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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

A Work of Art

3/16/2016

 
I am in a hurry, but then I am not. If there is anything that I've learned on my dressage journey, it's that hurrying will get you absolutely nowhere. In fact, by zooming ahead, you might end up further behind where you started. 

So while I really wish Izzy would get his canter together, I know that it's not going to do any good to rush it or force the issue. Instead, I'm just chipping away at it little by little.
Picture
Yeah ... kind of like that.
Last night, Izzy was strangely mellow - a result of a tender sheath I wonder? I have an update about that issue coming up. Needless to say, there's some weird stuff happening to his junk, and based on the way it's looking, he's probably a wee bit tender in his back end. And while I am tempted to feel sorry for him, I don't because I've watched him play in turn out, and believe me, there's plenty of bucking, rearing, and racing around going on, swollen sheath or no.

Anyway, back to last night. I took advantage of his mellow mood and did a bunch of figures at the trot. We did about a million changes of bend in serpentines, the tear drops from First Level, and then we did Chemaine's Butterfly exercise - a tear drop into a ten-meter circle into a new tear drop.

When Izzy started to feel a bit bouncy, which is how he gets when he's starting to really work from his hind end, I asked for a left lead canter. Right now, my focus is on getting the lead without Izzy feeling like he has to explode into it. Happily, the transition was fairly decent, so after a half circle, I brought him back to walk and gave him a big pat. If he was sore in his nether regions, I didn't want him to think that it was because of the canter work.  

I let him walk a bit and then started to track right. I almost called it quits as I didn't want to pick a fight, but I figured that one more canter transition wouldn't kill him. I set him up for a right lead canter but got a bit of a balk with a kick aimed at my leg. I put my spur into him gently and said, Forward. he wasn't thrilled about it, but he trotted forward. I just sat very quietly, and kept asking for the right lead.

After a bit more fussing and another kick or two, Izzy hopped into the right lead canter smoothly. Almost immediately, I brought him back to a walk and gave him a lot praise. I repeated the request several more times and got two more very nice trot to canter transitions. We walked after each one. I wasn't focused on the quality of the canter but on the correctness of the lead.
Picture
Michelangelo's David
It took Michelangelo three years (1501 - 1504) to carve the David. It's a masterpiece that any sculptor would be proud to call his own. How much different is it to mold our horses into works of arts? If it takes three years to turn Izzy into a figure as beautiful as the David, it will be time very well spent, well spent indeed.

Special note; the David is on my mind as we'll be in Italy this summer and seeing Michelangelo's sculpture in person is very high on our list of must see. Have any of you seen it?

Dressage horses are undoubtedly works of art. Who cares how long it takes to finish our work? It's worth it in the end.
jenj
3/16/2016 06:35:10 am

I like the comparison to crafting a fine work of art very much - a really good point. And I'm glad that chipping away at it is working!

I have seen David, and it's definitely worth it. Where are you planning to go in Italy? I've been a few times (parents lived there for several years) so would be happy to share tips! It's an absolutely wonderful place, especially if you like wine and food. ;)

Bakersfield Dressage link
3/16/2016 07:03:54 am

We're leaving in mid-June and will be there for 16 days (which includes 2 days of travel). We're starting in Venice and then traveling by train ... Florence, Naples/Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Rome, and I think I'm missing a spot!

We love to travel, and have been to a number of countries. The things we always look for are architecture/history, food, and wine! if a country doesn't offer at least two of those things, we're usually not interested. I say that, but we're working on our next trip (2017), and we are hoping to do an African safari. Not much architecture or wine, but we're hoping the scenery makes up for it. :0)

lytha
3/16/2016 07:10:22 am

I didn't see it but I finally saw Italy for the first time a couple years ago. Riding as a passenger in a car in Rome is an unforgettable experience, and the pizza makes all other pizza...not really pizza after all. I had eggplant parmesan repeatedly. And they give you these big carafes of wine out of barrels for cheap. I wanted to try authentic chicken marsala but unfortunately that's a region-specific dish. Salcissia - omgosh eat that. I just read JenJ's comment and it looks like we feel the same way: )

Bakersfield Dressage link
3/16/2016 02:26:49 pm

The people who live next door to where I keep my horses (her parents and aunts and uncles were all born in Italy but now live here) own a very well respected Italian restaurant here in town. We eat at their restaurant and her aunt's place quite a lot. We adore Italian food (and Mexican, and seafood, and ... everything else.).

I actually make a pretty good Chicken Marsala myself, so it would be fun to try a real Italian version. As far as everything else, food is the main reason we travel. I gained a few pounds while we were in Portugal last summer - the Portuguese really know how to eat and drink (wine/port) as well. :0)

emma link
3/16/2016 11:49:11 am

definitely worth it :)

Bakersfield Dresage link
3/16/2016 02:27:25 pm

I hope so. :0)

SarahO link
3/17/2016 08:39:02 am

I like your analogy, but I can't help but picture working on a horse being a bit like trying to carve a statue out a piece of marble that insists on moving as you're trying to carve it haha

Bakersfield Dressage link
3/17/2016 06:37:04 pm

Exactly!!!! Let Michelangelo try that one! :0)

bonita link
3/20/2016 03:43:38 pm

SarahO - yes!! I'm giggling, because it's so true. Or in my case a piece of marble that randomly breaks, heals, does something silly and breaks again... Have fun with that Michelangelo!

But speaking of, do see Michelangelo's David! When I went with my sister, the David not what I was expecting, but much better.... And I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you, but yes! Go see David!!

bonita

Bakersfield Dressage link
3/20/2016 04:39:34 pm

That is funny because so many of the famous must sees that we've visited have been either disappointing or far *more* than we imagined. Many years ago I saw Picasso's Guernica, and I was stunned by how massive it was. Machu Picchu turned out to be a bit smaller than we were expecting as was the Tower Bridge in London (usually mistakenly referred to as London Bridge).

We have learned to set our expectations aside and simply appreciate things for how they really are. :0)


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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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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
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