Dressage "Suicides"

HAHAHA! I crack myself up. Although, now that I think about it, it's only funny if you've ever had to do suicides - you know, those things that basketball and hockey players do where you sprint/skate across the court, touch the line, sprint back, touch the line, repeat until you vomit. I ran track in high school, so our version was 100-meter sprints.

Yeah. Suicides. Speedy and I did a bunch of them in the arena over the weekend. Often times, when I am done riding, I'll pull Speedy's saddle and bridle while we're still in the arena so that he can roll and cool off. He loves to scratch and get a drink when we're done, and quite frequently, he'll get a wild hair and go ripping around the arena, kicking up his heels.

If I hang out with him, the turnout time is even more fun. Speedy is pretty vain and enjoys showing off. If he thinks I am not watching closely enough, he blows hard to get my attention, tosses his mane and then gallops straight at me, rearing or turning quickly to launch a kick my way. He is ultra careful and never gets close to me - he just enjoys having me play the game with him.

An oldie from 2012 - but you get the idea. Photo by Lori Ovanessian

One of my barn owners was doing some tractor work and agreed to drag the arena for me if I would dismantle my dressage court. It's not fancy, just a bunch of six foot fencing poles laid out in a 40-meter x 60-meter rectangle. In order to smooth out the ruts that get created down the long sides, I have to drag the poles out of the arena. It's a fair amount of work, but it needs to be done about every two months or so.

After I pulled Speedy's saddle, I started dragging the poles out one by one. The first short side is easy, but once I get to the long side, it's a lot more tedious as I have to pick up each pole and carry it 20-meters to the fence line and then walk back 20-meters to the next pole. Dressage suicides, people.

From pole to fence - 20-meters and back again. Go!

Speedy was "helping" as he usually does when I do this job, so I started jogging out to the pole with him trotting along side. I picked up the next pole and jogged back. Speedy kept pace with me. In fact, he stuck by me for almost every pole. By the time I got to the more distant short side, his energy level spiked and he went rip-roaring around the arena, bucking and snorting.

Of course, when he was done playing, he jogged up to me with his tail waving, and asked if I had had as much fun as he did. He's such a character!

Now I just need to put the poles back. I am pretty sure Speedy will be up for more suicides!