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

Counter Canter

9/14/2015

 
Poor Speedy. I know it must seem like he never gets ridden or played with. This is Not-So-Speedy Dressage after all ... so what's up with the speedy pony?

Believe it or not, he gets just as much attention as does Izzy, but since he's so well behaved anymore, he doesn't get as much press because it's a lot of BORING.
Picture
Shaking off the dirt and flies.
Our rides lately are pretty much about getting some looseness in the poll and jaw at the walk by flexing and moving the shoulders around, stretchy trot, leg yielding, 10-meter trot circles, a trot lengthen or two all followed up with true canter and counter canter.

There haven't been any spectacular AHA moments, but there have been some pretty spectacular moments. Just the other day I got some comparatively nice trot lengthenings that had some real oomph. I like to work up to the trot lengthenings by doing ten-meter circles first. These seem to put him on his rear end a bit as well as create a desire to really MOVE.

I did three, 10-meter trot circles down the long side, and when we came out of the second corner, I counter flexed him just a bit to get his shoulders back in line, and then gave a big push with my seat. Speedy shot forward and upward into what felt like a First Level worthy lengthening of the stride at trot. I gave him lots of loud YES! YES! YES! praise all the way across the diagonal. Speedy understands verbal praise and loves it.
Picture
"EVERYONE'S butt looks big from that angle!"
I've also been schooling a counter canter exercise that I saw in the July edition of Dressage Today. It's a simple exercise that goes like this:
  • Pick up a canter tracking left.
  • Canter the long side in true canter.
  • At A, canter a 10-meter half circle into a tear drop so that you're back on the same long side you just came down.
  • Now you're in counter canter.
  • From S do a 20-meter half circle to R in counter canter.
  • From R cross the diagonal, circle at A to rebalance the left lead canter, and then repeat the exercise.
  • Or, you can stay on the long side and do a change of lead (flying, simple, or through the trot) at B or P and repeat the exercise, this time on the right lead.
The purpose of this exercise is to give the horse plenty of room to do the counter canter with equally as much room to return to the true canter. So far, once Speedy holds the counter canter through the half circle, I bring him back to trot and praise him. 

Speedy's not really balanced enough to make the half circle in counter canter only to do it again. And he doesn't feel ready for a change of lead through trot. Yet. I am doing this exercise in a short court though which means I don't have much time after the half circle to rebalance him. If we do the exercise a few more times, I think we'll be ready to continue it in either the same lead or on the other lead with the change through trot.

For us, the main benefit of this exercise is that it really reveals where Speedy is "sticky." It takes a lot of effort on both our parts to help him pick up the inside shoulder (which becomes the outside shoulder) in the counter canter. The exercise Chemaine showed me where I change the bend no matter which way we're tracking has really helped. The more I can bobble head his poll and neck, the easier it is for him to get soft in the counter canter. 
While Speedy doesn't get excited about having to work, he does seem to enjoy the variety that First Level and even some of Second Level offer. We've finally reached a point in his training where he is a true adult with the maturity to cope with challenging work. He's a lot of fun to ride!
emma link
9/14/2015 09:54:22 am

ugh Speedy's hind end is so much rounder and better developed than my arab mare's pointy little disaster area. ugh. (is it weird to be jealous of another horse's butt?!?)

Bakersfield Dressage link
9/14/2015 06:08:49 pm

Speedy does have quite the badonkadonk for sure, especially for an Arab. Although interestingly enough, my last Arab gelding had a nice round tush as well while my Arab mares were always a bit lighter in the hind end. I can't really claim all responsibility for his roundness, most of it is probably genetic. :0)

Jan link
9/15/2015 05:11:03 am

I love that counter canter exercise- it reminds me of how 2-3 used to be.

Mikey really perked up when we started working first/second. It's just more interesting and the movements come faster and it's just easier to keep the connection and the horse's attention.


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