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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

How's Speedy?

2/5/2019

 
The speedy pony has not made much of an appearance here of late. There hadn't been much to report. Speedy had a hole in his foot, and all I could do was check daily for lameness and see how much progress had been made in the closure of said hole. Finally, there's something to report.
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We're looking at the large circle in the top right corner. Yep. It's a hole.
While the hole hasn't filled in entirely, Speedy is 100% sound on it. For the past several weeks, my soundness checks have progressed from can he walk a few steps?, can he walk down the grass?, can he trot on the grass?, can he walk down the driveway?, until finally, I asked him if he could trot in the arena. Last week, he finally trotted out sound in the arena on a circle going both directions. Progress!

When I felt confident that he was sound, I added my tack and a lunge line and asked for walk/trot transitions. When that looked good, I added some cavaletti poles which he thought was the most fun he'd had in months, which it was actually. And when I asked him to canter the cavaletti poles, he about died and went to heaven. Yesterday, I rode him for the first time, and his good mood evaporated. Oh, yeah, this is work. We finished up by trotting the poles which reminded him that he is (almost) a Third Level horse.
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He really does like me.
A lot has happened in Speedy's world recently, which bothers him immensely. He really doesn't do well with change. Besides suffering from multiple abscesses, that would wreck anybody's mood, his pasture mate, Willy, moved away which left Speedy alone in his large dry pasture. While he loves the 24/7 turnout, he hates the alone part. 
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He has all of this plus a large area to the left where he has a covered paddock.
He's not actually alone. A lovely mare lives in the large sandy pasture adjacent to his. Changes though. Her side of things are being worked on. Freshly composted dirt has been added with an updated sprinkler system. Grass should begin growing shortly. In the meantime, she has moved to the neighboring small pasture that has grass. Speedy can see her, but he can't touch her. He thinks he's going to die.
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She is quite lovely and worth pining for.
Of course, adjacent to her pasture are two more friends, Winaro and the mule. While Speedy can't touch them either, they're all within chatting distance. And let's not forget that Izzy lives across from him in his own large dry pasture (although not so dry right now).
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Izzy has all of this plus what's on the other side of the cross fence. There's a gate that allows him to use both sides, which he does.
Speedy doesn't care how many horses live in his neighborhood. He wants someone to live with him, and if that's not possible, then someone, preferably a hottie like red mare, should at least live where he can breathe on her. Since none of that is happening, he has decided to live at the gate. And by at the gate, I mean RIGHT NEXT TO THE GATE.
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The gate is open in this photo, but this is as far as he will go - this little area.
His decision to confine himself to this small space has driven everyone at the ranch nuts. We've had to move his feeder here, but the most annoying part is that he is now standing in mud. He has a HUGE area to roam, but since he only stands HERE, the ground is getting all mucked up.
Picture
The pit he has worn away.
Living at the gate has caused one last problem. As he paces and whirls, he has carved a substantial pit. In its farthest corner, the hole is more than a foot deep. As this is the gate used for the tractor, this has made things a bit awkward for Reggie who takes care of dragging and spreading manure. If Speedy doesn't quit being such a jerk, he's going to get us all kicked out. Just kidding. I think.

So now we're all caught up on Speedy's life. Hopefully we can get back on a riding schedule and tackle those flying changes again. As I look out my window this morning - it's still dark, I see rain. What's one more day?
SarahO link
2/5/2019 07:06:27 am

May I ask why you don't turn Speedy and Izzy out together?

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/5/2019 07:18:25 am

Right?!?!? Sounds like a great solution.

Several reasons - 1) Izzy eats primarily grass hay and Speedy eats alfalfa. Izzy would gobble up Speedy's feed who would be thrilled to eat grass. One would be a raving lunatic and the other would be a rack of bones. LOL

2) Speedy becomes instantly attached to whomever he lives with. When I take Izzy out to ride, Speedy whirls and complains. If they lived together in the same turnout, Speedy would lose his mind every time I rode Izzy no matter how many years went by.

Speedy just needs a pasture ornament to live with. Know anybody? LOL

SarahO link
2/5/2019 10:01:52 pm

Ah, that makes sense. That's too bad. Maybe this is the perfect excuse for you to buy a cute companion mini? ;-)

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/10/2019 08:35:34 am

Oh my gosh, do NOT even get me started! My best friend and I have this plan to drive minis when we get too old to ride, but I want one NOW! LOL

Gina Vergata link
2/6/2019 08:16:20 am

Does anyone have a donkey or goat that could live with him? Would you be willing to buy/ adopt him a friend? I think a donkey may have issues with the alfalfa, but goats do fine with it. Just a thought for poor lonely Speedy.

Bakersfield Dressage link
2/10/2019 08:20:43 am

All great ideas for sure. Anybody smaller than Speedy would probably be able to walk under the fence though :0. I am pretty sure the mare will be moving back in soon. It would definitely be awesome to find a pasture pal for Speedy - someone who eats as slow as Speedy and is willing to be bossed around a little.


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian
    Email Karen

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy 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 Second Level. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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    October 2020

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    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
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    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
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    I love her stuff!

    National Rider Awards

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    • CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
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    3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
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    2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

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  • Home
  • About
  • Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
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