Bakersfield Dressage
www.bakersfielddressage.com
  • Home
  • About Me
  • My Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • My Show Results
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Showing Dressage
    • Upcoming Events
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Membership
    • Documents & Forms
    • Judges & Scores
    • Dressage Videos
  • Educational Stuff
  • Local Stuff
    • Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital
    • Veterinarians
    • Farriers
    • Feed and Tack Stores
    • Facilities
    • Saddle Fitting & Boot Repair
    • Shopping List
  • Photo Gallery

El Sueno - Sunday

7/17/2014

10 Comments

 
Yesterday, I had tons of pictures. Today, I got nothing but words. Sorry about that. If someone just doesn't flat out volunteer to take pictures for me, I almost always forget to ask. The good news for you is that this should be a lot shorter than yesterday's post.

While Chemaine is an awesome trainer and coach, she's not my regular trainer so I feel a bit uncomfortable requesting coaching from her. She was there coaching several of her other students on Sunday, but conveniently, one of her riders had times right next to mine, so we were all warming up at the same time.

We tacked up together, but Chemaine's obligation is to her own students, so I tried to just keep an ear out for any useful nuggets I might catch in the wind. Occasionally I would hear Chemaine say something like bigger trot or good, pat him. I assumed these bits were aimed at her own students, but I borrowed them for myself anyway. I figured a bigger trot and a pat on the neck couldn't hurt our riding.

And then on the wind, I would hear my own name and know that the directions were for me specifically. I snatched each of those gems out of the air and put them to work for me. The one real piece of advice that Chemaine had given me before we tacked up was to wake Speedy up with a full on gallop. She meant the kind where the wind is whipping through your hair, and you can't hear anything above its roar.

I had never done a full on gallop in a warm-up ring before, and it was fun! Speedy woke up and got some serious sparkle about him. He enjoyed it as much as I did. The other thing I worked on was getting him to "hop" away from my inside spur so that we could get some inside bend. Both the gallop and the lateral work paid off.  

I could not have asked for a better start to Training Level, Test 2. Look at the remarks for movement 2: showing bend and flexion. Yes!!!!!!  Did I mention that this is the same judge that I rode for on Saturday? This is true improvement and not just a different set of eyes. Yesterday's scores went: 7.0, 6.0, 6.5, 6.5, 6.0, and 6.5. That's a three point increase. 
Picture
Are you seeing those 7s?
The middle portion of the test also showed improvement. Yesterday's test went 5.0, 6.5 (lost some here), 6.0, 6.0, 6.0, and 6.0 which gave us another three point increase.
Picture
I'll take that 6.0 for the stretchy trot especially since this judge was a tough scorer on that element.
For the last four movements, we had 6.5, 5.5, 6.0, and 7.0 on Saturday. This gave us yet another three points over the day before!
Picture
"Inconsistent bend" is better than looking left for the entire circle!
Yesterday's Collective Marks were: 6.5, 6.0, 6.5, 6.5, 6.0, and 6.0. We had ANOTHER three point increase. That means we earned 12 more points on this test from Saturday to Sunday.
Picture
Some nice moments but horse needs better lateral suppleness to be able to show more clear bend and flexion when asked for.
Our final score was 183.5 points for a 65.536%. There were four in the class, but I was the only one who also rode on Saturday. We earned second place.
Picture
I'd love to see the score sheet on that 70.893%!
My Training Level Test 3 was also improved, but by only 7 points. Even so, I was delighted with the ride. The judge's Further Remarks kind of say it best, "Energy faded. Work on the stretch maintaing contact, bend, and flexion." That the energy faded meant we started with some and work on maintaining the rest means that we finally had some. I was thrilled to see these remarks!
Picture
7s make my heart sing!
My favorite parts of the test are these two:
  • 3 - Working canter left lead: 7.0 (x2) Fairly smooth. Right on!!!!!
  • 10 - Circle right 20m: 7.0 Showing bend and flexion. Dude.

We finished with a score of 63.800% which earned us another second place out of four.
Picture
Click to enlarge.
Since I don't ride with a dressage trainer, it's at shows where I get to really see where we are, and what I need to do to improve. I feel like I walked away from this show with three months worth of lessons in my pocket. I have a CDS show in a week and a half. I am really hoping to apply what I learned at this show. 

And of course, the RAAC is only a month away. I am feeling pretty good about where we are and where we're heading. 
10 Comments
Austen link
7/17/2014 12:08:36 am

Oh damn! Way to go!! You guys seriously worked it! :)

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
7/17/2014 04:15:53 am

Thanks! I felt like we really pulled it together for the second day. :0)

Reply
Judy
7/17/2014 12:14:17 am

Wow! Your hard work is really paying off, congratulations!

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
7/17/2014 04:16:15 am

Slowly but surely. :0)

Reply
Sandy
7/17/2014 12:45:36 am

Oh my goodness! How exciting! You rocked it Lady! What a motivating weekend!

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
7/17/2014 04:16:36 am

Thanks, Sandy. :0)

Reply
Lauren link
7/17/2014 02:41:28 am

Great improvement! Curious why the judge would write Good Luck on your test though?

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
7/17/2014 04:17:26 am

I think he wrote that on everyone's test, and it's not an unusual comment here. I get that quite a lot. Either they think I really need it, or it's just a friendly closure. :0)

Reply
Sarah link
7/17/2014 03:00:10 am

WAY TO GO!!!! That is such a huge improvement, and so neat to have new tools for warm-up! =) So happy for you!! You are living the dream of improving at every single event you go to (show, clinic, etc).

Reply
Bakersfield Dressage link
7/17/2014 04:18:13 am

Thanks, Sarah. I just wish it would happen a tiny bit quicker. :0)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About the 
    Writer & Rider

    I am a lifetime 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
    Email Karen

    About Speedy G

    Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently schooling Third Level in preparation for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

    Picture
    August 2018

    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 schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    Second Show - July 2016

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!

    National Awards

    • USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    • USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    • USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
    State Awards
    • CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
    • CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    2019 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    (Q) Must Qualify
    2019 Pending …

    3/9-10/19 - Somis (***)
    4/12-14/19 - AA Clinic (c)
    5/26/19 - TMC (*)
    6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
    6/22-23/19 - SCEC (***)
    6/23/19 - TMC (*)
    7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
    7/28/19 - TMC (*)
    8/10/19 - RAAC (Q) (***)
    8/25/19 - TMC (*)
    ​10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

    2019 Completed …

    Qualifying Scores for 2019

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
    Third Level Scores:

    Score 1: 
    Score 2: 
    Score 3: 

    CDS Championship Third Level Scores:
    Score 1: 
    Score 2: 
    Score 3: 
    Score 4: 
    Score 5: 

    Working Towards:

    ​CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level:
    Third Level:
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:


    USDF Bronze Medal
    First Level - 70.179%
    First Level - 72.600%
    Second Level - 62.879%
    Second Level - 61.970%
    Third Level -
    ​Third Level -

    Stuff I Read

    • A Collection of Madcap Escapades
    • A Enter Spooking
    • A Horse Crazy American in Germany
    • A Horse for Elinor​
    • Avandarre in Dressage​
    • Contact
    • DIY Horse Ownership
    • Dream Big
    • ​Guinness on Tap
    • ​Journey with a Dancing Horse
    • Poor Woman Showing​
    • Printable Pony
    • She Moved to Texas
    • SprinklerBandits
    • Stubborn Together
    • Symphony Dressage Stables
    • Tales From a Bad Eventer
    • The $900 Facebook Pony
    • Wyvern Oaks
    • Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Mangement

    By Topic

    All
    Art
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Local Stuff
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third Level
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


    Picture
    Visit their site by clicking the photo. I wear one every time I ride!
    Picture
    Sydney wearing the Riders4Helmets dressage pad I won for a helmet story.

Site Design: Karen Sweaney