All summer long I've had the training level muscial freestyle criteria sitting out by my computer, along with a stack of scratch paper. Multiple times I would begin to sketch the required movements onto a scratch paper, looking at the diagram of a dressage arena in order to get the moves correctly placed. I knew what songs I wanted to use, but had never purchased music from iTunes, nor had I used the GarageBand program which is a free program for editing music. So it was easy to keep putting off working toward completion.
Finally, I realized that with freezing temps at night, and the promise of snow in the not too distant futre, it was now or never. So I spent several days learning to purchase the music, watched dozens of YouTube videos to help me master the basics of GarageBand, and wrote out the movements of the test. With the assistance of Autumn Howland, who agreed to ride through the test so I could film it, and use the video to edit the music, I was able to reach the final steps of creating the musical freestyle. Two days later, daughter Helena came out, and we filmed what you see here - the final project. Final for now at least. The music editing needs adjusting, but Helena and Downsize - her trusty steed, rode a wonderful test! I look forward to making the required adjustments to the music, and re-filming in the spring. Even with its imperfections, the project brought me great joy!
It was so much fun! I highly recommend doing a musical freestyle to anyone riding dressage...of course, I did the easy part, so don't take my word! I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I think Downsize really likes her music!