First Inter 1! And Other Exciting Happenings

I took a big step forwards in my career last Thursday! I did my first ever Inter 1 :D
It was just at a local competition with Seb, where I did a Prix St Georges and an Inter 1. I got 65% in the PSG and 63% in the Inter 1, which I'm quite pleased with for the first competition of the season. What I was more chuffed about was the discovery that my training with Gareth is really working, as this was the first time ever that Seb didn't "drop" me in a test! He was with me the whole way because he was truly "through". After two years of working so hard with Seb and not getting the results in our tests, it was really rewarding to feel us finally coming together, especially in an inter 1.
Seb was so funny in the Inter 1, like in the full canter pirouette he seemed to say "woah woah, why am I still going around" as he is only used to doing half pirouettes in the PSG. And a shoulder-in on the centreline was quite fun, I could feel Seb saying "woah okay, just show me where I'm going here". We definitely need to practice the test movements more, though in saying that we got an 8 for our canter zig-zag half-pass, and 8s for a couple of other half-passes in the tests! It was more about just getting out there and seeing how an Inter 1 went, and going from there.
I've got some good news with the other horses too! Firstly, after my chiropractor/acupuncturist Sue Devereux worked on Julius, he is now sound! That means no problems with his suspensories (which we did scan but they came up as insignificant), and although there may be some athritis in his hocks that can be managed by keeping them warm and with joint supplements. The main thing is that his body is fixed and pain-free, and slowly we can bring him back up into full work.
Also, Chad is being a little superstar at the moment! I've always found him quite tricky but I feel like I'm really getting him under my thumb now. Last week, he did his first flying changes. I didn't even ask for them, they were the last thing on my mind to do with him at this early stage! I was just practicing counter-canter to improve the balance and quality of the canter, and as he lost a bit of balance he just popped over to the correct leg. I was surprised he even knew what to do with his legs to change properly, so I went into counter canter again, kept him balanced and waited until I felt he could easily change (there is just that moment where you can count 3 strides to do it, then its gone again). So in that moment I asked with my outside leg back and inside leg forward, and he changed! On the aid! Absolutely amazing.
The whole "resting my body" thing is going reasonably well. I have managed to sit down and watch TV most nights, but still ridiculously tired. So much that I have to keep cancelling meeting friends for drinks/dinner because I just need to rest as soon as I finish work. One more week of resting and I should be back to normal, and at least after Addington High Profile this weekend I can relax a bit more.