s so important for the youngsters. Really excited about this little mare, and can’t wait to get her in the show ring next year. 
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#dressage #dressagetraining #younghorse #danishvarmblood #equestrian #mightymilja
That face! Sweet Vamilja (Vitalis x Sir Donnerhal That face! Sweet Vamilja (Vitalis  x Sir Donnerhall II). 🥰 
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#dressage #dressagehorse #danishvarmblood #mightymilja
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Qualia Dressage
Poolesville, MD
732.406.9606
siobhan@qualiadressage.com

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