Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Last fall, my chapter of the California Dressage Society (CDS) lost its core group of "doer-of-a-all-the-things." You know the who I mean, the people who actually DO everything so that the rest of us can reap the benefits. The chapter needed someone to pick up the reins, so along with my trainer and a few other ladies, I agreed to help. I don't think I knew what I was getting into. Since taking over as Vice-chair this fall, I've launched a website, a Facebook page, created 10 show entries (English and Western Dressage have their own versions), rounded up a group of sponsors, and mostly recently, put together an awards "ceremony" for our riders who had earned their plates from CDS. It may sound like I am complaining, but I am not. I am just stressing how much work it is to run even a small chapter of an organization. I've always appreciated the people that run the various groups to which I belong. I always knew it was a ton of work. We're putting on five shows this year and have a few other things planned. We're hoping to do a clinic the day after each show which would be a new event for our chapter. We're also trying to get enough riders together to ride in the Bear Valley Springs (BVS) 4th of July parade. To augment that event, I am designing and organizing t-shirts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BVS. To say it's going to be a busy summer is an understatement. For the awards party, we celebrated with champagne cake, of course! Since we want our chapter members to feel special and appreciated, I also created certificates to hand out along with the plates. Our chapter actually had quite a few plate recipients. Many of them live out of town and weren't able to attend our party, so I mailed them the other day. Hopefully they've arrived by now. I look forward to getting my plate each year. For the first plate you have to earn five or more scores at 60% or above, but each year thereafter, you need only earn a single score to be eligible for a plate. Speedy and I have managed to earn one each year. I haven't shown Izzy much these past few years, and when we've shown we haven't been particularly successful, but in 2019, he and I managed to earn a qualifying score. His plate is proudly sitting along side Speedy's. Being involved with my GMO has been surprisingly satisfying. Seeing what goes on behind the scenes somehow makes the awards all the more sweet. Fingers crossed that both boys make the plaque in 2020!
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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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