Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() Homemade Dressage Letters How can you give yourself a lesson? I think I did it on Sunday. I don't have an actual dressage court. WHAT? I know ... right? No, it's one part of my barn's facilities that I really don't like. There is a large oval arena, and it is almost long enough for a dressage court, but a dressage court it ain't. So, I've done the best I can with cones. Here's a quick peek at the cones I bought at Target (Tarjay for you name brand shoppers) and then taped on computer-printed letters. They work better than nothing and were cheap to buy. On Saturday, I finally got the brilliant idea to use a pre-measured length of rope to mark out the width and length of my "dressage court." I also decided to use my four cavaletti poles (purchased at Home Depot for 3 bucks each) to make two corners at the A end of the dressage court. With those two corners marked and my cones forming the rest of the rectangle, I made a serviceable riding space. Leslie Webb really got after me about riding the figures correctly. So on Sunday, I decided to really work hard to make my 20-meter circles accurate. I also used the long side and diagonal of my "court" to work on straightness. Straightness is tough to master in an oval! And of course, I had to work on that canter departure. I am pleased to announce that there was no bucking or cow kicking. And with a "court" marked out, I was able to work on the canter circles at A, and then down the long side to circle at E and then again at C and so on. After all that right lead cantering followed by all the left lead cantering, I was pooped! I just kept telling Speedy G, "Again ... again ... again!" We finally got it, but I was tired. There's actually more to this story ... with the four cavaletti poles working so well to anchor the corners at A, Hubby volunteered to go to Home Depot with me that afternoon to buy even more poles to mark the C end of the court, along with two extra poles to support the long sides. (Thanks, Hubby!). Wednesday's lesson with Coach should be more "constructive!"
M\arbaskin's Mom
4/25/2011 01:16:39 am
There's nothing like a bunch of poles from Lowes or Home Depot! People out at the ranch let me know when they go on sale cheap and we buy 3-4 every time! Pretty soon you will have a court, trot poles, even a small jump all at the same time! The only drawback is putting them all away...
Karen
4/25/2011 07:52:50 am
Love the poles ... hate dragging them around ... need more poles! :0)
Edyta
4/29/2011 05:28:07 am
I use a 20 meter rope too! Hehe :-)
Karen
4/29/2011 09:08:18 am
Edyta - the poles don't have a link! They're just 8 foot, round fence poles from the gardening section at Home Depot. They're $2.99 when they're not on sale and cheaper when they are on sale. 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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