United States Eventing Association

On the Road with El Dorado - Part 4

Since returning from Rolex, El Dorado’s training has swung into full gear. With just over a week before his very first event, I’ve made my tentative plan for my last few works and so far, we’ve been sticking pretty close to the plan. I am getting more and more excited as every day goes by…I can’t wait for Dorado to make his competition debut!

Looking ahead, I am betting that Dressage will be the toughest phase for us next weekend…big surprise there from an OTTB! His trot has been making a TON of progress. He isn’t so rushed any more, and he’s starting to bend when we circle. Our transitions are also improving. All of them – with the exception of that darn right lead – are getting quicker and more connected every time I ride him.

While the canter is getting better, it’s still quick. I am hoping that we will be able to slow it down a bit more before the event,

but I’m not going to stress about it…if that is the only major issue for the day, I will be thrilled!

I’m also not overly worried about cross-country. Since the first day I sat on him, I knew that Dorado is absolutely one of the bravest horses I’ve ever ridden. After the second school in his new home, I took him for a ride-out – with my father and Lance along for moral support – and he was super. Yes, he looked at things, but he didn’t take one side step.

The cross-country jumps are going to be fun as well. He has consistently pulled me around our small schooling course…and I mean ‘pulled’ in a great way! He still looks at the jumps a bit, but he’s never stopped before one. He’s such a brave boy!

And show jumping. This has been a super strength for Dorado from the start. He’s brave and patient, so he’s a blast to ride around a course. He is jumping up to height already, so last week I decided to start dressing the jumps up and making them a little more “scary”. Lots of brightly colored poles? No problem. PVC with the sun glimmering off of it? He’s got it covered. Flowers? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I’m not really sure why the flowers were so incredibly disturbing to Dorado. They have been in the area the entire time he’s been working. He’s walked, trotted, and cantered by them on a daily basis. He even sniffed the flower boxes when he first arrived…and I’m pretty sure he attempted to eat them! But when he’s asked to jump them?

“No way, mom! You’re crazy!”

This was the first jump that Dorado has ever refused. I think I was more shocked than upset! So we circled around and approached again. Same result. Now I began to get frustrated. What was so scary about a 14 inch high row of flowers? I knew that he would go the next time because I was going to make him go.

We approached one last time, he started to say no, and I gave him a tap with my bat…and he went. Boy did he go! It went in slow motion for me…it just felt like an enormous effort over a tiny two foot jump.

According to my father, who was watching nearby on Lance, however, the jump was a bit different from a different point of view:

“I could see the wheels in his head turning: ‘I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this…okay, you’re going to MAKE me do this!’ Then...WHOOP! The ‘WHOOP’ stands for the ugliest, stiff-legged, pogo stick jump that any equine has ever made since the time of Eohippus. That of course was followed by a smile on his face and ‘I did it! I did it! IDID it! I DID IT!!!!!!!’"

I am pleased to report that since the day of Dorado’s first experience with the flowers, he now happily jumps them without even

looking at them sideways. His newest phase? Over-jumping EVERYTHING! We are currently working this issue out…I’ll update you next time!

Fingers crossed for a successful week of training!

Erica and Dorado

P.S. – Yes, you saw correctly. I in the pictures that adorn this entry, I’m jumping in my Dressage saddle. I ended up selling my jumping saddle because it did not fit Dorado or my mare Sadie correctly. They both have very substantial withers and it was a pretty wide saddle. Until my new one arrives, I wanted to make sure Dorado was comfortable. I’ll take a slightly less secure ride over my horse having a sore back!