Top Gun Moves Towards BE Novice

My aim through this winter is to establish Top Gun at Novice level dressage and 1.10m showjumping so he can move upto British Eventing Novice level early next spring. This week he began with competing in his first ever Novice dressage tests at a British Dressage Affiliated event. He came 3rd in both classes, despite being quite tense. He coped well with the more difficult movements. But oh my goodness winter dressage is so grim, no one hardly smiles, no one looked pleased with their win and the crowd watching the tests came to the grand total of one and he was the guy taking the photos!!! Oh roll on eventing only 3 months to go and the dates for next year are out already....happy days!!! Then Wednesday he went affiliated ShowJumping at Hartpury, double clear in the smaller class and although he had a rail down in the 1 metre I was very pleased as he felt bold and confident. He tightens in his back during his jump and has rails down behind, so my homework is to try and keep the same energy but within a more softer canter. That is about a million times easier said then done!!!! Click this link for photo of Top Gun competing at Novice dressage http://acjphoto.co.uk/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=43788