Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Which, according to the laws of riding, means tonight's ride will be horribly scary which is fine because that means my rides over the weekend will rock! Good rides follow bad rides follow good rides ... Did I mention that Sydney and I are going to a schooling show at White Birch Farm on Sunday? Yep. We're arriving on Saturday to have a lesson with Chemaine, my favorite trainer on the coast, and then we're showing at the crack of dawn on Sunday. I also forgot to mention that Jen, the show's organizer, asked me to scribe once I am done showing. Squeal! I am really excited about getting the opportunity to finally scribe. Frankly, I've been too chicken to volunteer before as I've never done it, and I don't want to screw someone's test up. Jen has assured me that I won't screw up; that's probably because I'll be scribing for the Intro Tests. Either way, I am pretty excited about sitting in that booth behind C.
But back to Thursday's perfect ride. The neighbor had a crew working in the "scary corner," so I was pretty sure we were going to be schooling some spooks. I walked Sydney down to that end of the arena where he tensed on cue, but with a stern hey! from me, he relaxed completely and never bothered to look their way again. We jogged around the arena in both directions, picked up a left lead canter at A, did a 20-meter circle and then quietly cantered the whole arena. We did a downward transition followed by a change of direction at the trot. We did several 20-meter circles tracking right and then I cued for the right lead canter. Captain Awesome rolled into it perfectly! We cantered the 20-meter circle and then the whole arena as before. I asked for a downward at P and then came down centerline for a halt and salute. And that was it. Best. Ride. Ever. Oh … and then my barn owner came out with a fistful of Redd's Apple Ales for the three of us (Shelly had shown up to groom Bailey). Nothing better than a yummy afternoon drink with the girls in 75 degree weather. Life is very good. See you on Monday!
I love scribing! You learn so much! I wouldn't worry about ruining someone's test. As long as you are respectful and just pay attention, you'll be just fine. People make mistakes, and most judges are pretty forgiving of newbie nerves. :) Gonna be a great day! Text me your plans for Saturday - I'd love to try and catch your lesson with Chemaine, but I also have a lesson and my 2-year wedding anniversary date that night so unfortunately I'm not super available. Looking forward to seeing you and having our bay OTTBs become BFFs! =)
Sandra
3/15/2014 05:07:23 am
Good luck tomorrow! I cannot wait to read all about it! 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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