Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
No, not with Leslie Webb, but back with my regular coach. There's something to be said for returning to a comfort zone. Except that it wasn't quite as comfortable as it used to be. There was slightly less friendly chatting and quite a bit more do it again, and again, and once again!
You see, my coach knows Leslie Webb and even encouraged me to take a lesson with her as she thought it would be good for me to hear it from someone else. Once Coach heard my feedback, it was game on! You know how to ride a serpentine, show me! Uh-oh! You know the correct marks for hitting your 20-meter circle, show me! Well mostly ... You still have your tests memorized, show me! ... And there were no more stand-around-and-rest-breaks. After working the serpentines, both on a regular bend and on a counter bend, we did some 20-meter circles and then went straight to Introductory Test B. And actually, we rode it very well. [There!, with a big phssst to Taz's mom - I gave myself some credit!] And on to Introductory Test C ... up the center line, tracking right at C, nice 20-meter circle at B, pick up the canter just after A ... CRAP! Here's where the do it again chant came in. Every time I asked for the canter at A, Speedy G gave a pretty big cow kick, or a straight up buck. We tried it again, and again, and again. I tried asking for the canter at a different point on the circle and got a smoother transition. Back to A, nope. I tried asking for the canter with a quieter aid, better, but not perfect. When we got a quieter transition, Coach had me repeat the test from the beginning. I wish I could say that with the canter schooling in the middle we rocked the test, but I can't. By the time we rode the test again, I was getting tired and Speedy G was just pissed. I am definitely a stronger, more balanced rider when I am not tired, but Coach felt that it was important to finish the ride so that I'll know what it feels like to ride tired if that happens at a show. So, we finished. Not fabulous, but we got the canter transitions both ways, and I got some nice collection in the 20-meter circles. Do you have a coach? If not, I strongly recommend finding one!
Coach
4/23/2011 12:39:52 am
:P
Kathy & Gunny
4/25/2011 05:46:33 am
Well, thank God you didn't mention my lesson! We couldn't even post correctly, much less canter. (Although I know you were hoping I'd canter & give you back the trophy). Thank heaven Gunny was tired & wouldn't trot, much less canter...
Karen
4/25/2011 05:56:30 am
I try to only point out my own "suckiness." Other can do their own finger pointing! 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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