Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Sunday was one of those rare, perfect days here in Bakersfield. It was warm while still being cool. The sun was bright and cheerful, but there was a lovely breeze that kept the temperature perfectly comfortable. When we have days like that, I always like to say that if we had more of them, none of us would be able to afford to live here. Izzy is worse than a teenaged boy when it comes to funk and gunk. He quite often sweats through his pads which leaves the equine version of ring around the collar. So after a weekend of very good rides, I decided that my schooling whites needed a good cleaning. The weather was perfect for line drying saddle pads, or in my case, "patio chair" drying. We have a newish washing machine though, so I didn't want to gunk it up with Izzy's prodigious funk, so I used the shop vac first. Not only were the pads crusty brown underneath - I swear I groom him first, but they were also matted with hair. After a super duty wash cycle and a double rinse, the pads came out mostly white. While they might not sparkle, they sure do smell nice after drying in the breeze. I love riding with a crisp, clean pad. Too bad my leg boots, bridle, and horse won't be as clean as the pads.
4/13/2017 09:47:31 am
I just use the same dirty pads over and over so that I don't have as much laundry. Speaking of which, I sometimes do the same thing with human laundry too. LOL 4/13/2017 09:48:08 am
It helped, but I still had to scrape hair out of the washer. 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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