Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
We landed in Bakersfield around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, but after waiting for our bags and driving home, we didn't make it to bed until after midnight. When I woke up on Wednesday, I knew I wasn't in any condition to ride. I wanted to, but it wouldn't have served a purpose. Instead, I took it easy in the morning and went to the barn just to turn my boys out and see how they were. Thanks to my BO, both boys were happy and healthy.
By Thursday, I was ready to get back in the routine. SInce I am now on summer vacation, my mornings are free for riding so I got to the barn at 7:00 a.m. It felt good to be back on my summer schedule. During the summer months, I ride Monday through Friday (normally) and take the weekends off. If I only got paid for my 4 hours at the barn, it would be the perfect life! I saddled Speedy first. As suspected, he was a bit of a stinker. Even though he'd had plenty of turn out, he still humped up his back and threw in a few bucks with a small bolt. I turned him into the fence to get a halt and threw on the lunge line. He promptly shaped up and returned to business as usual. It wasn't the best ride as he didn't want to bend (ongoing issue) and he's been a bbit stuck at the jaw to the right. No matter. We have forever to work on it. My ride on Sydney was the best we've ever had. Right away he was nicely forward and very happy to lift his shoulders. I grinned from ear to ear the whole ride. I hope that he starts to offer that level of relaxation away from home. When he does, our scores are going to shoot through the roof! So my first day back in the saddle was a good one. How much better can life be? 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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