Green card! I've got a green card!

[jennyaxe]

No, not the US immigration variety. Not the golfing type either. This is the card that shows I've passed the tests and am allowed to compete in e.g. dressage or show jumping. In order to get it one needs to take a course and pass a riding test, a practical horse handling test and a written exam. I did the practical test last week and today I did the written one - and I went away with a shiny new green card in my wallet!

To compete at anything above club level one also needs a riders' licence, which costs money - and to get the riders' licence you must have the green card and be a member of a club which is a member of the Swedish equestrian sports association. So the green card isn't a license but it's a prerequisite for the license.

I fully intend to take part in at least one dressage competition, even if only at the club level, this autumn. And even if I don't, at least I've got a major sense of accomplishment out of getting the green card!

Comments

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! What a great accomplishment.

[hanspersson.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Well done, you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

Congratulations, dressage in particular always seemed a tough discipline to me.

[jennyaxe.livejournal.com]

On the levels at which I'm likely to compete it's really not very tough. It's just a matter of having the horse walking, trotting and galloping at the right time and in the right direction.

When you get to the higher levels, especially if you go for the airs above the ground, then it's very hard indeed, both for horse and rider. It's highly unlikely that I'd ever get close to that.

The shows are mostly a way for me to have my riding evaluated by someone other than my trainers. I've come a long way during these past four months, largely because I finally started taking a few private lessons, and I'd like to see how that compares to what gnapp, my horse owner does.

For gnapp I think it's also a way to evaluate how Skutt has come along in his training. But I'm not the one who spends five days a week working him to be a better horse; I play around with him once a week and occasionally I work a little for a trainer. I suppose that if I had a horse of my own I'd be more interested in showing it off.

[rodluvan.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!