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I want to thank everyone for visiting this site and reading my blog. I hope you've been finding the stuff I write to be half-way interesting. Even if no one is reading, I am enjoying the writing. Yesterday was such a great day; I wrote blog posts all morning and then rode in the afternoon. Again, two of my favorite things, riding and writing.
So ... I hope you'll come back tomorrow and visit again, but you'll need to go to www.bakersfielddressage.com. I hope to hear from you!  Baskin and his mom Baskin's mom has given me quite a few blogging suggestions. She pointed out that there are probably far more dressage beginners in our area than there are "advanced" riders. And without a strong dressage presence in our community, these interested riders realIy have no one to go to for answers. I have to agree with her. Not that I have any answers, but maybe together we can pool our resources and figure it out!
When I first started thinking about showing dressage, I seriously couldn't find anyone who could/would help me figure out EXACTLY what clothes and tack I would need for a schooling or rated show. I rode in tights. Giraffe print tights. I wasn't even sure what the difference was between tights and breeches. And to be COMPLETELY honest, I had to learn about English tack in general. I didn't know what was meant by a snaffle bridle, caveson, flash, pelham bit, double bridle, all purpose pad, half pad, and a bunch of other words that sounded like they were in English, but I certainly didn't know what they meant! THANK YOU Wikipedia! Ask me sometime about Hi-ties, cruppers, scoops and sponges. Those are words I get! I was also completely baffled by show premiums and actually had to ask a show secretary how to fill one out! I have filled out more than seventy-five endurance race entries so I know I am not a complete idiot ... But show premiums? A whole new game. So back to Baskin's mom and her suggested blog topics: And now a few of my own topics: If you have a topic you'd like me to dig into, please comment! I probably won't know the answer, but I love to research stuff. The site's web address will still be: www.bakersfielddressage.com, as of March 1, 2011, but I've made some cosmetic changes! Under the Equine Community tab you'll find Kern River CDS, as well as links to some of our local favorites. Most everything else is still the same, for now! Today's 20 Mule Team 35/65/100 Mile Endurance Ride ... Several friends are in Ridgecrest right now riding 35, 65, or 100 miles at the 20 Mule Team Endurance Ride. Brrrr! Good luck to them! I first did this ride in 1997. I rode, what was back then, the 60 miler on a mare I had named Sassy. I later did the 100 miler on Montoya DSA in 2000, 2001, and 2002. I did the 65 miler on her in 2003, and then went back in 2004 and did the 65 miler again, this time on Mickey Dee. I didn't go back to that ride until last year when I rode the 35 miler on Speedy G. Here are some photos of my ride at 20 Mule Team last year. If you're really interested in reading about last year's ride, scroll down below the slide show and click the read more link. 20 Mule Team 35/65/100 MilerThe website is undergoing a wee bit of a change. The new web address will be www.bakersfielddressage.com. I wanted to host a site that includes ALL of Bakersfield's "dressage-type" riders. That means those who are thinking of dabbling, those who just school, those who show lower levels (that's me), and those who show more advanced levels! I'll have the new address up and working March 1, 2011. By the way, Kern River stuff can be found under the Equine Community link above.
Bookmark the address - www.bakersfielddressage.com Welcome, and let me know what you think!  I hate to break it to you, but I have the world's best farrier. I know, I know. You no doubt feel that you have the best farrier. We may just have to agree to disagree! Thursday was shoeing day. My farrier always calls or texts to remind me and to check to see if our appointment time still works for me (seriously!). He comes on time (no, I am not exaggerating). He treats my horse sweetly (He's been known to share his granola bar with Speedy!). He always sends a text, or a leaves a voicemail, telling me how great my horse was for his "pedicure" (love technology). Today the farrier even sent a picture of Speedy's new feet with his text! The photo above is the day before shoes. Speedy is at just under six weeks. These are his hind feet. Look how thin the shoe is!  This is his left hind hoof. Notice how worn the nail heads are and how smooth the rim of the shoe is! We ride a fair amount (about 15 days out of the month) and our ground is pretty hard.  Here's what they looked like when my farrier was finished. This is the right hind hoof. The shoe is nearly double the thickness of the one from the day before!
Are you convinced? No? I didn't think so! Farrier's are worth their weight in gold and if you've found a good one, you're probably willing to do anything to keep him! I know that I adore mine! |
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. 
Photo by Lori Ovanessian
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.
July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)
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.
March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)
Bakersfield Dressage approved!
My favorite breeches!
FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
I love her stuff!
Watercolor Artist and Friend
National Rider Awards
USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
State Rider Awards
CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
State Horse Awards
Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018
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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