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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Can or Can't

10/29/2018

 
This is the first time that I've wondered whether Speedy can actually do the work I am asking of him. From Intro through Second Level, I knew he could do the movements. How hard is it to do a stretchy trot circle or lengthen your stride just that little bit more?
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Go, Speedy, go!
Over the years, plenty of doubters have questioned whether or not Speedy could move up the levels. He's an Arab, it will be too hard for him. His back is too long. His back is too short. His croup is too high. His neck is set too low. A lot of doubters.

All along, I've defended him saying that every horse can walk, trot, and canter. That's really all that First Level asks for. For Second Level, we finally needed to stretch ourselves a bit. It wasn't easy; we had to dig deeper than we had before. Even so, we got it together and came out of the season with more "wins" than I ever thought we'd get.
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Chemaine Hurtado (owner/trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables), Speedy G, and me.
Now we're schooling the movements from Third Level. The changes are coming; I am definitely feeling what we need to do to make them happen. They're not easy, of course, but Speedy's getting the idea. Over the weekend, he actually threw in a change before I asked for it which means we're making progress toward a new and different problem.

It's the lateral movements that are killing us. He just can not get the half pass at trot. To the right, we've got something that looks passable, but it's practically in slow motion. To the left, forget it. He simply will not soften on the left side. 

Chemaine said something the other day that really stuck. When I can get the correct bend, I can get out of the way so that he can bring his haunches around for the half pass. That idea is what helped me get any sort trot half pass to the right, and the canter half pass? Forget about it. I can't get anything.
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Speedy's attitude about most everything right now.
Right now, I am beating myself up. Am I asking for too much? Are my expectations simply too high? Does he need more strength? Am I going too fast? Was Second Level the best he can do? And the hardest question I ask myself, can he even do Third Level? 
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Thanks for the photos Mom!
The whole thing is made even more discouraging since Izzy's trot half pass, walk pirouettes, and walk to canter are all already better than Speedy's. Izzy is far more talented, but it all comes with a lot more drama.

I really want to get Speedy to Third. He deserves it. I just don't know if he can do it. 
Marlane
10/29/2018 02:14:01 pm

It is an interesting question, as it is true traditionally Arabs have not been used for the higher levels. Why ? Is it attitude, physical? I suppose you will not know unless you keep on.

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/30/2018 06:44:35 am

I know Arabs can do it, Hilda Gurney shows a lot of Arabs, I just don't want to push Speedy to do something he physically can't do. I had a lesson yesterday, so I feel a lot better today. :0)

Karen & Hampton
10/29/2018 02:31:43 pm

What you are experiencing is very normal. I had a lot of doubters and downright haters tell me Hampton would never do Third level. Now he is knocking on I-1. Remember that even as you move up the levels, it's STILL only walk-trot and canter ... you are just adding in more bend, engagement and collection. I have gone through what you are going through. Just keep going, sometimes their body just needs to figure it out.

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/30/2018 06:48:38 am

I really appreciate your comment, Karen (and Hampton, too!). I've followed your journey with Hampton for more than a few years. Whenever I get frustrated or feel as though we're completely stuck, I look to other riders who have made it work.

And I totally agree about walk, trot, canter. I was at a show a few years ago when I was still trudging through Training Level, and I was watching some upper level tests. As I watched the pirouettes and the half passes, I realized that it IS just walk, trot, canter. That was a real eye opener for me.

Terry Golson link
10/30/2018 05:20:05 am

I also have an untraditional dressage horse - a Paint - and it's been a two steps forward, one back, journey. With mine, the limitation has been in the SI joint. He goes sound, looks sound, and my trainer says "he's ready for second!" but then, pushed too far, he seizes up. It's not something that a typical lameness exam is going to find. We ended up doing scintigraphy at a vet hospital to isolate the problem. One year after the last injections, we're going back. The vet thinks that doing those once a year will keep him comfortable and able to continue to do dressage. If a typically happy and willing horse says "no" that there's usually an underlying physical reason - but sometimes it's not easy to find :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/30/2018 06:56:16 am

Thanks for the feedback! I actually had a GREAT lesson yesterday which helped me determine that Speedy CAN do it. He's just a more lazy horse than is Izzy. Even so, I always look to my riding and his health before I ever blame anything on him. :0)

T link
10/30/2018 01:26:17 pm

I've been having a lot of similar thoughts with my Welsh Cob mare. I ride my coach's horse weekly, and she is the same age, same program, started the same month as Bridget. And, is now currently finding PSG fun and easy. Which, is awesome, but very demoralizing if i think too hard on it. My coach likes to say that B is the one I've learned the most from, though, because nothing has come easy and I've really had to be mentally tough and break each step down and learn it inside out.

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/2/2018 06:39:32 am

I totally understand. I've learned MUCH more by riding Izzy than I have riding Speedy. The good thing about riding two horses, which you know, is that you can learn on one and apply it to the other. I am much encouraged this week with Speedy, so keep plugging away. :0)

Val
10/31/2018 05:50:48 am

Glad to hear you had a good lesson that boosted your mindset of Speedy since this post.

This might be a stupid question, but do you school the half pass in walk? I watched an awesome video on YouTube years ago that demonstrated the half pass. The trainer explained that the outside rein controls the angle. For some reason this was a light bulb insight for me. I played around until I found that control and then travers, renvers, and half pass all clicked.

If your horse can do the changes, you can do third. Worse comes to worst, do a leg yield with him flexed in the direction he's going instead of a half pass left, ride the other movements as best you can, and the pat your horse and yourself on the back. Riding at third is a big deal no matter what!

Bakersfield Dressage link
11/2/2018 06:43:44 am

To answer your question, YES! In fact I show him everything at the walk, well, MOST things,. :0)

For Speedy, the lateral work is the hardest. I can use my outside rein until the cows come home, but he still finds it difficult. Moving his haunches is just really hard. I know my aids are correct because I can move Izzy's haunches with the whisper of a thought.

The changes are coming easier and easier with Speedy, so I feel good about that. It will be the lateral work that we'll struggle with - faking or not! LOL


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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    National Rider Awards

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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
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  • My Horses
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    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
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