This show was Cazador's second show and we were hoping to get our second qualifying score to us qualified for the Great American Insurance Group Regional Championships in Scottsdale, Arizona in October this year. Cazador has improved so much since last month's show - he has found his trot rhythm while he was at Stacy's in July.

We trailered up on Thursday again to have a ride before our lesson on Friday. We were joined by Ashley Adams (her very first dressage show with her new horse). We really worked on that green shade blind at the judge's booth that startled him last show. All of our tests were in the Willow Arena again so that made things a bit easier. He didn't mind us flapping it while he grazed and that proved to be a productive way to desensitize him. This show seemed to flow a bit better for us, braiding was much easier, I was able to tack and groom him at the trailer so I could see better and he was a great horse.

Saturday the judge, Carter Bass, was scoring rides very low so I wasn't expecting to get too high of a score - we were not having very smooth canter departs. Our first test was Training Level test 2 and we scored a 61.731% but we placed 1st in the class!! Our first blue ribbon!! And on our Training Level test 3 we scored a 62.500% with another first place ribbon!! Unfortunately, this score is .5% shy of a qualifying score for Regionals. The judge didn't like Caz's chomping of the bit, even tho it was in rhythm with his trot.

Sunday we only had one test to ride under another judge, Marlene Schneider. Cazador did earn a 7.0 on his gaits - first time for a 7 in the collective marks. We did have a few tense movements in our canter transitions but no marks were under a 6.0 - so we ended up with a score of 64.545% and a 2nd place ribbon. This was our needed score to get us qualified to go to Regionals!! Scottsdale, here we come!

So, Cazador has had a great show record - 2 shows, 2 qualifying scores for Regionals and he was GREAT the whole time out - jumped on the trailer, loved hand grazing, didn't mind the bathes, was a good boy in his stall and in the trailer, ate all his feed, and with only 3 classes he didn't run out of steam. Once again - I so love this horse!