Category:

GEAHS Open Dressage Show

3/5/2018

If you hurry up, there's still time to enter. Find the show premium here; it needs to be postmarked by March 7th. If you're still on the fence about the show, get off it, and come! The Golden Empire Arabian Horse Society is putting on a show unlike they've ever done. Wait until you see the facility!

Gardiner Ranch entry way

Lowell Saunders, the show manager (contact him here), invited me to join the club as they toured the show venue and made final arrangements. How have the property owners kept this place such a secret?

The massive covered arena.

The show venue is located just off Enos lane, a few miles south of 7th Standard Road. Parking will be along the edge of the gravel drive, but it's plenty wide enough and close to the arena and warm up area.

Plenty of "pull through" parking.

The club will also be sponsoring a barbecue lunch, free for competitors and trainers. The GEAHS group has always done excellent prizes as well as a silent auction. Expect them to bring those back for this year as well.

Lunch will be availble from here.

The arena is so large that it will contain not only the dressage court and judge's platform, but an "on deck" warm up area as well. Even though a reining show was going on during our visit, the footing still looked quite lovely for dressage. George, the man in charge of the footing, asked me to describe the kind of footing we would like and promised to get it perfect for us.

Plenty of room!

There is also a round pen for lunging and a dirt field that will be dragged and smoothed for the warm up. It's a large, fenced area that will more than meet our needs as a warm up ring. As a bonus, it is just steps away from the arena entrance.

Airy, fenced, and with excellent footing.

The GEAHS Spring Open Dressage Show is CDS-rated, but if you're just starting out, don't let that stop you. The club is hoping to attract riders of all levels. They really just want riders to come and enjoy a day with horses in a beautiful facility.

What a view!

The show is Sunday, March 18th. In order to prepare for the show, I am working with the venue's facilitator and Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, to (hopefully) put together a Ride-a-Test clinic for Saturday, the day before the show. Let me know if you'd like to participate.

The GEAHS is already planning next year's event at the Gardiner Ranch. So even if you're not quite ready to show this year, come on out to get a look at the facility. Then stay for lunch and enjoy Chemaine's fabulous freestyle!

4 Comments

Welcome, Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital

2/16/2018

1 Comment

Wait. What? Who? Yup, that's right, we have a "new" vet hospital in town. As of the beginning of this year, Bakersfield Vet Hospital (large animal) is no longer.

I'll miss this place.

No need to panic though, Dr. Tolley has us covered. As of January first, Dr. Tolley, Dr. Gonzalez, and vet tech/office manager, Kathryn Kelly, have reincorporated as Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital.

Speedy "enjoyed" his hospital stay a few years ago.

For the next few months, they will still work out of the Wible station, and the phone number will remain the same.

Dr. Tolley (left) working with Dr. Gonzalez.

Sometime in the early summer though, before the end of July, the team will be packing up and moving to a new-to-them facility.

Kathryn's current lab. I hope her new one is just as welcoming!

Since Dr. Pipkin is retiring, the team of Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital will be taking over her facility and combining the two practices.

I am sure Dr. Pipkin's clients will miss her.

Moving a practice and creating a new hospital involves a lot more work than I imagined; Dr. Tolley listed at least 25 forms, licenses, or agencies that need to be dealt with before they pack their first box. While the team isn't necessarily enjoying that aspect of the move, Dr. Tolley is looking forward to the wide open spaces of the new facility. He's also looking forward to the quiet that they'll get. If you've been to the Wible station, you know what he's talking about.

I am pretty sure Rudy will make the move as well.

If you're fond of the old BVH hospital, schedule an appointment quickly; the team won't be there much longer. I am looking forward to all of the changes they make with their new hospital and practice. You can bet I'll be tapping on the window chanting, open, open, open!

1 Comment

Local Dressage Show

1/29/2018

8 Comments

We don't have a very big dressage presence here in Bakersfield, and the truth is, I am not sure it would even take two hands to count the number of active riders showing dressage. So when a non-dressage equestrian group offers to put on a CDS-rated show, it should be something we support.

From last year's local show.

My local friends are eye-rolling now, I know. You see, this show has ... some history. It hasn't gone well the past few years, and local riders are skeptical that it won't be any different this year. In fact, it's going to be interesting to see if the show actually gets enough participants to put together a schedule. For the record, I am going.

Most everything about the show has been done well. They've offered High Point awards, raffles, and food. The facility had good parking, was centrally located, and while the footing wasn't the greatest, it was good enough for this former endurance rider.

So what's to complain about? Well, without beating a dead horse, some of the show day decisions have been questionable. One year, the show manager refused to return score sheets until the end of the show. Often times, classes were scheduled in what appeared to be in no particular order. On top of that, riders were permitted to ride out of order so that the class couldn't close until nearly the end of the show. Last year, ride times were confirmed the night before, but by the next morning, everyone's times had been switched around; mine by four hours! Other riders had been rescheduled to an earlier time and so were not even on the show grounds! In short it was a disaster.

New and Improved?

This year, a new show manager has been brought in to replace the manager of the past few years. He's excited about the show and working hard to fix the glitches of the past. They've moved the show to a new venue, one that none of us has seen. They're still offering high point awards and no grounds fee. On top of that, they're providing a free BBQ for riders, trainers, and owners! That's a new one for me.

Also from last year's show.

So local peeps ... what do you say? Let's give them another chance. If nothing else, it's a cheap show, and you'll get lunch out of the deal!

8 Comments

On Hold ...

11/27/2017

0 Comments

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Mine was not what I was hoping for. I woke up sick on Thursday morning and Friday morning and Saturday morning ... You get the idea. I didn't know my doctor ran a skeleton crew on Saturdays. I do now.

I am taking a short blogging break until I kick this thing to the curb. In the meantime, can someone sing me some Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty?

Be back soon.

0 Comments

The Lone Survivor

10/16/2017

7 Comments

By now, everyone across the country has heard about the devastation that last week's fires have caused here in California. The destruction to our cities, neighborhoods, farms, and vineyards is nearly unfathomable. While I feel a great deal of compassion for the folks outside of my city, it's easier for me to cope when I turn my attention to those in my own community.

Dr. Tolley and the stallion.

Last week, I shared a post about the Jackson Stable Fire in Oildale. As of this weekend, that family has received an outpouring of public support for which they are extremely grateful. Unfortunately, the families affected by the Cottonwood fire haven't received as much support from the community.

Several of the affected families desperately need help. Their horses were being temporarily housed at the fairgrounds, but they have no hay, buckets, or other essentials. I heard that one man was still wearing the clothes that he had on during the fire. I don't know if there is an organized support system in place yet, but I suspect that a quick call (661-833-4900) to the Kern County Fairgrounds might yield some answers.

On Thursday, when I took Speedy to the vet to have his coronary band injury looked at (more about that tomorrow), I met the only horse (of more than twenty) who survived the Cottonwood Fire. He's a handsome gray stallion with a very friendly eye. Dr. Tolley was kind enough to share the story of what happened to him.

During the fire, which was fueled by high winds, the metal shade roof in the stallion's pen was knocked to the ground. Somehow, it sheltered him from the blaze that ultimately killed more than 20 other horses.

Even with something to block the flames, the stallion's muzzle was burned, but the rest of his body was kept safe. The barrier couldn't protect him against the smoke though. His lungs have severe damage from smoke inhalation, and as of Thursday afternoon, he was showing the early signs of pneumonia.

The stallion clearly likes Dr. Tolley.

The family who owns this horse lost several others in the fire, including a mare in foal. I don't know what their financial situation is, but I know it's not solid enough to easily pay the quickly mounting vet bill. Given what I know of them, this bill is going to be very difficult for them to pay.

After I paid Speedy's bill, I slid my card back across the counter and asked if I might make a payment toward the stallion's expenses. The staff at BVH thanked me and made it clear that the stallion's owners would be grateful. Several others had already phoned in contributions earlier in the day.

As of Thursday, the total bill was hovering around $2,000, but given the developing pneumonia, it will likely get higher. If you feel like you'd like to help someone affected by California's recent wildfires, I think this family would really appreciate it.

Bakersfield Vet Hospital can be reached at 661-832-1150. Simply tell them you'd like to contribute to the bill of the stallion from the fire. They'll know which horse you mean.

7 Comments

Compton Cowboys

9/29/2017

2 Comments

Did anyone else catch this article on Horse and Hound this week? It was pretty interesting while also confirming what we all know about horses. They create bridges that connect people from all walks of life.

You can read a bit more about the Compton Cowboys here and then check out the Compton Junior Posse. None of us needs to be told how horses can change lives; we already tell that story. In fact, we get to see it happening every day in our own barns and back yards. That's just what horses do.

Photo by Horse Nation

I am glad to see it happening somewhere so unlikely.

2 Comments

Self-Promotion

7/12/2017

6 Comments

I have a ton of respect for my trainer, Chemaine Hurtado. She's an excellent trainer who helps her students feel successful, empowered, and ready to do it all again tomorrow. Under her leadership, Team Symphony is a fun group where everyone gets to shine and be a star.

Team Symphony - which one is the trainer?

Sometimes though, this rising tide lifts all boats mentality means that her accomplishments and talents as a trainer get overlooked. She's the first one to brag on someone across Facebook, but she never self-promotes or points out that it was her training that helped the rider get to that successful moment.

Every member of Team Symphony gives her the credit for their wins, but we're preaching to the choir. For a trainer to grow her business, it's important for her to toot her own horn a little so people who don't already know her, can well, get to know her!

A few weeks ago, I asked her if she'd let me help promote her a little bit since she really stinks at it. I think she was a little wary of what I intended, but I think we're both really proud of the result!

www.symphonydressage.com

I spent the better part of a week digging through her Facebook pages, business and personal, and redesigned her web page and blog. It's easy to "self-promote" when you're doing it for someone else! I guess it's not really called self-promotion then, is it?

So with that, I am super proud to introduce Chemaine Hurtado's updated web site! You can find it at www.symphonydressage.com. I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think. It's not often that a student gets to have her trainer as a client!

6 Comments

Hotter Than ...

6/19/2017

6 Comments

There aren't many places on the planet right now that are hotter than California's Central Valley. I even Googled Bagdad's temperature, and it was only 109℉. This morning, at 5:00 a.m., it's already 82℉ with 44% humidity. It will be 100℉ before 11:00 a.m.

A few days ago, the predictions were even higher at 112℉. Both the highs and lows are supposed to break records set way back in 1938. While I love our local meteorologist (go, Miles!), he's not always right. I hope this is one of those times.

Wet saddle blanket ...

I was on by 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning, and Izzy was hotter than the weather. It took a full hour to get his brain connected to his body. When I realized that he was going to explode, I untacked him (after 15 minutes of walking), and threw him in the round pen where he worked off some of the excess energy.

I tacked him back up and was pleased at how politely he stood without even a halter. I worked him another 30 minutes simply asking for some obedience and submission. I got a smidgeon of both, but it wasn't enough to make me smile.

Today, I am braced for more jackassery, but for both our sakes, I hope he'll settle the heck down. I think wet saddle blankets are an excellent way to quiet down a horse (see above), but not when it means I have to worry about myself getting heat stroke.

Hello, summer, you suck.

6 Comments

Breeders' Cup 2016

11/7/2016

6 Comments

While the Breeders' Cup changes venues each year, I think that it's at Santa Anita about the half of the time. That's good for us since Santa Anita is only about a two hour drive from Bakersfield. We went in 2014 and had a great time, so my husband made sure we had tickets for the 2016 event.

Before the crowds started to roll in.

Before we even left for the races, I had contacted Jodi Perkins who writes the blog Racing to Ride. She had mentioned on Facebook that she and her significant other would be there all the way from Arizona. While Jodi doesn't post often, she does share her racing adventures on her Facebook page, and I am always deeply fascinated by her life. I was dying to meet her in person.

Of course, once we finally found one another, I was so star struck that I forgot to get photographic proof of the meet-up. Dude - she's tall, thin, and gorgeous. I had a girl crush right away. Not only is she simply lovely, but she's very nice and easy to chat with. I didn't want to keep her for too long, so we visited between races. I promised that if she and her SO ever bring a horse to race at Santa Anita, we'd be there to cheer her on.

It's a beautiful track.

I've been to Santa Anita a bunch of times and have written about it more than once. No matter how many times I visit, I am always in awe of the place. The track is set at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains which means that whether horses are going by or not, you always have an amazing view.

Kent Desormeaux

I don't go to a lot of tracks, so I can't say how they're set up, but Santa Anita does its best to give visitors an up close view of the horses and jockeys. At a normal weekend race, you can get right next to the horses in the paddocks and saddling areas, and fans are allowed right next to the fence. At the Breeders' Cup, it's a little harder to get around, so I didn't get any paddock shots this times, but we did get to watch all of the horses come through the tunnel.

Just coming onto the track.

When you stand at the rail, you realize just how fast those horses are moving. They flash by in a blaze of color that is simply beautiful.

This is Classic Empire (on the inside) winning his race with Julien Leparoux aboard in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2 year old colts and geldings). I love that I was able to capture the moment just as the jockey was reaching down to pat his horse's neck.

Classic Empire

The two-day attendance total of 118,484 was the highest in the 33-year history of the Breeders' Cup. We thought it was crowded in 2014, but this year's attendance was amazing!

From early in the day.

On a normal weekend, we get super amazing box seats for about $40 total. For the Breeders' Cup, the same seats sell for thousands and thousands of dollars. The best we could do for this visit was Club Apron which is track level but right next to the tunnel where the horses come in and out and right in front of the finish line. We paid $165 bucks a ticket.

We were right here, fourth row.

The highlight of the day was Race 12. You've probably already seen it on TV, but if not, here's the video.

We bet on California Chrome, of course, so it was disappointing that he lost. We saw him run in 2014 at the Breeders' Cup where he finished third. When the horses made the last turn and started down the home stretch, the roar from the crowd was deafening. I saw Chrome starting to flag, but I was certain the crowd's energy was going to push him that last little bit to victory, but no.

California Chrome coming through the tunnel.

I think we're going to go back in January for my birthday when the track re-opens for the 2017 season. Tickets will be cheap, the crowd a whole lot thinner, and the weather is usually better there than at home. Pasadena has fewer rainy days than even we have.

If you've never been to the races, you should find a track in your area and go. It's a lot of fun, and really, it's a pretty cheap day - especially if you cash in a ticket or two.

6 Comments

Checking In ... Checking Out

10/12/2016

13 Comments

It seems like my horses do this all the time. Hey! Are you still up there? Sorry, forgot about you for a minute.

This an old picture of Speedy from way back in 2009. When I first got him, that round dot on his muzzle quickly became known as his reset button. Speedy won't behave, hit the reset button! When he checks out, which isn't very often these days, I know I always have at least that trick up my sleeve.

I mentioned a week or so ago that I've been too busy to reply to comments or do much else besides go to work and squeeze in a ride now and then. It's not much of a reveal, so don't get too excited, but we just bought a new house. My horses moved a few months back, and now it's our turn.

We're leaving our very modest home of the past 11 years for something far grander and rather fancy. It's been a long process, and I still don't have a key in my hand, but that should happen in just a few hours.

Look in the middle for the red marker.

Yep. That is a lake, although my husband calls it a pond. Since you can't boat or swim in it, he's probably right. You can fish from the shore though, and it's teeming with ducks and other birds. Our backyard opens right onto the lake with a gate so that we can walk the dogs and drive the ducks crazy. Or the dogs crazy. We're not sure who is going to win that one.

Front door entry way

We actually placed an offer on a different house but after more than a week of hearing nothing from the seller, we moved on to this house. They weren't particularly quick to respond either. My husband finally groused that it was crazy that we had nearly half a million dollars to spend and nobody wanted our money!

Gourmet kitchen - swoon! There is even a wine 'fridge.

So what have I been doing this past month? Well first, we sold our current home in six days. While that sounds fabulous, it put a ton of pressure on us to find something really fast. And it couldn't be just anything; it had to be something we loved. Once we found the house, we spent weeks dealing with inspections and repairs on both houses.

Formal living room - it will eventually become a reading room.

Over the weekend, we had to issue an ultimatum to the sellers when it seemed as though they'd changed their minds about selling. We were in full panic mode as everything was packed and the mover was hired. Ultimately, the sellers signed the last needed piece of paper and the move became a go.

In a few hours, after I sign one last piece of paper, I am heading out to see Speedy and Izzy. While there, I am definitely hitting Speedy's reset button in hopes that it works for me, too. So for now, I am checking in, but I need to check out for a bit. We won't have internet for a few days, but I hope to be back early next week.

Wish us luck, and I'll see you all in a few days!

13 Comments

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About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime 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.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse and occasional trail horse. He is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

July 2017 - Photo by Sue Dockweiler

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 schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand Zweibrücker gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

Stuff I'm Working On ...

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%

CDS Championship Qualifying
Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 61.282%
Score 3: 62.879%
Score 4:
Score 5:

CDS Ruby Rider Award
Training Level Scores:
Score 1: 70.179%
Score 2: 72.600%

First Level Scores:
Score 1: 66.093%
Score 2: 68.750%

Second Level Scores:
Score 1: 63.485%
Score 2: 62.879%

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award
Score 1 - 62.879%
Score 2 -
Score 3 -
Score 4 -

2018 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USE
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2018 Pending …
5/27/18 Tehachapi (*)
6/16-17/18 El Sueno (***)
6/24/18 Tehachapi (*)
7/22/18 Tehachapi (*)
8/11-12/18 RAAC (Q ***)
8/26/18 Tehachapi (*)

2018 Completed …
1/14/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/10/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
2/24/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
3/17/18 Hurtado Clinic (t)
3/18/18 GEAHS (*)
3/31/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
4/14-15/18 El Sueno (***)

GEAHS Open Dressage Show

Welcome, Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital

Local Dressage Show

On Hold ...

The Lone Survivor

Compton Cowboys

Self-Promotion

Hotter Than ...

Breeders' Cup 2016

Checking In ... Checking Out

About the
Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

Stuff I Read

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About the Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

Stuff I Read

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About the
Writer & Rider