Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I am so disgusted, frustrated, irritated, disappointed, and depressed that I don't even want to write this. Please excuse the poor quality of the writing. I just want to get it written and MOVE ON.
Sunday's show was a terrible disaster. No flowery prose or thoughtful reflections:
As soon as I was finished riding the second test, my first thought was ... that was a waste of gas money and an entry fee. There is no way that we got any "mileage" out of this show. NOTHING was gained by being there. But that's never true, is it? The horse is always learning something even if it is not what we want him to learn. While I am very disappointed, I have to admit that there was incremental progress, just nothing like what I expected there to be. Sydney works brilliantly at home, and now I have a witness to prove how lovely he moves and works, so I expected something decent at the show. I guess I was just expecting too much. Here is what was improved or remained solid:
So. The good is that he is traveling well and dependably standing tied to the trailer even when left alone with no other horses for moral support. The bad is that he is a nervous wreck when asked to work. I fought tears the entire afternoon and evening. I felt like such a total failure. I couldn't stand to write anything down as even thinking about the show left a bad taste in my mouth. I have started on a plan that involves two different strategies. I'll write about them as I get started. For now, I am not giving up; we'll do the Tehachapi show in two weeks and then go back to Hansen Dam in October. Some of you ride OTTBs. Is progress always this slow? Will he ever be "relaxed" in a show environment? How many more outings will he need before he realizes that death isn't imminent? I would love some (positive) feedback. If you really think this is never going to happen, kindly keep it to yourself as I am not there and, I am not big on quitting.
Jeanine
8/13/2013 12:20:39 am
Hey Karen.
Jeanine
8/13/2013 12:25:09 am
Like how you said, you always have to find the little improvements. 8/13/2013 12:59:13 am
Stick it out. :)
Carly
8/13/2013 01:00:22 am
Bobby is easily capable of scoring ten points lower (eventing...so, a higher percent pure dressage) at home than he is at a show. He does the movements, but he is such a tense, distracted mess at shows that he gets marked down for it. There better be hope for us with tense OTTBs because I'd like some recognition for the hard work we put in!
Oh I'm sorry. I know how disappointing that can be. With Simon, one mistake I made was thinking the show progress would be linear. He was nervous at his first show but better at his second, and then his third show he was MORE anxious than both of the first two combined! To answer your question, yes it is a slow process. A lot of people will Ace them which is something I don't want to do and I imagine something you don't want to do either. Lunging helps, but even that doesn't erase the tension from my horse. I am just going to accept that at home we are really moving forward with our training, and when I go to a show it may be 10 steps back. Just more shows and more time.
Val
8/13/2013 01:38:51 am
I know how frustrating this is. My horse can never completely relax at shows, which translates to tension and impacts our ride. I think it just takes lots and lots of miles for sensitive personalities to get comfortable with showing. I was not interested in that much time in the show ring, but I know you are. He still knows what he knows at home; that has not changed. You should feel good about keeping the test going and sounds like you had an understanding judge.
My heart was seriously breaking for you while I read this. I have so been there.
Dom
8/13/2013 02:58:29 am
I'm sorry to hear it didn't go as you had hoped. It sounds like you have the right attitude about it, though.
So sorry to hear how poorly it went, but the silver lining (for me) is all these great comments which apply to me too!
I'm sorry you had a frustrating show.
Karen
8/13/2013 09:27:20 am
Thank you all so very, very much for your kind and supportive suggestions. I have some good news to share, hopefully tomorrow, about phase 1 of figuring this out. If you'll remember, I said I had a plan of attack that involved a couple of different strategies. Phase 1 went off brilliantly and incorporated many of your suggestions, so again, THANK YOU! :0)
I have SO been there before! TBs are my breed of choice, but sometimes they can take a little time....like fine wine, right?
He'll settle. Give him time. He's settled a ton with you at home since you got him. That took time too. Comments are closed.
|
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
|