Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Step 1: buy a pallet of wood fuel pellets from your nearby home improvement store. One word of caution; these aren't 100% pine pellets, but the blend of soft and hardwood hasn't bothered either of my horses, and I've been using these pellets for more than a year. Depending on the part of the country you're from, any non-pine wood might irritate your horse's skin or cause respiratory issues. Step 2: remove the top layer of 200 pounds. Step 3: place that layer on the tailgate. Step 4: remove 200 pounds of pellets from the tailgate and replace on the new pallet in the same formation as they were on the stack. I've found that this creates a much more stable and secure pile, especially since these pellets last approximately six months. I don't need them to sag and fall over! Step 5: repeat the process ten times. Ultimately, I ended up moving each bag twice, once onto the tail gate, and then onto the stack. I moved 4,000 pounds of dead weight in less than a half an hour!
There actually was a final step: I had some truck trouble (blog post coming) and had to call a friend for help. Her horse is confined to a dirt paddock. When she saw the pellets, she thought they might really help her guy deal with the dust and flies. As a thank you for her help, I re-loaded four bags back into my truck and delivered them to her house. I unloaded the bags and spread one in her horse's paddock. So actually, I moved another 400 pounds of pellets. No problem as I am still counting calories, I've lost more than 13 pounds, and am moving closer to Club Skinny!
Angela
10/28/2013 11:51:33 pm
I like the pine pellet idea. Maybe I missed this part, but do you spread them all over the stall as bedding or do you use them primarily for absorption? 10/30/2013 10:47:05 am
I spread them over the pee spot, but as they get wet, like cat litter, I throw the wet piles out to dry. Each week I scrape down the pee spot and add fresh pellets. Before too long, my "stalls" get really soft from the broken down pellets. It keeps the dust down and makes for very soft bedding. 10/30/2013 10:51:30 am
They work great and make the footing so much nicer!
martina peterson
10/29/2013 10:48:22 am
that's so great Karen, keep up the good work. I'm right with you on the weight loss. Your recipe sounds yummy and I'm going to try it. I've only just recently starting to appreciate cauliflower. Lots of love mom 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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