Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
But in a good way! That thumb thing that Val started (or, continued), has got me all excited. When I tried it on Sydney, I was more focused on keeping my thumbs up and forward more than anything. And on top of that, Sydney has some tension issues that we're working on that require lots of changes of direction, widening of the reins, and so on. It's hard enough to keep my hands quiet with him without also thinking about my thumbs! But, thumbs forward was really beneficial.
When I rode Speedy G with my thumbs forward and on top, I also remembered to point them down. Down is not exactly a good description. I actually like closed better. It almost felt as thought my thumbs were like clothespins: by pressing them down onto my index finger, it held the rein in place. The unexpected result was that I was able to loosen, or soften, the rest of my fingers without losing my reins! AHA! Soft hands ... Speedy G hated it. Weird, I know. He felt the difference immediately and tried all sorts of funky maneuvers to get away from the contact. This tells me that our contact hasn't been as honest as I had thought it was. As Speedy hopped around and searched for the right answer, I held the reins very steadily, but softly, and just kept adding leg. Using a Courtney King-Dye expression, there was a lot of ugly, but then things got a lot better. I really started to feel a better connection with the outside rein and with Speedy's hind end. I need to work on that some more. It is absolutely amazing to me how repositioning my hands and thumbs can so drastically influence my riding!
Val
3/12/2012 08:22:54 am
Great report!
Martina Peterson
3/12/2012 10:48:53 pm
Good! I hope it builds confidence in you and especially for Sidney! 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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