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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Go, Speedy, Go!

9/8/2011

 
Or at least that's what I thought I was going to be saying to Speedy G during our Wednesday night lesson.  For some un-explicable reason, Speedy G was hot.  And although it was 100 degrees ... in the way back, deep shade, I don't mean that kind of hot. 

That boy was hot-to-trot, fired up, and rearin' to go.  He was so excited that I ditched the hurry it up stick, also known as the dressage whip, long before the lesson even started.  This enthusiasm turned out to be a pleasant gift since Wednesday was the day to tackle steady contact.  And since Speedy G's trick is to suck back and get behind the bit, forward energy was to be part of the solution.

To encourage Speedy G to accept the contact, JL had me add leg, leg, leg whenever he came behind the bit.  Of course that came with some over-reaction where he would think, oh, go faster!, and out his nose would pop.  I was ready for him though and as soon as he tried that, I added a shoulder blade squeeze to go with the leg squeeze.  It became a game of squeeze him forward, slow him down.  Oops!  Sucking back ... Squeeze forward ... Racing off in the front end ... wait a minute, get back here.  

It took a bit of work, but eventually Speedy G shook hands with steady contact.  He was happier to dance with steady contact to the left, but not so jiggy with it to the right.  To the right required a re-visit to the land of GET OFF MY INSIDE LEG!  After some time there, he was more than happy to do a bigger, rounder circle. And later, he was even more willing to dance with his new pal, steady contact, when we returned to the left.  And even more surprising still was that he performed two canter transitions without any bucking or kicking. JL was quite impressed with that little nugget of improvement.

At last week's lesson, JL and I focused on getting Sydney to soften by asking him to come from in front of the bit to a more vertical position.  This week's lesson focused on getting Speedy G to move up to the contact.  I have one pony in front of the bit and a second pony behind the bit.  Talk about learning the whole spectrum! At some point, I might just become a damn fine rider.

I am loving Wednesdays!
HammerHorses link
9/8/2011 08:37:58 am

I have to say, riding totally different horses on a consistant basis will HAVE to make you a better rider - there's just no way it WON'T! You should totally get your trainer to take pictures/video during your lessons!

Val
9/8/2011 12:13:14 pm

Go Speedy!

Your horses are giving you a crash course. ;)

Karen Sweaney
9/8/2011 11:02:27 pm

HammerHorses - I have quite a lot of video, but you're right. I need some new stuff to see how much we've improved over the last two month. The truth is, we've been taking our lessons when it is 100 degrees, and I am not exaggerating. I am waiting for it to cool just slightly before asking anyone, trainer or friend, to stand out there in the heat with a camera!

And I KNOW riding two totally different horses is helping a ton. I am developing a much better feel. Now, if I just had 10 more hours a week and a lot more money, I could ride a THIRD horse! Talk about improvement! :0)


Val - hopefully we don't need the "crash" part, but the course part, YES! :0)


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.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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