2015 Three Ring Circus

2015 Three Ring Circus

By Jennifer Klitzke

“Is that a Norwegian Fjord?” This questions pops up everywhere I take my Spanish Mustang. This time it led to an inspiring story…

The weatherman guaranteed rain and he was right. This was the third time showing my Spanish Mustang, Indian’s Legend, at the Three Ring Circus dressage and hunter/jumper show, and the first time showing in the rain. It wasn’t cold. It wasn’t a down pour, and it wasn’t windy. Plus it kept the bugs away and the arena dust-free, so it wasn’t that bad.

Normally we ride stadium and dressage at this wonderfully organized show, but I didn’t want Indy to take the risk of slipping on the wet grass, so we stuck to the two dressage tests we had pre-entered: First Level Tests One and Three.

I was extremely pleased with Indy’s ride through First Level Test One which felt improved over the last show. We received a score of 59.26% placing us sixth of nine.

Video: First Level Test One

We headed back to our trailer for a break and a gentleman approached us with THE QUESTION: “What kind of horse is that? Is that a Norwegian Fjord?” Giggling, I said, “No, he is a Spanish Mustang. But no worries, I get that a lot.”

Elated, he said, “A Spanish Mustang? Really?!” He couldn’t wait to tell me about the BLM horses he and his wife have adopted and trained. When he described their qualities: intelligent, friendly and trainable, I thought he was talking about Indy! In fact, one of his Mustangs was competing in the hunter classes by a teen who began riding at his place several years ago. Back then this young girl was very despondent, rather anti-social, and failing in school. Her concerned parents tried everything to help her. As a last resort the parents saw an ad for riding lessons. At first the young girl wasn’t that interested until she met “the Mustang.”

Over the course of a few months and many lessons the Mustang broke this nine-year-old out of her shell. Instead of failing classes, she became a straight A student and has made lots of friends. Years later, that’s the horse she continues to show—the Mustang who broke her. She calls him her first love.

The gentleman said that she has her own horse now, but still favors to compete with the Mustang. She doesn’t often win against the thoroughbreds and warmbloods, but it makes her work twice as hard, and when she places it means even more.

Delighted with our conversation, I retacked Indy for our next Test: First Level Test Three which consists of 10-meter trot circles, 15-meter canter circles, counter canter, trot and canter lengthenings, and a zig-zag leg yield at the trot. This was the first time we had shown this test.

Indy was a bit distracted watching a man walking around in blaze orange (which really stands out on a gray rainy day). Even though First Level Test Three felt less solid than our first test, we receive a score of 62.06%, placing third of four. Judges from both shows made comments to work on improving impulsion, bending, and developing the trot lengthening, so with a little more practice, we will enter a couple recognized dressage shows this summer to begin working on our USDF Bronze Medal.

Video: First Level Test Three


Sponsored by St. Croix Saddlery, the Three Ring Circus schooling dressage and hunter/jumper show is well organized with dozens of volunteers and hundreds of entries between the dressage and jumping rings. It is the largest schooling show in Minnesota which is held at Carriage House Farms in Hugo, Minnesota. The facility is top notch and the atmosphere is always low-key and friendly. Special thanks to everyone who made this show possible.

Bravo!

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By Jennifer Klitzke

Bravo! is the best word to describe the Three Ring Circus hunter/jumper and dressage schooling show, our first show of the 2014 season.

It didn’t begin that way though. Last year there were 32 entries in our hunter cross rail classes and the two-foot hunter classes didn’t start until around noon, so I thought getting to the show grounds by 9AM would be in plenty of time. Well, it would have been if the turnout were the same. However, this year, there were two shows and two major clinics going on that day which lessened the number of entries by about a third. So me and my Spanish Mustang Indian’s Legend arrived to the show grounds as they were calling our hunter class!

I literally ran to check in, took a mental snapshot of the course layout, and hustled back to the trailer. David Ramsden the equine massage therapist and farrier who volunteered that day to help direct trailer parking, provided encouraging words to calm my anxiety as  I tacked up for our two-foot vertical hunter courses. Indy and I hopped over a couple schooling fences and headed to our first ride just in the nick of time! (Thank you David, you are a God send!)

The grass course was laid out with beautiful two-foot oxers and double oxers, Indy jumped clean with no refusals. He was evenly paced, found his spot, rounded nicely over the jumps, didn’t rush, get strong, or break his canter. He jumped like a champ. In one of his three classes he was on the correct canter lead throughout and even took a flying change when needed versus a simple change through trot. His form for most of the fences was as good as he gets.

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I had to chuckle at the end of our best ride. I was so flabbergasted with the flying change that I gave Indy a really big pat, and he dropped from a canter into a walk, so we did our courtesy circle at a long and low walk!

This year, the show divided the ribbons between junior and senior riders. (Many more junior riders than grandma-aged folks like me!) We took fourth of four and fifth of eight in the judged classes. The third class was a non-judged warm up class. In any case, it was a personal best for Indy and I and rides I will never forget.

We headed back to the trailer for a little rest before our Training Level Three dressage test and took a short cut through the water obstacle. Indy LOVES the water!

Every where we go Indy draws attention. People remember us from years past and new people stop by to ask, “What breed is your horse?” I had great conversations with several people about the history of the Spanish Mustang and how intelligent, hardy, versatile, friendly, and athletic the breed is.

We had a couple hours to rest between hunter and dressage and enjoyed conversation with our Steepleview Horse Trial beginner novice team mate Karen who was parked nearby. We encouraged each other to try it again this year. It’s so fun to reconnect with people at these venues.

We tacked up and rode our best dressage test ever. Indy was soft, round, forward, balance, and responsive.

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20 meter canter circles and a transition to trot at “X”.

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Freewalk on a long rein.

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20 meter trot circle allowing the horse to stretch.

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Working trot.

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Centerline, halt, salute.

Indy and I were in sync and on point through our Training Level Three Test. It felt amazing, and when the judge hopped out of the judging booth shouting, “bravo!” I knew we must have done pretty well! Indy and I placed first among 18 Training Level Three riders and received a 72.8%, the highest score of the day from this judge. Words cannot describe how proud I am of my boy! What a way to end a terrific day.

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I love showing at Three Ring Circus sponsored by St. Croix Saddlery. It is well organized, the Carriage House Farm facility is top notch, the people are very friendly, and the last three years I’ve been showing at this venue the weather has been exceptional. Thank you to show organizers, the facility host, and for all who volunteer to make it possible. I appreciate all that you do for us!