Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() Today is my birthday. Funny how they keep happening. As my mom would say, better than the alternative! Last year, I shared my "Un-Bucket" list, a list of things that I had already done. You know how it's really hard to buy gifts for your parents (they have everything!), I find that I am getting to that place myself. As I get older, there is less and less that I want or need, but there is more and more that I hope to see and do. I managed to add quite a few things to my Un-Bucket list this year. I am not sure that they were things I had necessarily dreamed of doing, but that's the magic of emptying a bucket - you never know what you're going to pull out! Here are 20 Equestrian things that I am grateful to have experienced this year. 1. I bought a warmblood cross. 2. I scored over 70% at a USDF show, twice! 3. I won my class at a regional show (RAAC). 4. I competed at the California Dressage Society Championship show. 5. I gave away a horse instead of selling him so that he might have a job that made him happier. 6. I went to the Breeders' Cup with my husband. 7. I rode in a horse drawn wagon at Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home. 8. I watched Rafalca's farewell performance (probably one of many). 9. I rode a 17 hand plus horse (thanks, C). 10. I earned the adult amateur high score at a show. 11. I monogrammed some stuff and even bought some bling. 12. I was chosen to participate in the CDS AA Clinic. 13. I finally showed at First Level. 14. I chatted with Hilda Gurney (again). 15. Speedy and I had our picture in Dressage Today. 16. I saw California Chrome in person. 17. I sold my last endurance saddle (kind of bittersweet). 18. I rode with the German trainer, Christian Schacht, again (three times!). 19. I sent a horse to a trainer. 20. I won another neck ribbon (that makes three!) and a cooler (which also makes three!). I don't have a plan or specific goals for my 45th year, but I am certainly looking forward to all of the many exciting things that might happen. Who knows what I'll be pulling out of that bucket this year!
1/3/2015 01:22:42 am
It certainly didn't start off like I had planned (Speedy was lame for several months), but it ended up being much better than I could have hoped for. I had really written off the showing year. I just assumed Speedy's lameness would preclude any big shows, so competing at the CDS Championship came as a huge surprise. Had I planned the year, that wouldn't have even made the cut. 1/3/2015 08:01:49 am
Thank you, Tracy. I try not to go bat-shit crazy in public too often. It happens, but we try and sweep it under the rug. :0) 1/3/2015 10:06:08 am
I can't wait to see what happens to me this year. :0) They just get better and better (you have TONS to look forward to, Lauren!).
martina peterson
1/3/2015 11:19:31 am
wow what great accomplishments for you. This year will prove to be just as rewarding.
jenj
1/3/2015 11:19:33 am
What a great year you had, despite the rocky start! 1/3/2015 11:41:00 pm
Thanks, jenj. I am a firm believer in the make lemonade thing. Somewhere in my 20s while in college, I realized that things always work out. No matter how bad they seem at the moment, things always right themselves. I just found I had to be open to a different outcome than I was first expecting. 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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