Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
My blog banner has the tagline, From Endurance to Dressage, but many of you did not know me during my years as an endurance rider. I've shared photos and some of my experiences, there's a great story coming from Speedy's last endurance ride, but I am sure that most of you can't quite picture what an endurance race actually looks like. DM, a friend and local endurance rider, just returned from a race and had this video to share. It's just the first few minutes of riders leaving basecamp, but I think it gives a good idea of the organized chaos that characterizes most ride starts. Enjoy! AarenaX, of Haiku Farm, and I were "discussing" what riders from different disciplines have to offer. I think the equestrian world can learn a lot from endurance riders. After watching the video, what do you think about 20, 30, 50, even 200 horses quietly ambling off to tackle 50 or 100 miles? Endurance horses learn their jobs well and can do it without all the theatrics that most people assume must exist. It takes real skill to safely navigate your horse through a pack of horses speeding off down the trail!
And 'cause I can ... here's picture of Speedy G cruising down the trail at the 2010 Git-R-Done 55 miler. 1/6/2012 12:05:44 am
"many of you did not know me during my years as an endurance rider" - I did, I did!
Karen
1/6/2012 07:45:10 am
We sure had some fun, didn't we? I was always kind of a back of the packer myself. I'd rather speed up slowly than than have to slow down quickly! Have a great 2012 ride season!!!!!!!!!
That's a great photo! You look good, Speedy looks good, your colour-coordination is impressive, you are both focussed together, and the background looks like something out of a movie :).
Karen
1/6/2012 10:18:28 pm
Thanks! Some endurance riders go wacky with their "colors." I just liked plain ol' black n blue (sometimes it was even under my clothes). 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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