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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

El Sueno - Saturday's First Test

7/17/2013

 
My ride times were quite early on Saturday morning, 8:08 ad 8:46. I was a tiny bit worried that the coolness of the day might give Speedy too much energy, but I shouldn’t have worried. Like always, I checked on him as the sky was just turning gray. He’s always eager to see me on show mornings and very eager to get out of his stall. I hand walked him out into the derby field and put him on the lunge line. In no time, he was prancing around me with his nostrils flared and his tail flagged over his back.

Once he had the big moves out of him, I spent a solid twenty minutes walking around the derby field. By the time we’d made two large laps, he was more forward and less up and down. I tucked him back into his stall and fed him breakfast. I carted my tack down to his stall and changed into my show clothes. By 7:30, he was tacked up and ready to go.
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One half of the derby/cross country field
I walked down to the warm-up ring eager to see if he was as relaxed as the night before. As we walked along the edge of the ring, I asked him to move his shoulders into the track and then back out onto the track. Chemaine, the trainer in Somis, had shown me this exercise as a way to supple his neck and shoulders. It definitely helps! I urged Speedy into a relaxed trot and knew that he was going to be good for me. I did a few changes of direction and then picked up the canter both ways. Our warm up lasted less than 15 minutes. He was ready.

When we entered at A for Training Level Test 2, I knew that it was going to be a good ride. Nothing was perfect of course, but as I rode, I kept thinking about how light and responsive he was being. Throughout the test, I kept putting a big smile on my face. It probably looked like a grimace to the spectators, but Christian Schacht, the clinician I’ve worked with twice this year, insists that if we smile, we will relax. So I smiled. A lot!

When we trot down the centerline for our final halt and salute, I knew we had ridden the best test we’d ever done. I didn’t know how the judge would see it, but I knew it was good. As I turned to leave the dressage court, I took a bit of a ragged breath and started to get a bit teary eyed with relief. I was so grateful to have reconnected with Speedy G. I stroked his neck all the way back to the barn and told him over and over how very proud of him I was.

Our score? A whopping 66.429%! And this wasn’t a schooling show either, but a CDS/USDF/USEF rated show. I am beyond happy! The score sheet is down below of course, but the best thing about it is that we scored nothing lower than a 6, which means I finally earned my goal of a ride with no 5s. And to make it even better, out of the 16 scores given for the directives, we earned 7s on nine of them!

I am one happy girl. First Level is getting closer and closer!

Coming tomorrow - the second test ...
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Woo hoo!
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Check out all those 7s!
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These are the best Collective Marks I think I've ever had!
Sharon T
7/16/2013 11:32:32 pm

Congratulations! All of your hard work is paying off.

Karen
7/17/2013 01:32:19 am

It seems so. :0)

Stephanie Hammer
7/16/2013 11:33:46 pm

YAY! That is excellent! WTG you two! :)

Karen
7/17/2013 01:32:48 am

Thanks - it's a long road, isn't it? :0)

Judy
7/17/2013 01:04:44 am

Wow! You go girl!!

Karen
7/17/2013 01:33:12 am

Thanks, Judy! :0)

Tracy @ Fly On Over link
7/17/2013 02:00:19 am

Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment -- I am so happy for you and Speedy!

Karen
7/17/2013 02:08:14 am

Thank you, Tracy! I know you know how hard showing can be. Having just one successful weekend can wipe away weeks and weeks of frustrating rides. :0)

Angela
7/17/2013 04:24:54 am

Yeah!! You are such an inspiration! I admire you're perseverance and I'm soooo happy for your success!! You are making a believer out me :0

Karen
7/17/2013 06:42:49 am

You always give me too much credit, Angela, but thank you so much for always being so supportive. :0)

lytha
7/17/2013 04:26:56 am

wow, you got 7's. i'm totally happy for you!!! you deserve it, all your work. wish i was there to buy you a drink. (i love the handwriting on this test - i really appreciate legible cursive!)

p.s. schools out in 2 days - my husband is gearing up for a relaxing 6 weeks of summer break. he totally deserves it, teachers work harder than most of us.

Karen
7/17/2013 06:45:29 am

I wish we were in drink buying range, too - wouldn't that be a weekly drunk fest! :0)

Your husband certainly works longer than I do as we've been done with school since the last day of May. I go back to work in mid-August, but he'll hopefully still be enjoying his time off.

Lauren link
7/17/2013 05:18:59 am

Oh great job! No 5's!!! Wooo!!!!!!

Karen
7/17/2013 06:47:30 am

I know, right? That has been my goal for such a long time - I hate 5s! I don't know what a five compares to when jumping, maybe a pole down, but I am thrilled not to have any! :0)

Karley link
7/17/2013 05:23:16 am

Yahoo!!! Great job!!!

Karen
7/17/2013 06:49:47 am

Thank you, Karley! Support from so many friends, even if only seen in the blogosphere, really means a lot. :0)

Amanda link
7/17/2013 09:37:44 am

WooHoo! Big congrats!

Karen
7/18/2013 03:10:27 am

Thanks, Amanda!

Austen link
7/17/2013 10:29:00 pm

What an awesome test! Way to break through the frustration, you guys must be feeling awesome!

Karen
7/18/2013 03:11:36 am

Feeling awesome, but also worried about whether we can keep all of it together for the next show! :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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    National Rider Awards

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    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
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    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
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    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

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    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

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    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
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    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

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Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home