Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Today is the first day of school for my students. Everyone around us started on Wednesday while many schools around the rest of the state are still enjoying their summer vacation. I had a great summer. It was hot as heck, but not so hot that riding was unbearable. I simply kept to my regular work schedule, which included leaving the house by 6:00 a.m., so that I was riding in the coolest part of the day. As teachers, we get approximately 10 weeks off. I decided to count how many times I rode during that time off. I discovered that on average, both boys got ridden 5 days a week. Unless I had a show or a clinic, I gave them Saturdays and Sundays off except for hand grazing or turn out.
During those ten weeks we took a couple of short trips (Las Vegas, Santa Barbara) which probably lowered my totals a little. It really felt as though I rode way more than ninety-two times! Over the summer, I was able to develop a pretty nice right lead canter on Sydney, and Speedy's oomph (thrust) is coming along nicely. It will be difficult going back to one ride a day. Technically, I have enough daylight for two rides after work, but being home at a reasonable hour to cook dinner and spend time with my husband is a priority. Good by, Summer Vacation; see you in nine and a half months! |
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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