Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() Team Speedy/Sweaney have their first show of 2011 in a week. Since all of my show clothes (breeches, gloves, tie, coat, boots, helmet, etc.) get stored in a plastic tote in a closet at home, I am "appearance" ready. My show pads are stored in the closet as well so they're cleaned and ready to go. I need to give my saddle and bridle a quick clean the day before show, but that's pretty easy to do. Last season was just about getting experience. This year I want to remember to have fun (Thanks, LisaBeth!), but I also want to ride better than I did last season. I don't think that's an unrealistic expectation. In fact, if I am not improving, what the heck am I doing out there? For this season, I am going to work harder to KNOW the tests. I need to really understand what's being asked and focus on performing the movements on the mark, and doing them cleanly. We have a final lesson on Sunday, a week before the show. A tune up lesson might be possible, but with work schedules, not likely. So ... I have been toting my two tests everywhere I go, reading them over, and visualizing my rides. This is Introductory Test B. I feel really good about this test. Since I might not have a reader, I decided to memorize both tests. This is the easiest one. A ... Enter working trot rising. Easy X ... Halt through medium walk. Salute - Proceed working trot rising. Again, easy. C ... Track left. It's either left or right so I have a 50/50 shot at getting this one right. E ... Circle left 20 meters, working trot rising. Pretty basic. E ... Straight ahead. Unless I go around again, it's really the only way to go. Between K & A ... Medium walk. And here's where I get a little nervous. Here, now, did I miss it? F-E ... Free walk. This is a funky diagonal-crossing of the arena from a lower edge to the middle. E-H Medium walk. Not too hard as the medium walk comes before working trot. Between H-C ... Working trot rising. Makes sense since corners are a good place to pick up the trot. B ... Circle right 20 meters, working trot rising. Same as the other side. A ... Down centerline. If I miss it, I'll be back to E circling, and circling. X ... Halt through medium walk. Salute. Whew! Done. If you see me hanging around doing nothing, give me a quick quiz! Comments are closed.
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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
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