Brenda took Nova (owned by Julie) to Championships again this year (2nd and 3rd Level). Last year was a bit scary for poor Nova and he was quickly overwhelmed by the big atmosphere, however this year we had a great time and Nova much improved his relaxation in such a busy environment. He was a good boy even with some very stressful moments (loose horse(s)!) and we are very proud of him. Thank you Heidi Gaian for the coaching.
Brenda and Nova were fortunate to get upgraded to a larger stall in the permanent barn (which probably helped him a lot). Arena familiarization went well.
On Thursday the warm-up arena had some out-of-control horses which raised his tension, so it wasn’t the most relaxed ride, but he was a good boy with no outbursts.
On Friday he lunged in just the halter to let him play a bit and work off some tension — warm-up was much calmer, no drama, and it was a solid ride. Unfortunately, Brenda’s truck broke down Friday night and she didn’t get back to the hotel until after midnight.
On Saturday, running on little sleep, they had their test early in the morning in the same arena as last year’s meltdown. Nova warmed up really well and stayed calm through his test, even with a loose horse running around just outside the arena. His second test was a bit less settled — fussier in the contact. Afterward, Brenda checked him over and found some soreness in his right neck/shoulder. The UC Davis team happened to be on site offering services, so she had them do acupuncture and laser work on him, which noticeably helped him relax and feel more comfortable.
Sunday was their best day — Heidi warmed them up and he felt fantastic in his last test, even with another loose horse outside the arena again.
Since he was the only horse Brenda brought this year, she was able to give him a lot of individual attention — walking him around, letting him graze, and helping him get comfortable with all the sights and sounds. It made a difference for him, and by the end of the show he was calm, relaxed, and happy. Brenda was thrilled at the growth he’s had since last year’s Championships and has lots of plans for further improvement for 2027 to get the most out of his innate talents.
