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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Around the World in 80 ... Seconds?

3/24/2012

 
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Or less if you're a fast feeder!  I really needed to write about something less serious.  Lately, it seems as though that's all I write about.  I mean, really, weeks of fear and the dentist?   Sheesh.  Get a life, eh?  Although it is funny how those two things do go together.

If you scroll down, way down, you can check out this blog's "Live Traffic Feed."  If you click on the Real-time view at the bottom of the chart, it will take you to a page that shows where some of the blog traffic comes from.  Even though I've found that it's not 100% accurate, it is still interesting.  I check it everyday to see where readers come from.  I get no end of enjoyment from discovering where readers live.  I frequently yell out to Hubby, who could really give a rat's behind as he isn't a regular reader of the blog which is a completely new topic, Guess what?  Someone from insert city, state, country read my blog!  This fantastic news is usually met with silence since he might have already left the room, or it might warrant a grunt if he is still in the room watching insert whichever sporting event.  Not to say that he doesn't love me enormously, he just can't see the attraction to reading about riding.  Riding is boring enough.  Why would anyone want to read about it?  We all know that anything horse related is extremely interesting, even when done by a wanna be writer!

Even though I get no response to my amazing announcement, I continue on cheerfully as though he has been wowed by the news.  Can you believe it?  We were just there!  Even it was 20 years ago, which is what I love the most about those who stumble on my little literary endeavor.  I might have met you before!  So, I would like to give a shout out to all the folks who come from places I know.

If you live in Kern County, and especially Bakersfield, thanks for visiting since I probably do know you and you've likely heard all of this before and yet you read anyway, thanks!  And if I don't already know you, I'd love to meet you.

To all the Humboldt County readers: My step mom probably shared some little bit with you and then maybe you came back for more - thank you!

To all the Chico readers: both Hubby and I graduated from CSUC in 1993 - we LOVED Chico!

To all the readers in Great Britain: Hubby and I visited this past summer and adored your island.  I even squeezed in a ride near Inverness, Scotland.

To all the readers in Ireland:  I spent a week riding near Galway and had the time of my life.  You have a beautiful country!

To all the readers in Washington: a few summers ago, Hubby and I drove the western states (including Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada).  We loved Washington and put it on our list of states that we might like to move to.  

We also loved Oregon which is where my mom lives.  If you found this blog because my mom made you read it, thank you, too!  

Hubby's parents live in Idaho, but if you're reading from that beautiful state, I know you found me some other way as they're not internet regulars.  Maybe we'll run into each other someday.  

Utah and Nevada?  Very interesting places to visit, especially the Great Salt Lake and Hoover Dam, but I probably didn't meet you while we were there.  You guys have a lot of empty space!

To those readers in New Zealand: Sydney's homeland is on our short list of places to visit.  We're coming and thanks to Kelly, we've already seen how beautiful your island is!

I write this blog because I like to write about riding and horses, and if no one read, I would still write.  But since you do take the time to read, I'd like to know more about you.  Knowing where you live, and not in a creepy stalker sort of way, is interesting.  I've "met" many of you through your own blogs and Facebook and genuinely enjoy reading about you and your own horses.  So, if you have a second, share a bit about your horses.

hammerhorses link
3/24/2012 01:32:48 am

I live seeing where my readers come from too!

I've just got the 2 horses :)

Queenie - 2000 grey 12.2hh Welsh "B"/ISR approved mare. She's a spitfire (which is why she needed a tiny adult rider :) ) and a ton of fun to ride. I can't wait to get back in her saddle once things are taken care of.

Pyxar - 2010 black rabicino gelding. We're guessing he'll mature between 15 and 16hh. He's my heart horse in so many ways. I feel proud seeing his excellent manners and sweet disposition because I am the only person who has put training into him. He was totally wild when I got him and he just makes me smile every time I see him. I can't wait to get him going under saddle next year as I think he's going to be an exciting and amazing saddle horse and I hope to have him for the next 30-50 years :) (I was grooming the horses out in their pasture yesterday and he just sat with his chin on my shoulder the whole time, sweet boy!)

Karen
3/28/2012 12:15:01 pm

I can't wait to hear how Pyxar turns out! And ... with babies (two or three?) on the way, your life is going to be quite interesting!

hammerhorses link
3/28/2012 01:51:10 pm

LOL! Just the 2 - if I were pregnant with triplets, I'd be in bed and refusing to move, I'm almost to that point now, lol!!!

I've never met a horse that I feel so safe around, ever. He's just got the best temperament ever and I can't wait to get him going under saddle (next year, of course!)

I always enjoy reading about your boys and it's definitely motivating to me to get my butt back in the saddle as soon as possible after the little ones are born. I'm living vicariously through horsey blogs :)

Karen
3/28/2012 10:42:39 pm

Oh, I knew YOU were having two. I was wondering if there was a third coming from someone else! :0)

hammerhorses link
3/29/2012 01:25:17 am

Ohhh! The only creature we're expecting little ones from this year is our oldest doe Winnie. She's LOOKING pregnant, however we thought the pygmy was pregnant too and wasn't. The main reason we're guessing Winnie is pregnant is she is starting to look like a dairy goat again instead of just a pet goat, lol!

We decided to not breed Queenie this year because I'm going to have my hands full (and pockets empty) with having twins. However, it is something on the agenda more seriously for next year. This will give me plenty of time to find the PERFECT stallion for her. It's actually pretty hard to find Mr Perfect for her as I would breed up in size ideally (and not downgrade her quality) - however all the stallions I LIKE are either her height... or over 14.2hh. There is 1 arabian stallion a friend of mine owns who is a very serious top contender. Drop dead delicous 14.1hh chestnut sabino hunter u/s and hunter pleasure champion. I've met several of his part bred and purebred babies and all have stellar minds and are doing VERY well competitively.

As a matter of fact one of his purebred babies is for sale right now and I told my husband that if it wasn't for the fact that I was pregnant right now, I'd be buying a 3rd horse, lol! The main reason is the stallion is excellent but I LOVED the colts dam. I rode her for the first time ever at a local show and took reserve grand for hunter eq and hunter pleasure (The only reason we didn't take grand was because she bucked during one canter transition, silly girl!).

Bonita link
3/25/2012 08:55:35 am

Hi from Queanbeyan, Australia!

I have two horses, but technically you could say that I only have one. Because I'm too broke to pay for two, I'm leasing out my Standardbred gelding; Copper. I couldn't bear to sell him; he's really sweet and I love him, but dressage is something he just can't do thanks to his breeding.

Which brings me to my hopeful dressage prospect - Joey. He's a green four and a half TBxAppaloosa and a whole bundle of trouble at the moment... We are slowly feeling our way forwards together and I am interested to see what we might end up achieving. Progress is slow, but we'll get there.

It's been fun reading about your adventures - Sydney reminds me a bit like Joey so I've been particularly interested in reading what you've been up to with him. Thanks for making all the effort to share your thoughts Karen. And like you said, anything horse related is fascinating! :)


bonita of <a href="http://http://aridinghabit.blogspot.com">A Riding Habit</a>

Karen
3/25/2012 09:30:16 am

Hello, Bonita! Thanks for sharing. Young horses and green horses sure are a lot of trouble! I've learned that we are all at our own level and we just do the best we can. SOMEONE is always farther along no matter how well, or poorly, we ride. Best of luck to you and Joey (and Cooper, too). Feel free to share you experiences and suggestions. I need all the help I can get.

Karen

Emily
3/26/2012 12:19:25 am

Hello from Indiana. I have 6 and they are all either Arab or half Arab.
Duet: she will be 27 this year and I rescued her at the age of 22. she was a kill pen rescue. I have a soft spot for old arab mares. of course as luck would have it she was in foal and had a very nice buckskin filly. I got lucky and Duet came with her paper so I was able to register her filly as a half arab. Due to her age she is unride able and will live out her years with me.

Denali: she is 5 half arab and Duet is her mom. She has been slow to mature so I have only been on her a couple of times and hope to get some more rides on her this summer.

Mo: she is 21 and was my purebred arab class A hunter horse. After I was done showing her I used her to give lessons and then leased her out to my trainer as a lesson horse. Now that I have her back I get her out and ride her a few times a year but other then that she is enjoying a semi retired life. She has a home with me until she departs the earth.

Leggs: she is 11 and I got her to be by dressage horse. after years of issues with her we finaly figured out she has EMS. now that we are getting that undercontrol she is sound and I hope to get her going again. She has a few mental issus from being shown in halter before I got her so if she doesnt get over those she will just be a trail horse for my husband.

Indy: He is 17 half arab and he was a kill pen rescue when he was 6. I showed him in show hack at class A shows and he is my go to show horse. He is my best bud and he will be with me for life.

Rosie: she is 9 half arab and I recently got her back. She was a kill pen rescue when she was 2. I put some training on her and found her a home. She was in her new home for four years when last spring She had fractured her RF coffin bone and was having soundness issues. Her owner was no longer able to keep a horse that she could not ride so I offered to take her and rehab her. She is sound now and I even took her to a show last week and she did great. I will let her go to a good home if one comes along or she will be with me for life.

If you haven't noticed all of my horses are with me for life and that is how I ended up with six. I would love to be down to three but in this market I dont feel it is safe to sell. I would rather pay the feed bill then not be able to sleep a night wondering where my horses are at and if they are safe.

Karen
3/31/2012 12:20:20 am

Your guys are very lucky to have found you!


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
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