Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

A Mental Half Halt

12/8/2012

 
Do you ever feel off balance, on your forehand, and on the edge of falling flat on your face? I am there now. I need a bit of a mental half halt.

I am not going to literally fall down, but I am feeling directionless at the moment and don't quite see where I am heading. My show season is over and winter is fast approaching. Winter takes a long time to hit California's Central Valley. I remember this feeling after long seasons of endurance riding, but it usually hit sometime in the late spring or early summer.

In my area, the best endurance riding weather is during the fall, winter, and spring. It's hard to find endurance rides during the summer months since it's so hot. To do any endurance rides in the middle of summer, you usually have to drive a very long way, like two days away. I was never into that long of a drive so my season generally ended by May. That always meant that I faced up to five months before the next race. It was hard to condition my horses when there was no goal to work towards. That's when I would start to feel directionless.

That's how I am feeling now. SInce I am still so new to dressage, I don't just know which shows I will be doing next year. I always knew more or less which endurance races I would go to as many are done the same time year after year with a few new ones thrown in here and there just to keep things interesting. 

Last year, I went to a lot of shows and clinics, but I don't know if they are regular, annual events. In fact, I know that some are not. This leaves me feeling a bit at loose ends. I've been checking the CDS calendar, but many of the shows I attended last year are not yet listed. Without a schedule, I am finding it difficult to plan my show year.

On top of that, I really don't know what my 2013 goals should be. Last year, my main goals for the year were to move up to Training Level and qualify for RAAC. I accomplished both things, as well as some extras (I am earning a CDS plate, and I won AA High Point Average from the Tehachapi Mountain Chapter of CDS, but more on that later).

This summer, Hubby and I are going to Belize and Guatemala which means money will be a little tight for showing. Even so, there are a few things I would like to accomplish: the first would be to earn the last two scores for my USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award, small potatoes, I know, but still ... The second would be to not only qualify for the RAAC, but to go and be competitive.

To accomplish these goals, I'll need to go to at least two different USDF shows, and probably more since I might not get the needed scores at either show. The good thing is that if I get my two scores at the USDF shows, I'll also qualify for RAAC. Kill two birds and all that.

The last goal, go to RAAC and be competitive, well, I don't know how to do anything other than what I am already doing: ride regularly, work with my trainer, and read and study as much theory as possible.

One little glitch about qualifying for the RAAC is that RAAC is being held pretty early, July 27 - 28.  This means I have to qualify between now and early July. The only winter shows relatively close to me are on the other side of California's infamous Grapevine, which is sporadically closed due to snow and ice. It never stays closed for long, but it would certainly be my luck that it would close on the Friday evening that I was heading into Los Angeles for a show! 

So, what to do? Last weekend I researched the show schedule, as incomplete as it is, and came up with a plan. I am hoping to do a schooling show in February to get warmed up but that series isn't posted online yet, so it's still a maybe.  After that, I can go to a two-day USDF show in Somis in March which gives me four chances to earn my third score for the USDF thing, and a score for RAAC. 

Depending on how we do in March, we could then try to do the same thing in Somis again in April. No matter what, we'll do the USDF show here in Bakersfield in May. If I don't get the two USDF scores after that show, I may just put that goal on the back burner.

No matter if I have the qualifying scores for RAAC or not, I'll still do the first two Tehachapi shows (not USDF-rated, but CDS-rated). If I still haven't earned RAAC scores, this would be pretty much my last chance to qualify. 

Depending on how I feel and how much money I have left, I might try the USDF show in Los Angeles in early July. I'd rather do the spring show in Santa Barbara, but since it's not listed in the show calendar yet, I can't really put it in my schedule.

I've posted my "plan" over there on the right. You might have to scroll up or down to find the schedule. I am not sure how ambitious this plan is, and I am not sure I even want to spend the money that it's going to cost to do those USDF shows. I'll keep you posted.
Kelly link
12/10/2012 02:22:57 am

Looks like a good plan to me! Dressage must be the same in CA as it is in IN...show schedules don't get posted here till after the first of the new year. One show grounds that has been used for Indiana Dressage Assocation shows is no longer going to be available for use - so I don't know if IDS will have less shows or they will find another facility.

Karen
12/10/2012 01:14:03 pm

Frustrating! All of your shows are at the same venue?


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    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
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home