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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Clinic Update

1/25/2013

 
Picture
White Birch Farm - Click to enlarge.
No, it's not cancelled! My times have changed slightly. I am actually riding at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:45 a.m. on Sunday.

There are nine ride times for Saturday. The first is at 10:00 a.m. and the last begins at 4:45 p.m. On Sunday, the first rider will go at 10:00 a.m. with the last riding at 3:15 p.m.

Thank you all so much for the many kind and encouraging messages!  Wow, what great people I find myself connected to.  Not one person has suggested that I am in over my head!  I can't wait to get going!

And it's a rain or shine deal; check out their covered arena pictured above. Nice, huh?!

I feel like I owe an explanation about my trailer pictures the other day. There were so many nice comments about the trailer itself. I hope, hope, hope, the pictures didn't come across as a "brag." My intention was to show that having a bigger trailer with living quarters is expensive and a LOT of extra work!

I never went to horse shows as a kid, and as an adult I've only been to dressage shows. I've been to three or four local h/j shows, but they're not rated and only attract local riders. My experience with traveling with my horse is essentially from competing in endurance races. I have only recently learned (over the last two years) that not everyone who competes has a trailer. It seems that many riders get to shows via their trainers. 

Endurance riders drive all kinds of rigs. Some are small bumper pulls with a truck with an extended cab that serves as a sleeping area. Some riders make do with a tent. You will see every type of camper/trailer/tent that you can imagine. But the truth is, sleeping in your truck or tent really, really stinks. Any rider who plans to do endurance rides for any length of time eventually upgrades to something bigger. 

Long time endurance riders have BIG trailers. Doing-it-forever endurance riders have BIG trucks that carry BIG campers. Some of them drive HUMONGOUS RVs that pull even BIGGER trailers. My rig was nothing fancy at an endurance ride. In fact, it was a little on the smallish side, at least out here in California. 

One of Bakersfield's endurance families (Mom, Dad, two daughters) hauled a 4-horse living quarters trailer that was around 40 some odd feet! My trailer is barely 27 feet long. I once met a woman at a ride whose camper was big enough to host a party with at least ten people, and I am NOT exaggerating!

When my trailer is paid off, hopefully in the next three months, I promise to tell you how I went through TWO living quarters trailers. Believe it or not, I've never even owned a regular bumper pull! 

As always, horses are expensive. Getting them somewhere, even more so!
Sarah link
1/25/2013 01:32:25 am

Yay! I'll be sure to come watch at least one of your clinic rides!

Karen
1/25/2013 11:17:50 pm

:0)

martina peterson
1/25/2013 02:11:38 am

I love your trailer. Someday I would love to go to one of your shows and then have dinner waiting for you! Moms love tospoil their kids

Karen
1/25/2013 11:18:32 pm

It's a bit of a drive, isn't it? :0) And I think you've done a lot of spoiling lately!

Lauren link
1/25/2013 05:56:38 am

I used to have a horse trailer and would haul it myself all through college. My gelding was so reliable showing, that we could go somewhere completely by ourselves with no trainer and nobody with us. Now it just makes more sense for me financially and stress wise to hire my trainer to take us to shows. Much easier!

Karen
1/25/2013 11:21:05 pm

That would be nice. I don't have that kind of trainer. It's also difficult here as I have to drive so far for shows and some of them are over nighters. I think it would be so great to board at a barn where everyone does what I do and trainers are running all over the place. I've seen those barns in distant places, but I've never boarded at one. Sigh ... :0)

karen link
1/25/2013 11:03:46 am

I loved the trailer post. I'm dreaming of getting a LQ for distance riding, as sleeping in the back of the horse trailer on a cot really sucks! I was most impressed with the incredible organization in your trailer, very nice:)

Karen
1/25/2013 11:25:05 pm

Oh, I hear that! Before I got my first trailer, I spent several years sleeping in the bed of the truck, in the back of a stock trailer, in a tent, with a friend in her tack room, and so on. Most of those uncomfortable arrangements were done with howling wind and freakishly low temperatures! Hubby made it through two or three of those nights before suggesting I get a living quarters trailer! :0)

Regarding the organization: everyone knows that I have a touch of OCD. It can be exhausting! :0)

kelly link
1/26/2013 01:06:14 am

That arena is lovely! Looking forward to hearing all about the clinic.


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
    Email Karen

    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 Second Level. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    October 2020

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    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
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    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
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    I love her stuff!

    National Rider Awards

    • USDF Bronze Medal - 2020 
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    Lapel Pin
    • USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
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    • USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
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    • USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
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    State Rider Awards
    • CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
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    Ruby Rider Award, 2018
    State Horse Awards
    • CDS Third Level Horse Performance Award: Speedy G - 2020
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    3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    • CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award: Speedy G - 2018
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    2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

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

    2021 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    (Q) Must Qualify
    2021 Pending …
    3/27-28 SCEC (***)
    4/10-11 SCEC (***)
    5/16-17 El Sueño (***)
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    6/12-13 SB (***) OR
    6/19-20 El Sueño (***)
    6/27 TMC (*)
    7/3-4 Burbank (***) OR
    7/17-18 El Sueño (***)
    7/25 TMC (*)
    ​8/14-15 RAAC (Q) (***)
    8/29 TMC (*)
    ​

    2021 Completed …
    ​10/24-25 SCEC (***)
    ​11/7-11/8 SB (***)

    2021 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    2nd Level Qualifying 
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:

    Score 1: 60.610% Bhathal
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    CDS Championship
    ​2nd Level Qualifying 
    5 Scores/4 Judges/61%:

    Score 1: 
    Score 2: 
    Score 3:
    Score 4:
    ​Score 5: 

    Stuff I Read

    • A Horse Crazy American in Germany​
    • Avandarre in Dressage​
    • BB Quarter Horses​
    • Go Pony​
    • She Moved to Texas
    • Stubborn Together
    • Tales From a Bad Eventer
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  • Home
  • About
  • Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Education
  • Local
    • Shopping List