Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
In August, I bought Izzy a new halter when his hand-me-down halter started showing more than a little wear. It was a beautiful, black leather Schockemohle with stainless steel hardware, and I had even ordered and attached a name plate. The whole thing lasted about two weeks before he very uncharacteristically sat back - on purpose, I might add, and broke it. Jerk. As luck would have it, I got a brand new leather halter just a week or two later as a raffle prize while at a clinic in September. The halter was donated by Melanie Lindbeck, proprietress of Show One More Time. I placed another order from Haltertags.com, and then waited for the new name plate to arrive. The name plate arrived this week. I dragged out my hole punch and a tube of Loctite and got to work. Since Izzy's not really a "puller," I don't think he'll break this one. I rarely hard tie my horses, and when I do, I am always standing right there. Since he managed to break the other halter while I was "standing right there," my proximity is obviously no guarantee. He's been in the rope halter for the past month and hasn't even thought about pulling back, and that includes being at the cavaletti clinic in September where he stood at the trailer for hours. Rather than hard tying my horses, I use Blocker Tie rings while tacking up at the ranch and in and outside the trailer.
I'll continue using my Blocker Tie Rings, but the big brown horse better not even think about breaking a second halter. The Universe doesn't like me well enough to give me a second free halter. Sheesh. 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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