Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Second Level has a ton of elements in it. Each day, I focus on just one or two of the movements. Some days, we do a lot of the trot work: shoulder in, haunches in, or the medium trot. Other days, we focus on the canter work: 10-meter circles, counter canter, or simple changes. I am always analyzing how the movements ride so that I can articulate why they don't ride well. Lately, I have discovered that Speedy is a bit confused between the 10-meter canter circles and the simple change. You'd think those movements would be distinct enough that the aids would be clear, but I can see from where Speedy's confusion is coming. Our canter work to the left is pretty good. Speedy's 10-meter circles are "easy" to ride and we can get a simple change without too much theatrics. To the right is another story. I have to use a strong half halt which he is hearing as the aid to walk. As he's thinking walk, I am thinking 10-meter canter circle. It's clunky to say the least. During our last lesson, Chemaine had me working on this by over-flexing him to the inside, releasing the inside rein, and then using a strong outside rein to encourage him to sit. I am doing something wrong, and I suspect it's not getting enough inside bend. It could also be that I need more leg or Speedy needs to pay closer attention to my leg.
Chemaine is coming tomorrow, so you can bet poor Speedy will be doing a bunch of 10-meter canter circles. Poor guy.
Val
2/11/2018 10:07:28 am
What is your seat doing during those two different movements? Comments are closed.
|
About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
|