Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
We almost had a jump lesson on Wednesday. It wouldn't have been a voluntary lesson either. Here's what happened ... Speedy likes to give a few coughs when he very first starts trotting. I indulge him. We walk for a bit, but then I drop the reins to the buckle and let him trot a circle or two where he clears his lungs. We do it every single day. In the midst of our on-the-buckle-throat-clearing trot out, the arena sprinkler popped up with a very loud PSSST!!! You can imagine what happened. Did you say bolt forward? Why yes, that is exactly what happened! As I frantically tried to take up my reins, I looked up and saw this right in front of us ... Excuse my language, but I yelled SH*T pretty darn loudly. I was worried that Speedy would jump it and equally worried if he didn't jump it. Do you see the straight lines in the dirt? Those are Speedy's skid marks as he ducked to the left and went around ... at a full gallop. He then proceeded to weave through several more jumps before I was finally able to shorten my reins and execute a pulley halt.
Speedy's bolt, refusal, and continued bolt took maybe 5 seconds. It happened so quickly that when JL looked up, we were already flying by her working the pulley rein. When we laughed about it later, I told her how I was refusing to get tossed off. She said she wasn't worrying about me coming off. Instead, she was concentrating on my pulley-halt technique. Always the trainer!
Judy
7/18/2012 11:55:39 pm
I'm glad Speedy decided NOT to change careers and try to be a jumper! :)
Karen
7/19/2012 05:00:18 am
Me too!
Karen
7/19/2012 05:01:21 am
That's what I was afraid of, Sarah, ME making the jump with NO reins OR horse! :0) I am glad he chose to go around it!
Val
7/19/2012 04:04:55 am
Come on, Speedy! It's just a little one!
Karen
7/19/2012 05:02:44 am
It looked HUGE as it zoomed toward us! I couldn't say whether I was more worried about going over or going around. Both options had pros and cons! :0) 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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