Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Last week I ordered a gray dressage pad hoping that it might look good against Speedy's gray coat. The fun thing about having a grey-nearly-white, horse is that he looks great in almost every color. As it turns out, gray might not be for him. The plan was to update my gray show coat to a nicer gray coat and then pair it with a gray pad. I think the combination could be stunning if only the pad were a pretty gray and not a gray tinged with lilac. The pad was sturdily built and had a nice contoured shape, but the gray color was off. In some lights, it looked like it had a purplish tint. Even though the color wasn't what I was wanting for showing, I could have lived with the pad for schooling, but it was just too big for Speedy. This is not a new issue. Finding dressage pads with a shorter drop has always been a challenge. Finding one with a shorter drop in just the right color is going to be even harder.
At this weekend's show, I ran into my pal, Valerie, who owns The Dressage Pony Store. She and her pony Clooney were sporting a fabulous white pad with navy and gold trim. It was stunning and fit Clooney's diminutive frame perfectly! Clooney is similar in size to Speedy, so I know the pad will fit. So, guess what's on its way to Bakersfield? Show update tomorrow ...
lytha
7/30/2018 09:15:10 am
I like it! But I am probably not seeing what you're seeing in your sunlight. Funny how it looked grey in the last post, and in this one I can see lilac. I had the same issue with my grey pad - except mine looks baby blue to me, ugh. 8/8/2018 06:21:57 am
Yeah ... I am over the gray pad thing. I didn't realize how hard gray is to get right,. LOL
Carly
7/30/2018 11:25:01 am
Hmm, I'll have to peruse that website. Dressage pads tend to run awkwardly big on Opie as well unless they've been through the washer and dryer a hundred times already and shrunk up some. 8/8/2018 06:22:52 am
Valerie is super nice, so you could definitely call her and she'd be happy to answer any questions. :0) 8/8/2018 06:25:25 am
I think dressage pads might be easier to find than hunter pads - those come in all kinds of shapes! Finding just the right style must be challenging! All I really have to do is find a measurement (and color) that works. 8/8/2018 06:28:27 am
Speedy does look really good in black, but my black coat doesn't fit me anymore. No great loss there though as it's old and frumpy! With my navy coat (which I LOVE!), I can't use a black pad. My gray coat, which I could use with a black pad, is not my favorite, and it's also a bit too small. I am losing weight right now, so I am hoping the gray coat fits me next season. Either that or I am getting a new one. Then I could get a black pad too! :0) 8/8/2018 03:17:16 pm
I actually school in a navy pad, but's got too much branding to be show worthy. :0) 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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