Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Summer, or show season as it should really be called, is usually the most expensive season for me as a horse owner. Speedy's recent "winter of woe" however, wherein he managed to rack up thousands of dollars in vet bills, really challenged my bank account. I just can't get those bills paid off. I say that, but the reality is that I could pay them off if I would make other (better?) choices. My husband has been pretty supportive of the "pay it later" plan, especially given that I spent $681 on shows and another $230 on lessons last month. Not doing those two things would have enabled me to take care of my outstanding vet bill. I would have been miserable though. Whoever says money can't buy happiness is either wrong or just stupid.
At the end of June, I had to order a new box of Prascend at $277.00. The box will last 160 days, so at least I won't have to reorder until the fall. The Prascend is to treat Speedy's Cushing's Disease. That charge is getting added in with the other pay it later bills. As I was planning the rest of my summer budget, I decided that it would be okay to do two shows each month in July and August. That will end our show season though which means I can then get my vet bills and the Prascend paid for in September. That will be a relief. If we don't get our two bronze medal scores, there isn't another show until October, so I am hopeful that I can still pay those other bills in September, or at least one of them. Once those are paid, I can once again start saving for next year's show season or another winter of woe, whichever comes first. Horses. They're expensive, you know? Comments are closed.
|
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
|