Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
We are really and truly doing this. Izzy's name is on the ride schedule, and we have times - good ones, I might add. I specifically asked for as late a time as possible because of the lengthy warm up we're (probably) going to need. I never run through the tests with Speedy. Not even when we were showing Training Level. I would do chunks of the tests, but never a whole test all the way through. Speedy is too smart. If I ran through the test, he would have it memorized immediately, and then he'd be trying to tell me what to do. He already does that at home. Izzy is an entirely different horse. He's not nearly as sharp as Speedy. He's a firecracker for sure, but he's not much of a thinker. He's much more of a reactionary and lives very much in the moment. While Speedy anticipates, even plotting his next move at times, Izzy always seems surprised by my aids. Which is something I need to sharpen up; he's not convinced that trot at C means RIGHT NOW, DAMMIT! I realized that it might be helpful to run through the tests with him. I figured it might build some confidence if he felt a sense of routine and familiarity. So that's what I did on Wednesday afternoon; we ran through Training Level Test 3 several times. I was actually really pleased with parts of the test, especially the first time through. The second time we rode it, he started to get sassy which tells me he was feeling some self-confidence. I'll do the same thing this afternoon and tomorrow. I am really focusing on riding him like I will during the test. There are no do-overs and no circling back. No matter what he does, I am schooling him for the test.
However it goes on Sunday, I'll be glad just to have schooled him to the point where I think he might be ready to show. For so long our daily rides were all about getting him to listen to me without constant jackassery. Even considering him maybe ready for a show is a huge win. Wish us luck! |
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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