Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
This is a new series, but it will take a bit to explain the title. I promise I'll get there - eventually.
You remember my elephant; Fear is his name. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can catch up here.) Fear is a big, burley guy who likes to try and push me around. He's all about making me feel small and powerless. When I am feeling cheeky, I quip about his big, saggy ass. Take that you giant lump of lard! In reality, if I let him hang around, I don't have much fun, and I find riding kind of scary. He's definitely not a Facebook friend, and frankly, I wish I knew how to ditch him permanently. Fear called last night while I was riding. When I heard my ringtone, I checked my caller ID, saw who it was, and immediately hit ignore. Fortunately he didn't bother to leave a message. I know why he was calling, but I refused to answer. I don't need him in my life. Sydney had a MELTDOWN last night. Seriously. What the hell? Just the other day I posted about how we cantered and how it was finally soft and relaxed. Five days later we're back to bolting and rearing? You can see why Fear decided to give me a call. He's always looking for an excuse to to dial my number. So I am starting a new series: Defeating the Demon. This isn't a question. This will happen. I will do it. Here's what I am up against.
What do I have going for me?
Alright already! What happened? Thanks for asking. We started out like always - loose rein, relaxed trot, kick, kick, kick to get him moving. After our big loopy, relaxed trot, I let him stand and relax while I gave him lots of good boy pats. I shortened my reins (not too much, just a bit) and asked for some smaller circles to work on establishing the inside bend while asking for a little sideways movement. Things were going well, and then I felt it coming. He squealed and slammed on the brakes. Not wanting a fight, I grabbed a lunge line and put him to work without worrying about getting bucked off. The first few rounds on the line included some serious bucking and deep galloping. I gradually shortened the lunge line and slowed him to a canter so that he was really working. By the time he was done, he was soaked in sweat and blowing pretty hard. I got back on and still had a demon. He just didn't want to bend. He tried everything to quit working: blow through the shoulder, rear, hump up, whirl, rear, bolt (he only made it a step), and on and on. What went well? He NEVER got away. I never felt afraid. I never got mad. As he reared up, I pulled his head around and smacked his neck and cheek HARD which really sobered him up. I kept his head and neck moving so that he never had any way to grab on and run. I moved him sideways. Frankly, I just rode him. Ultimately, he agreed to walk. He was tense and wanted to be at the gate, but I said no. So we walked in a 20 meter circle and spiraled in and out. In and out. In and out. Finally, he took a deep breath and stretched down. I let the reins slide through my fingers and halted. I hopped down and acted as though he'd won a gold medal. I feel as though I won this battle. I didn't get the trot work done that I had originally wanted, but he didn't get to be done when the "real" work started. With the time change coming, I don't know what strategy I'll need to take as my battle with the demon continues. We'll ride this weekend and see what happens. We have a lesson on Monday so I'll get a chance to talk to JL about it. Let the games begin.
Judy
10/13/2012 01:47:52 am
Sorry your boy is showing his stubborn side. Sounds like you handled it just right! You did yourself and just as importantly Sydney a huge favor by "winning" this battle. He's learning a lot about trust. He's finding out he can trust you not to lead him into danger and as important that he can trust you not to let him get away with crap when he's in a bad mood! Seems like you're on your way to deleting Mr. Demon from your contacts completely! I'm proud of you!! XO
Karen
10/15/2012 11:31:23 pm
HAHAHA! I love that - getting him out of my contacts! That's exactly what I need to do. :0) 10/13/2012 09:21:19 am
Great job!
Karen
10/15/2012 11:31:47 pm
We're trying, CFS, we're trying!
Val
10/14/2012 01:00:47 am
It is good to hear that you are keeping your cool and incorporating ground work.
Karen
10/14/2012 01:25:25 am
I share your concerns, Val. I have checked every possible thing that might make him uncomfortable: he has had his teeth done twice in the 16 months I've had him. The first visit was to just give him a check up (all was well), and by the second visit he needed some work. He was seen by the chiropractor in August. He was "out" in a few places, but nothing so out that it would cause this kind of resistance. I had my saddle refit in June and if anything the saddle was a bit wide for him. I am using a riser pad to help fill in the "empty" space per teh saddle fitter's recommendation.
Val
10/14/2012 10:59:53 am
I agree. Good luck and keep up the great work!
Karen
10/14/2012 11:11:43 am
:0) 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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