Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
After realizing that Izzy might be tired and or sore - something I wrote about on Monday, I called my chiropractor who was able to come out yesterday. I never tell him what's wrong. CC wants to look at the horse without any bias. I did however explain that Izzy's neck has been really short, and I can't get him to stretch it forward. Both of my horses adore CC, especially Izzy. When CC is in the house, I am chopped liver. I think CC could do his work on Izzy without even putting a halter on him. So when Izzy flattened his ears, snapped his head around, and pinched his lips at CC after he had run his hands over Izzy's back and then deep into his neck, I knew something must really hurt. Even though it bothered him, Izzy let CC bend his neck around. Rather than do the adjustment, CC showed Izzy he wasn't going to hurt him. He simply held the position, then let it go. Then he did it again. Once Izzy was willing to relax, CC pushed hard. I had stepped back well out of the way because that is a huge adjustment that usually rocks Izzy pretty hard. I didn't hear the adjustment, but CC did. He said that he could hear the pop, pop, pop as everything sorted itself out. The instant the adjustment was made, Izzy practically crawled into CC's lap, begging for more. CC is a miracle worker. After that one adjustment, nothing else hurt. Izzy's withers were no longer painful, and there was no reaction along his back. CC was mildly surprised that Izzy's poll, one of the usual suspects, was right where it needed to be. In fact, there was nothing else to adjust. CC complimented me over the poll issue by saying that "you are doing things right." CC guaranteed me that I will feel a difference as soon as I get on. He explained that when the C7 needs to be adjusted, horses just can't stretch forward, especially in the medium gaits. Look back at the picture I shared yesterday; that is a perfect example of what he means. Izzy has been out at the C7 before, but CC said it's hard to knock that one out. I told him about Izzy sitting back and breaking a halter a month or two back, and he was certain that's when it happened. It just took a while for the pain to finally show.
I am so lucky to have such great people on Team Izzy. Without my vet, farrier, trainer, chiropractor, and saddle fitter, we'd be an even hotter mess than we are. I am feeling pretty good about this upcoming show. With rain in the forecast, it will be interesting for sure! 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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