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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Forgot how good bareback riding is ...

5/28/2011

 
Things are very s...l...o...w... around my barn these days.  It would seem that with EHV-1 on the loose, no one feels like grooming, doing turn out, or even hand walking their horses.  Good for me, I suppose.  I've had the barn completely to myself the last two weeks.

Cha Ching's mom, sweetest person around, asked me on Thursday how Speedy was doing after he yanked that shoe off nearly two weeks ago.  If you'll remember, I mentioned that it HURT, and that he was pretty sore.  I've been doing regular turn out and some light lunging over the two weeks, but no under saddle work.  Each day that I leave the barn I record on my calendar what I did that day: t/o, arena ride, etc.  I also note any funkiness that might have occurred: scratched face, whacked knee, etc.  This last week or so my calendar has looked like this: Saturday - lame, Sunday - lame (?), Tuesday - better, Thursday - 95% sound (?), Saturday - 98% sound (?), Sunday - 98.5%, Tuesday - sound 99% (?), Thursday - sound 100% (?).

The problem with a lazy horse, and Cha Ching's mom has had to listen to this already ... side note: she really is a good friend. I have talked about this lazy horse issue with her at least 38 times and she still nods her head in sympathy ...  is that they always look lame.  

Let me explain ... I've had a HOT horse (more than one, actually).  Montoya was hell on wheels and NEVER looked lame. That was no doubt because she was always higher than a kite and R...E...A...D...Y... to rock and roll no matter what might hurt.  That mare sucked it up.  She NEVER lacked impulsion.  If I asked for a trot-out, she stepped out and meant it.  It was actually quite difficult to pinpoint any soreness because she was so forward.  Hot horses just never look lame.  They pick up their feet, they don't drag their toes, and they step well under themselves which gives them good, forward movement.

And then we come to Speedy G ... who is not very speedy, and who pokes along even if the barn is on fire or dinner is being served.  When asked to trot-out, he literally drags all four feet through the dirt.  It frequently looks as though he is going in reverse, or at the very least as though he might actually fall down.
Really ... after watching that, doesn't he look lame?  

And that is the problem with lazy ponies.  

So even though I wanted to give him a few more days of rest, in case he is still sore from that pulled shoe and not just being lazy, I decided to do some bareback work anyway.  Speedy WILL NOT trot with me on his bare back, so I don't really worry about him getting a wild hair and bolting after several weeks of rest.  

I had brought my step-stool and helmet to the arena and had used my riding halter to bring him out, so I was able to hop on without a lot of fuss.  Truthfully, I had a great time.  I focused on riding with my seat while consciously bending my elbows and holding my hands in a firm position.  We worked on softening, flexing, and moving off my leg.  It's hard to deceive yourself when your butt is right on their back.  You can feel it immediately when you're off balance.

Is he lame?  I doubt it.  He's just lazy.  The upside, of course, is that I have a pony that I can hop on bareback after two weeks of no work and KNOW that I am going to be toted around safely.  Not a bad trade-off!
Sara
5/28/2011 04:16:12 am

Hey Karen,

Hey looks pretty sound to me for what that's worth. K has some extra impulsion we can send you if I can just figure out how to package and ship it down. Even though he's hot and full of himself I always think he looks lame or feels off... because I'm paranoid I suppose. The slightest little misstep and I think he's torn his suspensory. Silly horse owners :)

karen
5/28/2011 04:37:44 am

Thanks, sara. Actually your opinion carries weight! I had a great ride this morning. After his two weeks off, he felt really good. With ehv-1 and work I didn't have a lot free time so it made sense to just let him work out of whatever it was. I grateful there are others as paranoid as I am. Can you over-night the extra impulsion? We need it!

Cha Ching's Mom
5/28/2011 05:04:37 am

Looked sound to me as well! I think he is really not impressed by the whip! And yes, you definitely got the most exercise!

Val link
5/28/2011 11:34:36 pm

Hi Karen,

I am guessing that his sensible nature makes him very trainable. He has the stretchy trot down pat!

Thanks for following my blog! I could not see your picture until this morning, because blogger had gone bonkers. I also added your blog to my list!

Karen Sweaney
5/29/2011 12:19:41 am

Hi Val!
(For those that don't know, Val writes Memoirs of a Horse Girl. You can find a link to her blog over to the right, under the heading of "Some Good Reads."

V- yes, he is very trainable and he LOVES to do the stretchy trot. That's actually an interesting story. We tried it at one lesson, but when I lengthened the reins at the trot, Speedy actually got speedy and bolted around the circle. Coach thought that particular movement might be a hard one for us. The next time I rode him, I did a lot of canter work in as uphill of a frame as I could get, and then I asked for a downward transition and I gave him the reins. Viola! Stretchy trot. I reinforced it at the walk, and now it's something he likes to do. Rather than lazy, I suppose I should give him the benefit of the doubt and call him, to use your word, sensible!

By the way, I laughed when I read your lunge post. I thought I was being retarded when I walk/trot/canter myself when I want Speedy to do the same! Either we're intuitively genius, or we look really goofy!

Karen


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.
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    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.
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    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.
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  • 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