Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've been writing this post in my head all week, so it was funny that Lauren, of She Moved to Texas, kind of blogged about the opposite side of the coin in her post, "What It's Like Being an Anxious Horse Owner." I am not an anxious horse owner myself, but only because I work my butt off to not be so. I have a few years on Lauren. In fact, I probably have a few years on most bloggers. It's not like I am old per se, but I definitely don't fit the typical blogger demographic at 40 something. The older I get, the more I value the wisdom that comes with age. That's not to say that every old person has pearls of wisdom falling out of their mouths, but age does tend to bring a certain amount of erudition. But I digress. One of the things that I have learned, especially when it comes to horses, is that worrying doesn't do any good. I call worry the what ifs? That's what worrying really is: What if this happens? What if that happens? The truth is, most of what we worry about never actually happens. Controlling worry takes a lot of hard work and a bit of a support system. You can't just turn it off. If it were that easy, no one would need Zoloft or Zanax. For me, the solution is faith in a higher power. You can call it God, Love, the cosmos, whatever, but trusting in the blueprint of something greater than ourselves helps me to let go of the what ifs and trust that my path is being closely managed. With this mindset, I don't have to worry as I know my needs will be met. Sounds a little out there … Yeah, I hear you, but it helps me to let go of those debilitating what ifs like this last weak when Speedy was NQR in the hind end. After Sydney left, Speedy came up grade three lame at the trot after turn out. Instead of worrying about what to do and how long it was going to take him to heal up, I just changed my plans for the week to accommodate his level of alrightness. Instead of schooling the trot and canter lengthenings, we did a 30 minute trail ride every day working on connection and halts. We also worked on leg yields. You can get a lot done at the walk. Each day I tested his soundness by asking for a few trot steps as we walked along the dirt road that leads back to the barn. So here we are, Saturday morning, and I am 99.9% sure that I have a sound horse waiting for me at the barn. We did a lot of trotting around the neighborhood last night, and Speedy was rip-rearing to go. I guess my point is this: don't borrow trouble. Do what is in your power to do, and let the rest go.
11 Comments
11/21/2014 11:19:59 pm
Amen! I have to work on not listening to that "What if that happens" voice. It's a much better way to exist, since if it *doesn't* happen, you wasted all that time and energy worrying about it. But I have to keep reminding myself!
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11/21/2014 11:29:11 pm
Exactly!!! Wasted energy for sure, but you're right; it's not easy. :0)
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Judy
11/22/2014 12:19:16 am
Well said! Enjoy your worry free day!
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I struggle with this now, but I never used to. My mare had major surgery to have a tumour removed from her fave and recovery has been a long struggle mentally for me. Every runny nose incites panic in me.
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11/22/2014 01:30:46 pm
I have to remind myself - a lot. It's definitely not easy. :0)
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11/22/2014 01:34:57 pm
Exactly! Sometimes I think of it as telling stories. If I catch myself making up a story as to how something is going to go disastrously wrong, I slam on the brakes and order myself to knock it off! It usually works. :0)
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Sandra
11/24/2014 05:02:59 am
Truer words were never spoken. I need to take a page from your book and try not to worry about the things I have no control over. This move has been hard on Varro and we are still not training. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
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11/24/2014 10:52:02 pm
Changing your world so dramatically has got to be hard. Take it slow. Your new world will evolve and become something fantastic. Just take it a day at a time. :0)
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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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