Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Choices, Choices

8/16/2019

 
I recently saw this meme on Facebook and spent a ridiculously long time pondering which button I would press. I can be quite literal, so even though I regularly play the I Just Won the Lottery; What Would I Buy? game, I had a hard time choosing which button to press given my current living/financial situation. If I had my own horse property, the answer would be easy, but I don't, so here's why only one of those buttons works for me.
Picture
The Red Button - How would this work if you board your horse though? Where would I store it? Does it mean I get free board? The hay might be free, but the horses I would want to feed aren't. I have to skip this button.

The Yellow Button - Unless I am getting free hay, I don't need another horse. Can I get Valegro and then sell him and use the money to buy a new truck and an African Safari? Probably not. Does the free horse come with its vet bills and board paid for because if not, I have to decline. Sorry, Valegro.

The Orange Button - Unless I get to spend the million dollars buying my own property, this option would only be fun for about 45 minutes. After that, I would run out of stuff to buy. Even $10,000 would be hard to spend. I have to say no.

The Purple Button - Yes please, oh my stars this would be AMAZING! In our brutal summers, I could easily charge people for a shaded place to ride. But when I change barns someday, do I get to take it with me? No? Then never mind.

The Green Button - Shows aren't that expensive, and I am nearing 50. How many more years do I have left to show? Not enough to make this option even a possibility. A hard pass, thank you.

​So which button does that leave? Yep, the blue one. This is the one thing that I can take with me wherever I live. And in fact, as I get older, I am going to need a lot of free training to start the next youngster who makes its way into my barn. And with free training for life, who needs a free horse? With enough training, a young project will hopefully turn into the "free horse" that everyone else wants.

What about you? Which button would you press?
Laura link
8/16/2019 05:48:31 am

I like your logic... I can see why free training for life would be a good one for you.

Based on my life right now and current circumstances, I'd choose the indoor arena. As long as I could choose the type/size etc.

I don't ride much at the moment, but I have a halter horse that I'd like to work during the winter, but can't. I'm in Canada and our winters are long and brutal and I can't do anything with my horses really from November to April. And if I move, well, I'd sell the whole farm and then see what else I could do with the money! :-)

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/18/2019 01:45:21 pm

An indoor arena would be my first choice too, but like I said, I am too literal. LOL Since I can't take it with me in real life, I can't seem to choose it in the land of make believe. LOL

I don't need it for the winter, I need one for our very long, very hot summers. We have opposite problems I think. :0)

Tracy
8/16/2019 04:07:32 pm

I'm torn between the blue one and the purple... although like you, I don't have my own barn yet so essentially giving someone else a free indoor arena sounds a little bit wasteful of this "opportunity" LOL

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/18/2019 01:45:59 pm

Right? If I could take it with me, an indoor ring would easily be my first choice. :0)

Marlane
8/16/2019 05:45:33 pm

The yellow for the free horse. We have only one ridable horse.My husband and I take turns out on the trail.
This would happen after our 32 year old has gone to greener pastures.
I would want a super trail horse that could also jump small jumps and be as bomb proof as possible. Maybe one of those for sale a Flag is Up Farms for $30,000

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/18/2019 01:46:49 pm

It would be nice to own a perfect unicorn of a horse. I wouldn't know what to do with myself though. LOL

Marlane
8/19/2019 03:35:00 pm

I know .. for me now as a former TB exercise rider and trainer of two Arabians and one crazy horse from almost scratch. I have had a lot of falls and adrenaline rushes. I am ready to just relax when I ride as long as the horse does not just poke along.

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/19/2019 04:18:14 pm

Amen!


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.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    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.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    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
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home