Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I am actually glad I've had a few days to think about Sunday's schooling show before writing about it. Had I sat down to write on Sunday evening, you would have heard a much different version. After some reflection, I am actually far happier with how it went than I was a day ago. Brief Soap Box moment coming … I know I am going to offend some people here, but I have to say it. The scores at a schooling show are easily 5% to 15% higher than what they would be at a USDF show. I won my RAAC class (a smallish USDF show) with a 72.6%. Just a few weeks later at the CDS Championship show (a HUGE USDF show), I squeaked out a 62%. Both rides were very similar, and scores were fair. Scores are simply much harder to get when the stakes are higher. So while I smile at my scores from this schooling show, they don't mean diddly squat to a rider (me) who has her sights set on USDF awards and recognition. There is no way my 63% and 64% would ever hold up at a USDF show. I am greatly encouraged, but I know I would be looking at a 55% at a rated show. I will climb down from the soap box now. My very good pal, Sarah (of Eventing in Color fame), was kind enough to shoot a bunch of snapshots for me. I didn't get to look at them until this morning. Usually, I cringe at the crappiness of my position and where Speedy's body is going. This time, I only deleted one shot immediately. The rest, I studied and decided that while none of them were fantastic, they also weren't as bad as the ride felt. The test, First Level, Test 1, started out great. We earned an 8.0 for our halt and a very lovely 7.0 for those fun 10-meter half circles at X. The trot lengthening wasn't grand, but it was enough to squeeze out a 6.0. The judge liked our medium walk, 7.5 but from there, things started to go a bit downhill. To say the canter work was a disaster would be putting it mildly. Speedy decided it was mach 12 or nothing. And to make it even more impressive, he decided to show the judge that he could cross canter. I have no idea where that came from as he has never done that before in his life. I think it even surprised him. The judge should have given us a slew of 3s and 4s, but instead, she gifted us with 5s for our canter work even though he was swapping leads behind the whole way through his 15-meter canter circle. I love this next picture though. He has clearly fallen on the forehand and is running through my hand, but I am just sitting there as Zen as ever. That's Chemaine's description of my riding. I NEVER panic during a test, and no matter how bad it goes, I just keep on going as though nothing horrendous has just happened. I also love this next photo from our first lengthening at the canter. I either gave him way too strong of a half halt, or else he was rocking back ready to launch forward. It may not be great form, but it shows that he can get back on his rear end! I also like this photo as we came across the diagonal ready to trot at X. Again, nothing is perfect, but the dude is starting to shorten his frame and my position is getting stronger - I've quit leaning forward at least. The judge was really kind in her scoring, which I appreciate, but the score would have been far lower at a rated show. We earned a 63.79% for First Level, Test 1 which was sixth out of six. However, the thing that I like best is that our score was close to the rest of the competitors, even though this was our first time riding First Level. Not too shabby! The very best thing about this ride is that I truly enjoyed every moment. I laughed at Speedy's run-away gallop down the long side, and I giggled as he swapped leads as we made the turn for X. As long as showing is fun, who cares about the foibles and the disasters. I feel some big improvement in our near future!
22 Comments
jenj
11/13/2014 10:46:53 pm
Totally on board with you on schooling show scores, although I have had judges who have scored what I would expect at a rated show. I've also had very very generous judges, lol! It's nice to be able to laugh at yourself and your horse in a low-pressure situation. I'm glad that you had a great time, even if Speedy threw in some... ummmm, "special" maneuvers!
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11/14/2014 09:24:29 am
Schooling shows definitely have their place, and I am grateful there are a few I can attend. I like generous judges, but too many of them give you a false sense of success. Gotta have a zinger every now and again. :0)
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11/13/2014 10:53:52 pm
This is an AWESOME first attempt at 1st level, are you kidding? You guys did great! First asks for a pretty substantial step up in engagement and thinking on both the rider and horse's part. Sure, you had some issues, but I wouldn't call it a total train wreck. ;)
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I've found the same thing! I had to learn to brush it off and enter my next test like I owned it and belonged. Our local schooling shows use L grads or less, and my most critcal scores have come from r and L judges. I would think the S judges would be just as critical, but they aren't.
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11/14/2014 09:33:06 am
Thanks, Austen. I wasn't thrilled with our rides, but I didn't hate them either. The thing I noticed about First Level is that everything happens a whole lot faster. I always memorize my tests and never use a reader, but for this go-round, I asked Chemaine to read since there was no point memorizing tests that I'll ride again.
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Congrats on your debut! By next year's USDF shows I'm sure you'll be spot on! One thing I like about generous judges at schooling shows (even if we know we did badly), is that they generally have very positive comments and constructive things to say that are actually useful, which is imperative when you’re making a move up a level. You don’t want to be told, this sucked, that sucked, this was especially bad, etc. You need to be able to see something good!
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Whoa! Those are some seriously rude comments! I would not have felt out of place talking to the show management about that sort of behavior. Most show management, in my experience, want feedback on their judges so they hire ones that people want to show under.
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11/14/2014 09:36:42 am
Yikes! I've never had a rude judge, but I can assure you that I would mention it to the ride secretary if I did. I once wrote to an endurance ride manager to voice my displeasure over their choice of vets, but generally, I try to only say positive things to the show secretaries. With that, rude comments are not appropriate.
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Carly
11/14/2014 03:28:39 am
Definitely agree about the schooling show scores--but that's why they're schooling shows, and it makes it that much more fun!
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11/14/2014 09:38:28 am
Thanks! For the first time I am not completely cringing at my position. While I wish he looked fabulous, that's hard to do if I am a sack of potatoes. So as I get myself organized, I should start to see more and more improvement in how Speedy looks (and works). :0)
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I was never able to show even the smallest lengthen trot during any first level test I've EVER ridden. Not one. Ever. I had so many "no lengthen shown" comments by the end of the year that it was a joke at that point.
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11/14/2014 09:43:20 am
We actually had some "nice" lengthenings during our Saturday lesson so at least i know what to shoot for - Chemain is a GREAT teacher. i don't know that i'll get any while working on my own, but I at least i know how to approach it.
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Any picture awkwardness can be attributed to photographer error!! You rode AMAZING - your body, seat, and hands were tall, secure, and quiet. Sure the first canter was exuberant, but the trot work was excellent, geometry very nice, and most importantly - you were cool as a cucumber and recovered the test very impressively!
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11/14/2014 09:48:45 am
You did an excellent job! And it's not like an iPhone can do that great of a job in the shade anyway. But really, I only absolutely hated one, and that wasn't your fault. I was simply all discombobulated.. :0)
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11/14/2014 09:49:56 am
Aw … thanks, Emma. The pictures show a team working hard, but we definitely have room for improvement. :0)
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Val
11/15/2014 12:20:31 am
That is an excellent debut, no matter how you slice it.
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I totally agree that schooling scores are going to be quite a bit higher than rated shows. I've always felt this was on purpose as a schooling show/ride should always have a top goal of encouraging both better performance next time and encouraging riders to come back and try again. I always get way more out of the comments than the actual scores (at least if the judge is any good).
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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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