Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
When I started my warm-up on day two, I could feel that Speedy was already more forward. I can't believe how much more aware of my riding I was after just 30 minutes with Marisa. She really got into my head, which I love! I felt no pressure when I started my second ride. Marisa is so kind and supportive that I was ready to just let it all hang out. As we were schooling the sitting trot to canter (the latter half of the video), I gave up worrying what anyone thought about my horrible position. I just dug in and kept at it. It never got good, but I didn't let that discourage me. I used all of my 30 minutes to grab onto every good feeling that I could so that I could take them home with me. After I watched day two's video (down below), I was somewhat disappointed. I had wanted it to reveal that all my goofs had miraculously fixed themselves over a good night's sleep. Instead, I got to see what I need to work on.
Thank you for posting the video! I always learn a ton watching other people ride in clinics. The first video was a bit hard to hear, but the second one was clear. Very good clinician.
Canter departs!! Ba humbug! We've been working on these too, from the collected walk. They were murder until we got all of our cues sorted out! ;) 6/26/2014 05:43:09 am
I wish Speedy was a better listener! I had to really whack him with the whip today while doing a leg yield left. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to think more about my weight aids as I ask for the canter. 6/26/2014 05:46:08 am
Oops - wanted to add this … Sydney is getting REALLY good at the canter depart from collected walk (to the left). He finds it easy. We're still getting him confident and balanced to the right, but that should come very soon. What I love about the walk to canter transition is how uphill his canter is from the very first stride. 6/26/2014 05:35:01 am
Mia, you always so kind and generous in your comments. My comments always suck, which is why I rarely ever comment. When I watch EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD ride, I think, "Wow. I wish I rode that well." I can't think of anything constructive to say because I am so busy admiring what they're doing.
Canter cues can vary widely by discipline. Typically in hunters, you cue mainly with the outside leg (sliding it back and on, and keeping the inside leg steady to maintain bend). 6/26/2014 05:40:23 am
Austen - I wish you could have heard Marisa because one thing she was asking me to do was to ONLY cue with the outside leg. For Speedy, using the inside leg was too similar to the trot cue which is why he keeps trying to hop into the canter before I ask. The other thing she was asking me to do is to REALLY push him forward which will make the hop into the canter easier. Since we don't have enough impulsion from behind, he wants to "hoist' himself (her words) into the canter with his front end.
I think Austen and Sarah were saying the same thing in different ways. :) 6/26/2014 12:33:20 pm
So you weight the inside, Mia? Austen is suggesting weighting the outside. I think I am going to try sitting evenly. Maybe that will help. :0) I also find pushing the right hip forward REALLY hard. Even when I am just sitting around the house, my left hip is always forward. I do a morning stretch that works on my hip flexors, and getting my right hip forward KILLS me. I guess I need to do more of them! :0)
This is such an interesting conversation!! You guys are awesome! 6/29/2014 10:02:57 am
Something interesting … saddle fttter was out over the weekend. The left side of my saddle's flocking was more compressed than the right and the saddle was pitching forward. She's been coming once a year since I bought this saddle so the compression and pitching are just from this past year's riding. Darn that right hip! Need to try weighting my right seat bone more. :0) Comments are closed.
|
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
|