Jet and I tried 4-2 today for the first time ...

[DJR]

As many of you know, I debuted Jet at Fourth Level a couple of weeks ago with great success (test 4-1, 66%).

Today I rode test 4-2, and this time I had three other competitors in the same class (all of which were warmbloods, Jet was the only draft horse). I rode horribly in places, but Jet is such an amazing trier that he made up for my mistakes wherever he could.

We ended up with a fairly respectable 63%, and we came in FIRST in the class!! Woo hooo!!!

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I also entered him in our second freestyle ever, a Third Level routine that I did once before in 2018. We earned a 68% and came in FIRST in our class (one other competitor). That was a 6% improvement from our debut with this test in late 2018, yay!

I’m SO pleased with Jet. We have a lot of work to do, a lot of improvements to make, and *I* need to re-focus on my equitation cuz it goes to ratsh#t when I’m doing much of the canter work lately (!!!), but I’m still so happy. I *think* we’ll be able to try test 4-3 a bit later this year, but we’ll see. Meanwhile, way to go Jet!!!

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[StraightForward]

How exciting, and what a great pair. FEI here you come!

[zevida]

Congrats! You’re progress is so awesome, you must feel so good.

[Hayburner]

Congrats to you and Jet!

[Sunshine2Me]

Wonderful report! He seems to be a steady eddy in the ring! You are a great team!

[Kelo]

Congrats!!!!!!!!

He is so handsome, and you guys are amazing!

[DJR]

Thanks all. I rode 4-2 again last weekend and earned a 64%. He was having trouble with right bend all weekend and then I found some myofascial knots in his left triceps which would explain it. He's had massage & acupuncture since then and is more comfortable already.

To date, our scores at Fourth Level range from 63% to 66%, so I'm very pleased with the move-up. We need to keep working on his nemesis, which are the flying changes and also medium gaits. He still can be late behind, especially when we get into tempi work. But even that I see signs of improving so maybe, just maybe, PSG is still on the horizon!!

[exvet]

Congratulations! I actually love fourth level. In fact second and fourth level were Monty's favorite and despite is downhill, short neck and sway backed conformation (well just a curvy welsh cob with a short neck but one hell of an engine and mind) did very well at both. Sounds like Jet is quite comfortable at fourth level. I have no doubt that PSG is on the horizon. I look forward to hearing more about y'all's progress.


Even at 21 years of age Monty is still earning scores for other riders seeking to get their silver medal.

[Koolkat]

He looks terrific, DJR. Just another example of how important a willing mind is.

I was hoping to work in, "They've go to want to change", lol, you know he's trying.

[khall]

Huge congrats DJR and Jet!! That is so awesome! Glad you have this in your life after such a rough go of it.