Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Speedy and I have been partners for many years now. He and I met when he was just three years old - a baby really. At seventeen, soon to be eighteen, we're still partners, but the truth is that Speedy is free to make his own decisions as long as those decisions don't get him into too much trouble. We're having an unusually wet December which is great for someplace that exists in perpetual drought. The downside is that it has been really muddy the last few weeks. Both boys have large, sandy paddocks, but they choose to spend their days in the same areas which means lots of mud. While I ride Izzy, I often open Speedy's gate so that he can get out of the mud and graze on the winter grass that is springing up around the ranch. Free range Speedy is mostly well behaved, but I do have to keep my eye on him or at least make sure the feed room door is latched tightly. Over the years, he has learned that he is allowed to cross the threshold with his front feet only. Left unsupervised, I worry that he'll come all the way into the room and not be able to back himself up without knocking over everything as he exits. And knowing him like I do, said exit would probably cause a panic. While I miss our daily rides, I enjoy Speedy just as much as a retired old man. He seems to know that living a life of ease is all that's expected of him. Watching him as he visits all of his neighbors always makes me smile, and knowing that he's happy helps me feel like I am paying him back for all of the years he spent doing what I wanted.
Now, he gets to do what he wants. Isn't that what retirement is all about? 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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