Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've been a bit quiet on the Speedy front; not because anything bad has happened, but there hasn't been much to report, which is actually a good thing. I am following Dr. Carter Judy's 180 day plan. Friday was day 18 which means we are ten percent of the way through the rest and rehabilitation cycle. So far, it has been a piece of a cake. When I first heard the sentence, 180 days/6 months, I was horrified. What would I do? How would I spend my time? Little did I know that Sydney would blossom with those three extra days a week of riding. I hate that his progress has come at Speedy's expense, but thankfully, Speedy's R&R time hasn't left me feeling down and out. Speedy has been hand walked every single day, which he actually enjoys. When I pull up, he begins singing to me immediately. He loves the quick groom and time to walk and graze. So far, the walks have been about keeping his mind happy and not about working any part of his body. I pick a new "route" each day, and we walk and graze for 20 - 30 minutes. Since the day we came back from the vet, he hasn't taken a single lame step. He's pretty well behaved in his smaller stall, and he's eating just as slowly as ever, which is a great thing as I worried that he would begin to gobble his food out of boredom. Nope, he still nibbles throughout the day and always has leftover hay by the time I arrive. He's also still getting his aspirin each day, but I have cut the beet pulp and rice bran down to the smallest amount possible. He certainly doesn't need those extra calories so he gets just enough to serve as a vehicle for the powdered aspirin.
Overall, the layoff is going smoothly; Speedy's getting the time off he needs, Sydney's getting a lot of under saddle time, and I don't feel as though I am missing out on my pony time. Next report at 20%, day 36. 3/4/2014 10:19:11 am
Speedy and I have been together since he was 3 (he's now almost 10), so he already likes me well enough, but what we are working on is how to walk quietly even when we want to go WILD!!!! 3/4/2014 10:21:06 am
That's all Speedy's doing. He doesn't like to get dirty. He keeps his poop in a nice little pile far away form where he eats, drinks, and sleeps. I only give him quick brushes to knock off the loose stuff. He's just a bit of a girly-girl. :0) Comments are closed.
|
About the Writer and RiderI 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. About Speedy GSpeedy 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.
About IzzyIzzy 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.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
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
|