Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Yesterday marked a milestone of sorts; 30 days of daily aspirin and daily hand walks for Speedy G. Except, I didn't make it to the barn last night. I know he missed me; my BO replied to my can't make it out text. I don't feel guilty about not making it out there, but I wish I could have actually administered the 30th aspirin dose on day 30. But honestly, 30 (actually more counting the days before the countdown began) consecutive barn days is a lot. I enjoy taking care of my boys' day to day needs: I clean their stalls/runs each evening, feed them their beet pulp and rice bran, and of course they get exercised. But occasionally, I do have other obligations. Yesterday, I got to work at my regular crack-of-dawn time, 6:30, but when I should have left at 3:20, I went to a work-related meeting that lasted until 5:00. The meeting took place at another school farther from home than my own school site, so the drive home was even longer than normal. When I walked in the door just a few minutes shy of 6:00 p.m., I knew Speedy was going to have to suck it up. ![]() I do have another appointment this afternoon, but it's on my side of town and shouldn't take too long. Sydney probably won't get ridden, but he'll at least get turned out to play and Speedy will get his hand walking and grazing time. I wish there was just some way to add more hours to the extended daylight. I need at least 26 hours on the clock! 3/12/2014 11:21:15 am
I don't have any excuses … it never rains, it never freezes, it only gets gusty occasionally, I don't have any kids, and I get off work before it's dark. And to top it off, the barn is less than 10 minutes from the house. My boys like to see me every day so I try and carve out at least an hour each afternoon. :0)
Desirea
3/12/2014 01:39:17 am
Sometimes life takes precedence. I try to get out to the barn everyday to get both of my horses ridden. It doesn't always work out that way but hey life happens. 3/12/2014 11:23:37 am
Like I told Tracy above, I don't have any real excuses not to be out there and besides, I LOVE going out there. I've been able to arrange my life so that I can be there nearly 7 days a week. On occasion, I do have meetings or appointments, but I definitely enjoy my time at the barn and treat it like breathing or eating. I have to do those to survive!
Val
3/14/2014 07:55:40 am
Daily barn visits are tough to fit in. I understand that now more than ever. 3/15/2014 02:17:45 am
Val, Comments are closed.
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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
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