Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I am not wealthy, but I am lucky enough to have a little disposable cash each month to spend how I want. Lately, I am into riding clothes like I can't believe. I never used to care what I rode in. It was usually a raggedy pair of pull on tights and a t-shirt won at an endurance ride. Any more, I find myself pulling out carefully selected breeches that will coordinate with my riding shirt du jour. My socks often match as does my pony tail holder. I always wear a vibrant belt (lately from C4 - I now have four of them), something I would have scoffed at just a year ago. Looking good in the saddle seems to give more credence to the work that I am doing. While I always ride for fun, I am serious about the work that I am doing, and I want my appearance to be an outward confirmation of my dedication. Never mind that I am usually completely alone at the barn. So if I look good while I ride, there is no one but the muck cart and manure fork to appreciate my efforts as I dutifully clean my stalls. I don't wear those stylish breeches and trendy sun shirts to impress anyone. I wear them because they make me feel good. So when I got home the other day and this was sitting on my doorstep, I had all kinds of happy feelings. Riding Warehouse had some kind of special sale going on, I don't remember what it was, but I think it had something to do with tax season. They were offering 15% off everything store-wide. I couldn't resist. I am currently in love with the Ovation DX Celebrity Slim Secret Full Seat Breeches. I love how they fit, and they look really nice. I have already blogged about the gray pair which I liked so much so that I was persuaded to order the white ones for showing. When Riding Warehouse finally added the Monaco Blue to their line up, I caved. I couldn't help it; I bought them in blue. While the breeches were back ordered and safely out of mind, a friend sent me a link to a Kastel shop on Ebay. Given how low the prices were, I am assuming they were either discontinued or last year's colors. I didn't care. At $30 out-the-door (which included free shipping), I felt like it would be wrong to not order one. And in my defense, I kept myself to one only as I already have four other sun shirts from last summer.
With my C4 belts in either tan or navy plaid, this is a really striking look. Add in my chocolate or navy dressage pad with my navy DSB boots, and I am one well turned out dressage rider. Of course, If I had the DSB boots in brown ...
YES! Get the brown boots- I love brown riding boots. 5/14/2016 08:11:12 am
Izzy has the white and navy while Speedy has black with white and glossy black. The next time I am feeling a bit flush, I am sure Izzy will get the brown pair. For right now, I think that 4 pairs are sufficient. :0)
SprinklerBandits
5/13/2016 08:15:14 am
I justify it all by also wearing my kastels (I have two) for other outings. That's cool, right? 5/14/2016 08:13:47 am
Obviously! So far, mine haven't kept clean enough to do that. Even though they wash up well, all of my sunshirts have shown a little staining here and there. The one I have from Ariat (the Sunstopper?) still looks good enough to wear in public. This new brown one is so pretty on that I hope to be able to wear it out in the real world. 5/14/2016 08:15:21 am
Mostly ... but, they're not air conditioned! I still prefer to ride in my sleeveless running shirts (wicking fabrics), but I am "trying" to be kinder to my skin. I figure if I look good, maybe I'll try harder for my skin's sake. :0) 5/14/2016 08:17:06 am
Very true! Dressage is so much about appearance that I feel like my own appearance should try to be as nice as my horse's. I work hard at making them look good - maybe I shouldn't look like such a raggedy Ann myself. :0) 5/14/2016 08:18:35 am
But at $30 how could anyone say no?!?!?! I spent $20 buying my students cookies yesterday. A new shirt is a waaaaaay better way to spend $20 - 30. :0)
lytha
5/15/2016 06:51:35 am
Off topic but I thought of you yesterday as the arena owner told me she bought two sprinklers for the Summer, to keep her arena dust down (doesn't she remember it never stopped raining last year?). I told her "In California the sprinkler systems are built-in." (Also in indoor arenas in the PNW.) She said, "What? How's that!?" I said that the sprinklers are attached to the posts in outdoor arenas, every 10 or 20 meters. She said she wants to do that. I said it involves underground pipe installation. She didn't get it. I told her likely the pipes will freeze in Winter and actually I don't know how it's done but I remember that the watering systems were somehow built-in. Wow I've been in Germany too long. So tell me how it works? 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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