Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Every day I remind myself that we need the rain, we need the rain, we need the rain. But honestly, I am a little over it. At this point I almost miss dust. Just about the time the puddles begin to dry out, it rains again. Besides the obvious benefits of rain, one bonus has been the proliferation of grasses and plants. California isn't called the "golden state" for nothing. We're not known for being covered in green. Within a month or so, the lush grasses will be prickly and filled with foxtails. It has been 24 days since I have been able to ride the entire length of the arena. And as of yesterday, both the C and A ends have standing water. I had to cancel my Saturday lesson again. Right now, the river is running very deep and wide. Most of the time, it can't be seen from the edge of the pastures, but last night, it was approaching the top of the bank. In another month or so, as the mountain snow begins to melt, the river will likely flood the lower pastures. When it does, we'll lose our trail which was just mowed yesterday. Even more rain is predicted for Monday through Wednesday. I know we'll all be grateful to see our reservoirs refilled, and summer will feel less hot and dusty with replenished aquifers, but I am over it.
Thank you, California, for wearing green this St. Patty's Day, but let me at least ride my horse occasionally! 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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