Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
As an endurance rider, there was no way I could run errands after a conditioning ride. I was always filthy and usually had an accompanying odor. Besides that, it wasn't unheard of to have a rip in at least one article of clothing. Now that I primarily school dressage, I can dress better, and I don't usually smell too bad. On Tuesday though, I got a really late start to the barn, and it was getting hot quickly. To cope with the heat, I dragged out a gnarly pair of endurance tights, my coolest pair, and slipped into a racer back tank top. I planned to do a quick ride and then race back home to clean up and meet my mom who was coming into town for a visit. As luck would have it, I got a call from the optometrist saying that my new glasses were ready to pick up. Believe it or not, the eye doctor is less than 5 minutes from the barn. I looked down at my purple Ovation Zocks which were pulled over my breeches and stuffed into a grimy pair of Mudruckers. I thought about how much time I could save if I went straight from the barn to the optometrist's. The problem was that I looked gross and probably smelled a wee bit funky. Then I remembered that my pal Sarah, of Eventing in Color, had insisted I take all of the left over wet wipes from our last dinner together. She suggested that I keep them in my car for an after barn emergency clean up. I scoffed at the notion, but shoved the packets into my glove box to make her happy. The toilettes had dried out in my car, so I remoistened them with a little water from my bottle, and then I gave myself a mini spa session in the parking lot. I ran a comb through my hair, kicked the debris loose from the bottom of my boots, and peeked through the window of the optometrist's office.
To my relief, it was a slow day and I was the only one in the waiting room. I was in and out in five minutes, but I learned my lesson: Always be a little barn decent in case you have to run an errand afterwards. And if not, keep some wet wipes and a bottle of water handy! I almost *always* have a spare change of clothes in whatever vehicle I'm driving (I basically live out of them haha) and I've been known to give myself a quick rinse of bare skin in the washrack...lol. Lucky for me the barn is usually at the end of my day, so typically the only one seeing me disheveled and disgusting is my dogs! 😀 8/11/2016 08:42:02 pm
I am also VERY familiar with a wash rack "bath." LOL! Too bad I can't wash my clothes there as well. :0) 8/11/2016 08:43:06 pm
Very true, Tracy! And since my socks don't always match, it's probably a good idea for me to ignore the raised eyebrow as well. :0)
Carly
8/11/2016 09:33:54 am
I think I'd need more than wet wipes most days when I leave the barn. Maybe a power washer and a full bottle of Febreeze. ;) 8/11/2016 08:43:50 pm
HAHAHAHA!!!!!! Too funny. I feel like that a lot myself. :0) 8/12/2016 07:04:59 am
Funny ... I've even found random bits of hay in coat pockets that never make it to the barn. Our passion finds us everywhere, doesn't it? :0) 8/13/2016 03:25:43 pm
LOL! Maybe it just gets harder to look decent as we age. :0) 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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