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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Confessions

4/27/2014

 
PictureNot of the Homer Variety
I have a small confession: my motivation has waned, and I am so grateful. 

You see, I have a bit of a type A/OCD kind of personality. When I latch onto something, I am in it 'till I either beat it, or it kicks my butt.

These last few months have found me absolutely driven to "fix" both Speedy and Sydney's issues all within a 180 day time frame. I was determined that I would do everything humanly possible to have Speedy emerge from his 180 day rehab sound and fit. Doing "everything humanly possible" meant hand walking 7 days a week and then riding him nearly 7 days a week for the prescribed time. It was killing me.

At the same time, I had set the task of turning Sydney into a well behaved and successful dressage horse within Speedy's 180 days of rehab. I was going to kill all of my birds with that one stone. This was also killing me. Frankly, no one can keep that pace.

In addition to doing a perfect rehab and perfectly training a second horse, I was feeling some frustration at work that was draining me of all sense of usefulness. I was heading down a path fraught with disappointment. No one can do everything perfectly, especially me.

And then that all changed. For the better. All it took was a phone call and a vacation.

I had kept it a secret from my colleagues, friends, and family (Hubby knew), but I had decided to do something about the job situation. I applied for a transfer, interviewed quietly, and kept my fingers crossed. I got a call with an offer for the position the afternoon before we flew to Washington, DC. I'll still be teaching, of course, but I'll be in a new school beginning this fall. 

Letting go of that particular worry started a domino effect that knocked down a slew of other worries. 

Picture
Knockin' down worries one at a time
While we were on vacation, I didn't worry about either of my horses. I knew their needs were being met, and it didn't matter that Speedy wasn't getting ridden and that Sydney was missing a week of schooling. Somehow, taking that new teaching position erased the time impediment that I had placed in front of all of us.

And then I took my boys to the vet which meant nearly another week off from "real" work. Both boys felt puny, and I was okay with it. Rather than worry at them and resent the time out of the saddle, I used those barn-free days to work on my own fitness and spend some time with my husband. 

And then it rained. Again, I let it go and pushed my barn time to later in the day and never felt stressed that I didn't get to spend as much time grooming, riding, cleaning, and messing around as I normally do. 

It's like a pressure valve has opened allowing my stress to simply be released. I hadn't realized how much my work frustrations were leaking into the rest of my life. Now that I have a new position waiting for me, everything else is just small stuff. 

Is it a coincidence that I had two of the best rides ever on Saturday afternoon? 
Picture
Letting it all go
I don't think so.
Val
4/27/2014 05:00:44 am

Congrats!
This has been a very difficult year for teachers in my area. I am guessing that teachers across the country are feeling it. I hope your new position breathes some joy back into your profession.

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/27/2014 09:37:10 am

Thank you, Val. Yes, things have been challenging for all of us. It's an even tougher job when we deal with "in house" stress and conflict. I am already feeling so much more excited about next year. :0)

Lauren link
4/27/2014 05:26:45 am

Congrats on the transfer! Reducing stress is always a big win :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/27/2014 09:38:03 am

Thanks, Lauren. I really didn't know how much stress this was causing until it wasn't there any longer. I am so much happier all of a sudden. :0)

Amanda link
4/27/2014 09:19:37 am

Congrats!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/27/2014 09:38:20 am

Thanks! :0)

Jennifer Keneman
4/27/2014 09:36:50 am

I'm happy for you but you will be missed. Trace really wanted you as his teacher next year. I hope the move is a good one! :-)

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/27/2014 09:41:58 am

Aw, Jen. If only there were more like you and your family. You guys are the light in a very long and dark tunnel. As you and your husband know, it's a tough job. I would have been honored to have Trace in my class. Tell him that I'll be rooting for him. Mr. D is a GREAT teacher (I TOTALLY love that guy!!!!). He'll be in good hands. :0)

Judy
4/27/2014 10:09:19 am

Good for you Karen! I'll be so excited to hear about the next "chapter" in your life. I know it will be awesome!

Bakersfield Dressage link
4/27/2014 11:07:47 am

Thanks, Judy. I just needed a change. :0)

Austen link
4/27/2014 11:00:03 pm

Sounds like a lot of hard decisions really came through for you. That's so awesome. :) Good luck with the transfer!

I relate to that obsessive reaction. I do the same. My horse does not thank me, in fact he tried to break my kneecap Saturday when I obsessed over his straightness. Perhaps I need to back off a bit, too. ;)

melinda
4/30/2014 12:12:25 pm

Yet another post I can really relate to! For me it took going to vet school. I cant see my horses every day and it is ok. I dont get all the rides and runs in ibyhink I *should* but somehow both me and farley are fitter and happier. The last couple of days I started to fall into old bad habits. Thank you for the reminder.


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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    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.
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    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.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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  • Home
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  • Horses
    • Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
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    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
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