Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Sydney's birthday was on Thursday, and I forgot all about it. The only reason I know that the day passed was because my vet sent me one of those e-cards wishing my Kiwi well. I know his birthday is in October, but October snuck up on me and is in fact already 25% of the way over. If you're looking at Sydney's track data and wondering how I figure that he was born in October, you're not alone in that puzzle. It took me quite a while to determine that New Zealand, like many countries, lists the month first. I was also baffled about the date because October is not a foaling month. Who breeds in November for an October baby? When you remember that New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere and that their seasons are opposite of ours, it makes sense. October is a spring month down under.
Sill on the topic of Sydney, but the conversation is taking a serious change of direction. I've written several times about how scary Sydney was to ride once I started cantering him this past winter. I almost sold him and so on. Well no more! He gave me the BEST birthday present on Sunday; we cantered! Can I say it again? We cantered, we cantered, we cantered! And it was calm, and happy, and he LIKED it! I liked it! I hope it wasn't a one-time deal. I hope I have finally figured out how to ride my off the track, New Zealand bred, Thoroughbred. More on the cantering topic as I know if this is the real deal. Keep your fingers crossed for us, will you? |
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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