Category: Showing

It's Really Happening

8/23/2019

We are really and truly doing this. Izzy's name is on the ride schedule, and we have times - good ones, I might add. I specifically asked for as late a time as possible because of the lengthy warm up we're (probably) going to need.

Here we go!

I never run through the tests with Speedy. Not even when we were showing Training Level. I would do chunks of the tests, but never a whole test all the way through. Speedy is too smart. If I ran through the test, he would have it memorized immediately, and then he'd be trying to tell me what to do. He already does that at home.

"I said NO!" - Speedy's not subtle.

Izzy is an entirely different horse. He's not nearly as sharp as Speedy. He's a firecracker for sure, but he's not much of a thinker. He's much more of a reactionary and lives very much in the moment. While Speedy anticipates, even plotting his next move at times, Izzy always seems surprised by my aids. Which is something I need to sharpen up; he's not convinced that trot at C means RIGHT NOW, DAMMIT!

Not much thinking going on here ...

I realized that it might be helpful to run through the tests with him. I figured it might build some confidence if he felt a sense of routine and familiarity. So that's what I did on Wednesday afternoon; we ran through Training Level Test 3 several times. I was actually really pleased with parts of the test, especially the first time through. The second time we rode it, he started to get sassy which tells me he was feeling some self-confidence.

From one of our many summer field trips.

I'll do the same thing this afternoon and tomorrow. I am really focusing on riding him like I will during the test. There are no do-overs and no circling back. No matter what he does, I am schooling him for the test.

However it goes on Sunday, I'll be glad just to have schooled him to the point where I think he might be ready to show. For so long our daily rides were all about getting him to listen to me without constant jackassery. Even considering him maybe ready for a show is a huge win.

Wish us luck!

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Surprise!

8/21/2019

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You get three guesses, one for each braid, to figure out why I would be braiding Izzy's mane. Yep. We're going to a show on Sunday.

I though I should practice.

When Speedy didn't make it to RAAC, I realized that my biggest goal for the season, earning our Bronze Medal, wasn't going to happen (yet). In light of that, it didn't seem like there were a whole lot of reasons to take him to the final Tehachapi show of the season as it's only CDS-rated. While Speedy and I might have earned two more scores for our annual plate, I was more interested in getting Izzy some show miles.

Sequoia Hills Schooling Show, Introductory Level

Back in 2016, I took Izzy to 4 schooling shows and a CDS show in Tehachapi. He kept his act (mostly) together for those shows, but his tension was so high that we scored solidly in the 50s. We even earned a 49%. Twice. Once Speedy was recovered from whatever injury he had in 2016, Izzy went back to school and hasn't shown since.

Hansen Dam Schooling Show, Intro B.

Speedy's not injured, but it's finally time to start doing something with Izzy. When I sat down to fill out the entry form, I entered all of my association numbers and wrote Izzy's RPSI name in the horse section. As my pen hovered over Level and Test, I paused. For a really long time. I paused for days actually. I just didn't know at what level we should show. He has a pretty nice half pass. His stretchy trot is lovely. He can do simple changes when he's really connected. His medium trot is still developing. Basically, we're schooling many of the movements from First to Third Level.

White Birch Schooling Show, Intro Level.

Then it dawned on me that my purpose isn't to show off anything. I am not trying to get a judge's opinion on the quality of any of the movements. I don't really care about his canter through trot at X or whether his trot lengthening showed a difference. All I want to see is if he can get in the ring and not lose his marbles. I decided that he can reliably do all of the movements at Training Level, so we're doing T1 and T3.

Now to do all of it.

I have no idea how we'll do. At home, I can now work with him even when he's tense and anxious. When he's relaxed, which is most of the time, he's Mr. McDreamy. When he's tense, he looks it, but at least he'll still play ball. Hopefully our first ride time isn't too early because we're going to need a long warm up.

Aren't there rules about that sort of thing? What's the time limit anyway?

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Three Is My Lucky Number

8/6/2019

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That means that Third Level Test 3 should be right up my alley. It might not be our strongest test yet, but it will be. I can feel it.

Our first test of the show went really well. We had a bunch of 7.0s and only one small blooper, a late change behind in the flying lead change. I was feeling pretty good about test 3.

He just tries so hard to do that extended trot!

Unfortunately, the show manger had scheduled a pretty long break between our two tests, just over an hour and a half. On a normal summer day, that probably wouldn't have affected us, but on that particular day, California's Central Valley experienced its hottest day of the summer. It was officially 110* in Bakersfield and in the low 90s in the Tehachapi Mountains (which feels hotter than it is). Our first test was at 12:16 and the second one was at 1:51.

Being small makes 10-meter half circles a little easier.

I kept Speedy tacked up, but pulled his bridle and covered him with a fly sheet to shade him from the worst of the sun. For this show, I tie to the side of the trailer where there is usually a little shade. Speedy was cool to the touch and not sweating at all. in fact, he stood there dozing with his lip hanging, certain that we'd be going home at any moment.

Not too bad considering he was half asleep.

I kept my second warm up super short, focusing on just perking him up. When we entered at A, I felt like things were going to be okay. In fact the first half of the test rode pretty decently. We earned a long list of 6.0s and 6.5s. Our trouble started with the first trot half pass (5.0). From that point on, the test gets a lot harder, and it showed in our scores.

The start of a medium canter?

At home, we can do a very balanced walk to canter transition. This season though, that movement is completely broken when we show. I know it's me because we have trouble with both the right and left lead. For test 3, we blew the left lead walk to canter at K needing several tries to get the correct lead - 4.0. This really stinks because it leads directly into the canter half pass left - 4.0.

First flying lead change - 7.0!

While our canter half passes definitely need a ton of work, the flying changes are getting better. We earned a 7.0 for the first one but a 5.0 for the second one when it was very late. So late, in fact, that it took me until the rail to get Speedy to change behind. Booger. From there, we pulled in a couple of 6.0s for our medium and collected canter and a solid 6.5 for our collected trot at H.

Final halt at G (no hiding when you're that close to the judge) - 7.0

Our final score for this Third Level Test 3 was a frustrating 59.250%, just 3 points shy of a 60%. With so many of this test's scores counting as double coefficients, it's easy to both lower or raise your score. If we can just get a slightly better canter half pass and ride both flying changes cleanly, we'll "easily" earn a 60+% for this test.

I can't swear being hot and tired was the cause, but I think it was. Even my husband thought the test looked labored. Speedy just wasn't really feeling it, and for us to earn a score in the 60s, he has to really want to. He didn't really want to. I can't blame him too much. This horse does an awful lot for me.

Here's the video.

Much to my complete surprise, our show season is not over! We have one more chance this weekend to earn those Bronze Medal scores. I'll share that story on Friday.

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Third Time's the Charm

8/5/2019

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Third Level is certainly proving to be a challenge. Not that I am surprised. We have yet to sail through any of the levels easily. I am not frustrated by our pace though. In fact, after last weekend's show, I am a bit encouraged.

Trying to use those corners.

Our recent internet interruption meant that I couldn't share how we did at the recent CDS-rated show in Tehachapi. Before doing that show, I had accepted the fact that I wasn't going to earn my Bronze Medal this year, nor was I going to qualify for my favorite show of the year, the Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC). And frankly, I was okay with that.

Definitely struggling, but oh, so close!

It's no secret that we are clearly a "developing" Third Level team. Our scores prove it. In our defense, we've only been showing at this level since June. And as everyone already knows, I am not one of those who show a level below what I am schooling. I'd never get anywhere with that approach. Instead, I school it at home, and then show it to the judge. I rely on the judge to let me know in which areas I need to focus.

I am in love with this shirt!

My parents, whom I haven't seen in a really, really long time, decided to visit for this show weekend. Surprisingly, I wasn't at all worried about them driving 500 miles only to witness a train wreck of a show. My stepmom reads my blog enough to know that we're struggling. Entering at A with a well-groomed and neatly braided horse was enough to put a smile on her face. I wasn't so sure about my dad. He did ask if he could hang my ribbon in his billiard's room though so maybe he thought the whole thing was actually better than watching paint dry. In any case, they didn't make me nervous at all. In fact, maybe they gave us a reason to shine.

I let him run "au naturel" at home, but he sure cleans up nicely.

Before I rode my first test, we sat through a couple of other rides as I explained to my parents the basic dressage rules, the layout of a dressage court, and what they should be looking for when I rode. I have to give them credit; they truly listened and seemed interested in understanding the sport. And we all know how boring it can all seem to an uneducated audience.

I LOVE how determined he gets.

Our first test of the day, Third Level - Test 1, rode better than any other test this year. I always know when I am finally getting the directives when I feel like the test is going in slow motion. Does anyone else experience that sensation? When I first start a level, the movements seem to come hurtling at us in fast forward. Not this test. I actually felt like I was able to prepare for each movement.

We earned a 7.0 for this flying change.

My husband went and collected the score sheet, something he's never done before. When he asked me what score would make me happy, I rolled my eyes and said any score in the 60s would be awesome. I think he might have been more proud of that 63% than I was.

We're not the best Third Level pair out there, but we sure look cute doing it!

I was really excited about our score sheet. The judged awarded us a 63.243%. We had one single score below a 6.0, a 4.0 for the first flying change. The judge noted that it was late behind. Aside from that score, the rest were really good. We earned a 7.5 for our collected trot down centerline and a 7.0 for our final centerline. We earned three additional 7.0s for our halt to rein back, a 10-meter canter circle, and best of all, a 7.0 for our second flying change. Insert huge first pump for that sucker.

Final halt - 7.0

Having that 60%-plus score gave me a real sense of accomplishment. It wasn't a USDF score, but it did count for a lot of other programs within my own GMO, the California Dressage Society (CDS). Every perceived success, no matter how small, gives just that little bit of momentum toward the next effort.

Here's the video.

Not to spoil things for you, but the second test wasn't nearly as good as the first one. It wasn't terrible, but we fell just three points shy of a 60%. I'll tell you that story tomorrow.

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Not This Time Either ...

7/17/2019

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The first time here.

Our Third Level Test 3s were pretty similar to the Test 1s, if maybe slightly better. Still no 60%s, but again, if it weren't for that one movement ...

Seriously, doesn't this look familiar?

From Saturday's 3-3 test.

It should, because it looked exactly like the nonexistent left to right flying change during 3-1 (below) which earned a 1.0. Guess what the nonexistent change above scored? Bingo, another 1.0. And if we didn't get our 60% during test 1 with a non-flying change, we sure as heck weren't going to get it at test 3 with another non-flying change.

From Saturday's 3-1 test.

Aside from some disastrous changes, the Test 3s weren't too shabby. The walk and trot work was mostly where it needed to be. Our turns on the haunches scored 7.0, 6.5, 6.5, and 5.5 (not sure what happened on the last one, but it was wonky.) Our half circles earned 6.0s and 6.5s. Our last extended trot even earned a 7.0.

Entering at A, something we do pretty well. Why is there no score for that?

The trot half passes are still developing, but we did earn a 6.0 on one of them. The last section of the test - an extended canter to a collected canter to a collected trot and finished off with two left turns to the halt, is really fun to ride. We had a lone 5.5 for a transition from collected canter to trot, but outside of that, we earned a handful of 6.5s and even a 7.0 during those last four movements, both times. Too bad none of them carry a double coefficient.

I love the 10-meter half circles. This one earned a 6.5.

To my relief, we finally got both of the flying changes on Sunday's Test 3. We were rewarded with a 6.5 for the first one and a 6.0 for the second one. During one of the judge's breaks, she walked past me and congratulated me on getting the changes. The missed changes must have been pretty memorable for the judge to recognize me even in my shorts and Symphony Dressage sun shirt! I thanked her for her feedback and joked that changes are even harder when the canter is broken. She laughed good-naturedly and encouraged me to keep at it.

Speedy loves the center line.

No matter what kind of scores I get at a show, I always learn something. Being at a show causes my mental neurons to fire like crazy. I absorb everything like a gigantic sponge. In turn, I ride with this scary intensity as I struggle to put it all together. Struggle being the operative word.

At one point, Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, yelled something like think haunches in as you blah, blah, blah. I rolled my eyes at her as I cantered past telling her that I had no room for that last piece of advice as I was already trying to remember to do the other hundred things she had already told me to do. She laughed.

E Turn left, X Turn left, G Halt, salute (6.5)

Despite the teary moments, or maybe even because of them, I had a great time. And really, having fun has to be the number one goal at a show. If it's not fun, it's not really worth spending so much time and money doing it. I learned a lot that I've already used this week while riding both Speedy and Izzy, and I am eagerly looking forward to our next show in just over a week. While it is only CDS-rated, my feelings won't be hurt to earn a 60% there.

Below are the score sheets if you're interested - Saturday's on the left and Sunday's on the right. Below those are the videos of each day's Third Level Test 3 rides.

Third Level, Test 3: Top half of score sheets.

bottom half of score sheets.

Collective marks.

Final scores.

Saturday's Test 3 here.

Sunday's Test 3 here.

I do have one final thought: I am actually showing Third Level, and that fact on its own makes me giddy with happiness. If Second level sucks, Third Level is awesome!

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In a Word - Nope.

7/16/2019

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How is it possible to be so disappointed, yet at the same time, have the time of your life? Because that's what this weekend was all about; chagrin followed immediately by merriment. Despondency followed by hilarity. Plain old frustration followed by good natured laughter.

Morgan, Sarah, Chemaine, and me on Speedy (who looks as though he's falling asleep). Tons of laughter with these ladies!

Progress toward earning my USDF Bronze medal is the same as it was on Friday; we have our First and Second Level scores, but we're still missing the two scores from Third Level. I am not going to say we haven't made any progress though as I am gaining a ton of experience by missing the mark. It's expensive experience for sure, but showing is how I learn what we're good at and what needs improving.

He's a great partner. Opinionated, but always on my team.

I learned that our trot work, when I use the corners effectively and half halt at least occasionally, is Third Level worthy. We're not getting 8.0s, but we rarely did at First or Second either, and there is no shame in that. For Third Level test 1, our collected and medium trot work was firmly in the 6.0 - 7.0 range. The trot half passes at 3-1 were a bit sketchy on Saturday - we lacked a correction position, but I was able to mostly fix that for Sunday's test. We improved our scores from 4.0s/5.0s to 5.5s/6.0s.

Enter collected trot - Halt, salute - Proceed collected trot (7.0)

The rein back and the turns on the haunches were also just fine. We earned respectable 6.0s and 7.0s. I can hear you asking if you're so solid at Third, why aren't you pulling in those 60% scores? Well, I'll tell you. Speedy's canter got broken this weekend. The best example? He threw in a flying lead change during the medium canter. What the what?! was all I could say.

The judge generously called it a "lost lead." 4.0

I am not kidding. Here it is. I can sort of see how it was my fault as I was desperately trying to half halt him so I could get the collected canter. He felt me pick up that outside rein and thought Change? Now? Well if you insist.

On Sunday's Third Level Test 1, we would have had a qualifying score but for one movement. One movement. Speedy would not give me the flying change from left to right. He was set up for it, he looked and felt ready for it, but he would not. Out of sheer desperation, I rocked him back as hard as I could onto his haunches, and he still gave me an emphatic NO. By that point, I had run out of long side and needed to trot at C. What did it look like, that moment of rocking him back on his butt? A lot like this ...

Are you kidding me? Just do the damn change, Speedy!

We earned a 1.0 for our nonexistent flying change of lead. With a double coefficient, that movement is worth 20 points. We earned 2. Yeah, that will pretty much kill any shot at a 60%. Way back in the beginning, I had goals like no 5.0s on a test. That's pretty much my goal now except that I need to add a clarification: no 5.0s or lower!

A funny moment!

Like I said, highs and lows ... Just as we passed C, preparing for the medium trot (HXF), the judge rang her bell and told me that I was supposed to halt at C. Morgan, Chemaine's daughter, was reading for me, and I know the test pretty well. I was 100% certain I was NOT supposed to halt at C, so I sat at F waiting for the judge to realize her mistake. She gave an audible oops, and apologized profusely. This has actually happened to me before. The judge told me to carry on.

What made it so funny to me was that I didn't feel as though I had revved Speedy up sufficiently for the medium trot anyway. We were coming into it kind of flat, so once the judge sent me back around, I was able to get better organized. She gave us a 6.5 for the medium trot. I don't know if it was because it was a good medium or she just felt guilty. I was happy with the score either way. I usually find it's better to laugh than to get upset, and it was kind of funny.

Medium trot - 6.5

While I had a great time, I won't lie. I was pretty disappointed at missing that 60%, and there were some teary moments as proof. We're really close though. and it will happen. Maybe not this summer, but we'll get those two scores eventually. Here are both of the Third Level test 1 videos as well as the score sheets side by side. Saturday's 3-1 scores are on the left, and Sunday's 3-1 scores are on the right. The videos, if you're so inclined, follow.

Third Level Test 1 (top halves of score sheets).

Bottom halves.

Collective marks.

Final scores.

Saturday's Third Level Test 1 here.

Sunday's Third Level Test 1 here.

Third Level Test 3(s) tomorrow ...

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Chance #2

7/12/2019

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It's no secret that my main goal for this summer show season is to earn my USDF Bronze Medal. For those of you that don't show dressage, the Bronze Medal marks a pretty important milestone for riders. To earn one, you need two scores of 60% or greater from two different judges at First, Second, and Third Levels. It's hard to do, and for most riders, it takes a long time to do, if it even ever happens.

My progress.

We were so close at the June show. I missed my first score by just a few points. The very next weekend, after fixing some geometry issues, we earned a 62% and a 63% at a CDS-rated show. While the scores counted for a lot of other California Dressage Society (CDS) awards, they didn't count towards the medal, BUT it proves that we're right there.

Saturday's ride times.

We're leaving this morning for a 2-day, USDF/USEF/CDS-rated show at El Sueno Equestrian Center. With four tests over the weekend, I have four chances to earn a qualifying score. Since my scores need to come from two different judges, only one score can count. Do I want it? Yes, desperately. I can get it, I know I can. But if we don't, there's always a next show.

Sunday's ride times.

There's a lot to be said for the power of positive self talk. This weekend, I am going to do a lot of positive visualization and a lot of positive verbal affirmation. Speedy is a rockstar, I am a good rider, and we're ready!

Wish us luck!

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Moving on to 3-3

6/26/2019

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Part 1 here.

I usually move on to test 3 of a level after I get at least a mediocre score at test 2. Why are the second tests of the lower levels so horrible? I don't think there's a single test 2 that I've liked. We scored a 62.105% on Third Level's test 2 this Sunday. Did we hit a home run? No, but it was satisfactory enough that my trainer, Chemaine Hurtado - owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, thinks we're ready to move on to test 3.

I will forever remember to use my corners!

The only new element in test 3 is rein back to trot. That doesn't mean test 3 is easy, we know that from 2-3 and 1-3. The third test is where all of the movements get thrown at you as quickly as possible in ways that do not appear to make any sense. Even so, I am ready to start tackling 3-3 and have even sent in my next two show entries. I may regret that decision. Oh, wait, I already do!

Tight back ears mean he's giving it all he's got!

As you would expect from a slightly more challenging test, our scores dropped a bit for test 2. We didn't get a single 4.0 though. When we got to the walk to canter at F - a movement that caused us all sorts of trouble on test 1 (except that it was at C), I told Speedy he had better pick up the canter correctly. And just as a final reminder, while we were waiting for the judge to ring us in, I asked Speedy to pick up the canter from the walk several times. I may have even had a whip in my hand. My diligence paid off though as Speedy earned himself a nice little 7.0 for that transition to canter. Well done, Dude, well done!

Not from that particular moment, but proof that he can canter on the right lead.

The rest of the test went pretty solidly, not brilliantly, but it wasn't disastrous either. We need more suppleness, more uphill, better throughness, and more clarity between our collected and extended gaits. I get it. We're still a developing Third Level team and probably will be for quite some time.

Extending his canter to his utmost. (7.0 x 2)

One movement that I only started to do two weeks ago is the clear release of both reins for 4-5 strides over centerline at the canter. It shows up only in test 2. When Chemaine asked me a week or so how it was going, I laughed and said that I was just going to skip it. HAHAHAHA. "Um, no," came her reply.

She showed me what it should look like, I practiced it once or twice, and then I did it at the show at El Sueno earning a 6.0 both times. On Sunday, it looked awkward as heck, but the judge liked it well enough to give me a 7.5. Do not ask me what my body is doing. Instead look at how forward I shoved those reins. I wanted the judge to see that I was CLEARLY RELEASING THE REINS. Maybe I am sorry I am not doing 3-2 again.

Please get your balance back before you fall off, but nice release of the reins!

If Second Level is all about the counter canter and the simple change, Third Level is about the flying change. Ours definitely still reside in the "developing" camp. Both changes earned 5.0s for test 2.

An ask followed by a "screw you!"

Another ask ...

"I heard you the first time. Give me a second!"

The judge's comment was very succinct and spot on, "kicked out." The next change got better quicker, but it still earned the same score. With the double coefficient for the flying change of lead, the 5.0s don't exactly help our overall score.

"I thought I told you NO the first time!"

"Hold your horses, lady!"

Two strides later he softens into this puddle of wonderful!

In the video, I look quite determined, and I was. Speedy was so behind my leg in the first test that I carried the whip around the outside warning him that he had BETTER WAKE UP PRONTO. It helped. Even so, getting him forward with more power but expecting him to be soft and supple is still really hard. For both of us.

One of my favorite moments though was this surprise shot caught at the very end of the test. I NEVER smile during a test, yet here I am looking as happy as can be!

We're way past S though!

This dressage court doesn't have the center line letters (DLXIG) marked on the main letters. I had just come from an extended canter M-F with a transition to collected canter F-A. From A, you continue up centerline in collected canter until the collected trot at L, which I couldn't find.

With no letters to help me, I was frantically chanting Daddy Loves eXotic Indian Girls hoping to find "I" (S/R) for my halt. In the photo I was laughing because I was certain I had overshot the "I." The judge gave us a 7.0 for the center line and halt, so it must not have been as big of an issue as I had thought, although from the photo, it's pretty clear I was way off. Good thing there was no judge at B/E!

Once upon a time, eliminating 5s from my score sheets was my goal. I am in that place again. I now know we can get 7s on every movement; we've already done it. Now the trick is to do it on a single test!

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63.514%

6/25/2019

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This Sunday, Speedy and I made the short trek to Tehachapi to show at a CDS-rated show hosted by my own CDS Chapter. We earned a 63% (and change) at Third Level!

Some of you already know how hard I am on myself. On the one hand, I am ridiculously giddy with glee. On the other, much larger hand, I am sitting here wondering if the judge had something in her eye as she watched me ride because 63% is a score I'll always be quite happy with but will never think we've earned.

First ever photo with my trainer on horses!

About 10 seconds after seeing my score, I started beating myself up as I agreed with the 4 for the walk to canter but disregarded the two 7s for the flying changes. It's just so much easier to believe in the weak aspects of the ride than it is to accept the strong ones. We had 12 scores of 7.0 or 7.5. What more can I ask for? My trainer, Chemaine Hurtado - owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, is no doubt tired of trying to cheer me up when we do well. I am working on it, Chemaine, I am working on it!

Thank you, Judge Lindholm

While the score was not earned at a USDF-rated show, the judges at this particular CDS show series are notorious for being tough. I nearly always score better at USDF-rated shows than I do at this summer series. I decided that my effort deserved the score rather than just feeling that we got lucky.

Half circle left 10-meter; looking at C!

During the warm up, a friend whom I haven't seen in ages, noted that Speedy was really carrying himself. I laughed and told her that I still feel like that struggling Introductory Level rider. Every level is a struggle, so it never feels as though we've "arrived!" Of course, I used to think that riders in levels above me were out there having a grand old time on their perfectly behaved, push-button horses. HAHAHA! Good thing the Intro Level me didn't know how much work it was going to be. If anything, it's just gotten harder.

Shoulder-in right (7.0). That's about as steep as I can make it!

This test was far from perfect, but after watching the video, I gave myself a little pat on the back. We're probably never going to kill it at Third Level, or Fourth, or ... , but we belong right where are. Without being in full training, I don't have the luxury of schooling a level above where I am showing. I need help with the movements that I am showing right now. And each time I show them, they'll get better and better.

Medium Trot - 7.5

So what scored well? The shoulder-in to start. Both of them earned a 7.0. We earned 3 scores of 7.5 - medium trot, rein back, and the left turn on the haunches. The rein back has a double coefficient so that made up for the 5.0 on our half pass right.

The moment just before the medium canter.

The best score though was for our flying changes. We earned 7.0s for both of them, and those also have a double coefficient. The judge noted that they were both clean. She didn't note their exuberance, something I am still working on, but clean is what matters.

What's a dressage test without a yeehaw moment? Clean change of lead though!

So what didn't go so well? The right lead canter has always been a bit of a pebble in my shoe, a pain in my butt, and our achilles heel. I schooled that flippin' walk to canter at F and C a bazillion times. I remembered to look to the inside and get the inside bend, but Speedy still picked up the LEFT lead at C. Booger. So in the corner, I tried again, and again. By this point we were at M where the medium canter had to start, so I got the lead and then tried to rocket him from a walk to a medium canter. I wouldn't recommend that strategy.

This time, I am pinning the blame on Speedy!

It came as no surprise that we scored a 4 for that walk to canter transition, which was more than generous. And since I didn't get to set it up correctly, thanks a lot, dude, our medium canter also took a hit earning a 5.0. Thankfully neither of those movements carries a coefficient. Those two scores, combined with a previous 5.0 for the half pass right, were the only scores under 6.0 on the entire test.

Speedy loves the center line!

I always try to learn something from each test and show. I had no huge AHA moments like from the show the weekend before - BEND YOUR HORSE and WATCH THE LETTERS, but the judge made an interesting comment on this first test. On the collective marks for Rider's Position and Seat, she wrote, Nice position, show more confidence. First of all, I never get positive comments on my position so that was incredibly nice to hear. Do I need more confidence? I would say that is spot on. I'll work on it, Judge.

He's just so stinkin' cute!

I'll work on getting Test 2 written up for tomorrow. In the meantime, here's the video of our first test. That rowdy flying change comes at about 5:45 if you want to skip the boring stuff.

We're getting there even though "there" keeps moving. Dressage is a funny sport!

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When Third is Better Than First - Part 2

6/20/2019

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Part 1 here.

Finishing my 3-1 test was a huge relief. I knew it wasn't brilliant, but it wasn't terrible either. I am constantly telling my trainer that my greatest fear isn't embarrassing myself - I do that all the time. No, my greatest fear is embarrassing her.

Nothing embarrassing about this. Sunday's 3-2 test.

It's stupid really. As a teacher, I never worry about my students embarrassing me. As long as they try, I'll never be angry or disappointed. I tell them every day that as long as they're trying, they'll ultimately accomplish whatever it is that they've set out to do. Usually it's long division or simplifying fractions. I feel like the flying changes are a lot like both of those math skills.

Or this. Saturday's 3-2 test.

If I am not worried about my own students embarrassing me, why should I worry that I'll embarrass my own teacher? I shouldn't of course, but that's what happens when you have the utmost respect for someone and don't want her teaching methodology to be misrepresented. Finishing 3-1 without the judge kicking me out for being an idiot helped me realize that while we still have a long way to go, Third Level is the right place for us.

Extended trot 6.0 - Saturday.

So when we did our second test on Saturday, Third Level Test 2, I was much more relaxed. I focused more on the geometry and worked harder to get an inside bend, especially in the corners. Most of the test was pretty satisfactory. We started off with a 7.0 for our centerline but a 5.0 for our shoulder-in left. From there, we earned a steady string of 6.0s with a lone 4.0 for getting "stuck" in the half turn on the haunches left. We earned a 7.0 for the medium walk. Our half pass right earned a 5.5 for not being on centerline, but from there we earned another string of 6.0s except for one.

Such concentration from us both! Saturday.

Our flying change from left to right earned a 6.0 with the comment, "kicked leg, then clean". Our change from right to left looked better to me but only earned a 4.0 with the comment "late with HL." I can't see it very well in the video, but that 4.0 really cost us a lot of points.

For Saturday's Third Level Test 2, we earned a 58.816%. We missed a 60% by 4.5 points (out of 380!). Yet again we were this close.

The second and third tests of a two-day show weekend are usually our best. For the first test, I am typically nervous, and for the last test, Speedy is usually tired, and I am sort of over it. For our second try at 3-2, Sunday's last ride, I simply wasn't prepared. I had spent so much mental energy riding 3-1 over and over in my head that I let 3-2 kind of hang out in my peripherals. I knew it was coming, but I was hoping that it would just sort of happen in a best case scenario sort of way. That is not a good strategy by the way.

Medium walk 6.5. Sunday.

While I was determined to ride the hell out of Sunday's 3-2 test, good intentions were not quite enough to get a 60%. The trot work went nearly as well as the day before, except the renvers left. That thing lacked any hint of angle and garnered us a 4.0. No, it wasn't the trot work. It was the half pass to flying change that did us in.

Just because he's pretty. Saturday.

I'd like to blame it on somebody, but it was my fault. I didn't run through the test just before entering at A like I usually do, so as my reader called out each movement, I was mentally lost and wishing she'd read it faster so I could prepare sooner. The whole canter section was a disaster starting with the walk to canter at F. We got a wrong lead and just never could get things organized again.

At least he looked good!

Speedy kept dropping the canter which meant I kept asking him to pick up a counter canter while half passing while also preparing for a flying change of lead. All I can say is don't try this at home, kids. It doesn't work. The same thing happened the other way. After the medium canter, I just couldn't get him sitting enough to make the 10-meter circle at C which meant he lost the canter, and there we were trying to replicate the same disastrous counter canter/half pass/flying change combo. I am lucky we even got the 3.0s and 4.0s that we did.

Where was that change when I needed it? From Saturday.

When you bomb 5 different movements - walk to canter, half pass times 2, and the flying change of lead times 2, ain't no way you're pulling a 60% out of that mess. But you know what? It's okay, we finished with a 6.0 for a clear release of reins, a 6.5 for our extended canter, and a 7.0 for our final centerline. In total, we earned a dismal 54.474%.

Knowing that the mistakes were mine and not Speedy's means it's an easy fix for next time. I am proud of the fact that I completely biffed a string of movements only to shrug it off and finish strong. On one test the judge even commented, "changes still developing." I love the positive spin she put on that. Yep, they are developing which means they'll only get better with time.

Score sheets for both days at 3-2.

We're doing a CDS-rated show on Sunday. You can bet I've been working on the geometry and those 10-meter circles. I'll show you how tomorrow!

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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. We're currently showing Third Level for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

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 warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

March 2019

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE

I love her stuff!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018

2nd Level Rider Performance, 2018

USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015

1st Level Rider Performance, 2015

USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

Training Level Rider Performance, 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

Ruby Rider Award, 2018

2019 Show Season

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

2019 Pending …
8/25/19 - TMC (*)
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

2019 Completed …
6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
6/23/19 - TMC (*)
7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
7/28/19 - TMC (*)

Qualifying Scores for 2019

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)
3rd Level Qualifying
3 Scores/2 Judges:
Score 1: 63.514% Lindholm
Score 2: 62.105% Lindholm
Score 3: 63.243% Wadeborn

CDS Championship
3rd Level Qualifying
5 Scores/4 Judges:
Score 1: 63.514% Lindholm
Score 2: 62.105% Lindholm
Score 3: 63.243% Wadeborn
Score 4:
Score 5:

Working Towards:

CDS 3rd Level Horse Performance Award
3 Judges/3 Shows:
Score 1: 63.514% Lindholm
Score 2: 62.105% Lindholm
Score 3: 63.243% Wadeborn
Score 4:
Score 5:
Score 6:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level: 63.514%
Third Level: 62.105%
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -

It's Really Happening

Surprise!

Three Is My Lucky Number

Third Time's the Charm

Not This Time Either ...

In a Word - Nope.

Chance #2

Moving on to 3-3

63.514%

When Third is Better Than First - Part 2

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