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

Cut the Boy Some Slack

8/17/2015

 
While KG doesn't say it in exactly those words, that's usually her meaning. Best friends are such an invaluable resource, especially if they call you on on any BS, which she does without hesitation.

I tend to get pretty down on our progress, or lack thereof, with Izzy. I have so much Sydney-baggage on my shoulders that it's a miracle that poor Izzy can even walk forward. It's got to weigh like a million pounds.

When I hear myself sounding like a Negative Nancy, I try to pipe in some KG elevator music which sounds a lot like this: He's 7 years old with less 6 TOTAL months of training. What do you expect? He can walk, trot, and canter, and he's getting better every single day. Take that and run with it. She's right of course, but this is certainly not an easy journey.

When I showed up to ride on Saturday, my plans got smashed to holy heck. The neighbors were setting up for their annual August birthday party. The one with balloons lining their driveway and a HUMONGOUS blow up water slide - the ones that are like 20 feet tall and spookier than a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex. Okay, so there is no picture of that, but it was real - I promise, but there is a photo of some of the balloons.
Picture
In truth, they worried me more than Izzy.
When do plans ever go right, anyway? That's where the proverbial expression the best laid plans of mice and men always go awry comes from - idiots like me who think thy can control the universe. I had been hoping to get in a solid schooling ride without any distractions. Um ... nope.

When I found myself starting to grumble and gripe about the noise, I pulled the brake on that freight train and decided to embrace the chaos. How will Izzy ever learn to deal with distractions if there are never any distractions?

The truth is that he wasn't actually freaked out by any of the party preparations. Instead, he was tense about the energy that was created by the pre-party activity. I walked him over to the fence expecting him to stare at the massive and brightly colored water slide ... he wouldn't even look at it. I walked him over to the fluttering balloons, but he simply nibbled the grass beneath them. He looked at them, but only to see if they were edible or fun.
Picture
This is his anxious face.
None of the activity caused him to be naughty until I was on him. And maybe that tension was from me, but I don't think so. Yeah ... I was frustrated by the change to my weekend rhythm, but I let it go and was eager to see what he could show me. 

For a few weeks, our rides started out super mellow and quiet and then slowly built to tension accompanied by trying to run through my aids. We're past the easing into the tension stage. Izzy has figured out that the arena does not mean trail rides; instead, it means he has to listen and work. He's decided that he's not a fan of work.

So now, our rides start with him trying to wiggle out of any connection. That's really just a nice way of saying he throws himself a little hissy-fit which includes squealing, fish tailing, jerking his head, bolting (he doesn't get more than a few steps - usually), and sucking back. Saturday was no exception.

All of that lasted about ten minutes. He eventually figured out that I was still there. We worked on trotting with a rhythm and moving out onto the outside rein. We then worked on getting the correct canter lead. Can I just pat myself on the back for a moment? The canter departures are quite ugly at this point, but by God, we're getting the correct lead, and once he is cantering, it's a lot of fun. 

We then moved on to some suppling exercises to encourage him to let go of that right rein. Chemaine showed me an exercise with Speedy where you start on the counter bend and reward a softening by allowing the horse back on the true bend. 

In all, I schooled him about 50 minutes, which is much longer than I ever work Speedy. The last 20 minutes were spent mostly walking as we worked on halts that didn't involve any resemblance to a giraffe. Since he still had energy to burn, and the morning hadn't yet reached 90 degrees, I decided to hack him around the neighborhood.

The next time I moan and groan about how he's not making any progress, remind me of this post. 

We rode around the neighborhood by ourselves for the first time a week or two ago. He was pretty good, but there was a fair amount of tension and balking in a few places. For this outing, he was fussy in one spot, but that resolved itself within a minute. He did spook a bit as we passed by the Haner Family Farm, but the pigs sort of freaked me out too, so I didn't blame Izzy for that lapse in bravery. Fat pigs are loud and kind of ferocious when they're ... pigging.
Picture
It's funny how his cookie face, glad-to-be-done face, and tired face all sort of look the same!
In all, I was on him for almost an hour and a half. He didn't dump me - huge points for that and technically, he had a lot to contend with which would have made an involuntary dismount excusable. He picked up the correct canter lead in both directions, and he did it several times. He did some decent trot work while counter bent which might have been the first time I tried that. And even after working for nearly an hour, he willingly walked around the neighborhood with a good attitude.

I am pretty much an idiot for feeling like we're not making any progress. Progress IS being made; I am just a little slow to recognize it.
Cathryn K link
8/17/2015 12:54:38 am

Green horses can be so frustrating at times - especially because us as humans are so impatient and want the progress to be linear. I think you guys are doing remarkably well and you should be proud of your accomplishments with Izzy.

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/17/2015 12:08:44 pm

We are impatient, aren't we? :0)

He is doing well, though, and I am happy with him, but there is still that bit of hurry up! :0)

emma link
8/17/2015 02:25:29 am

it can be so difficult to see the progress when you're in the trenches dealing with those same little issues and tantrums every single day. but you're right - the progress IS there and is happening!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/17/2015 01:44:40 pm

You are absolutely right, Emma. :0)

Teresa link
8/17/2015 09:53:33 am

So I need to read this post when I think that we're not making any progress. Hey- at least you are out of the ring! I don't dare yet. Good for you for all the work.

I also get the 'baggage' piece. I don't have a Sydney but I have the loss of my dreams with the loss of my horse last year and it was very hard to start over. But when you love horses and to ride then we have to take our baggage and figure out where it fits so that it doesn't weigh us down. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/17/2015 01:47:35 pm

I am definitely struggling with the baggage thing. Sydney was the first horse (of more than 10?) that I couldn't make work. It was a pretty serious blow to my confidence. Every time Izzy does a Sydney maneuver, I think to myself, Oh, here it comes ... the beginning of the end. Fortunately, I have several people who give me frequent reality checks. :0)


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