Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
This is the last post on this lesson; I promise. Since I don't get to ride with Chemaine very often, she usually loads me up with tons of work which means tons to process. This lesson was no exception. So far, I've shared two pretty important ideas:
This next video clip shows me figuring out how to get a right lead canter and how to soften my legs so that I don't keep them clamped on. I thought he needed more leg to quit stalling out, but Chemaine pointed out that clamping my legs on is actually slowing him down. D'oh! Once I felt how much outside rein I needed, the canter was super easy. You can hear from his snorts and see from his head tossing that he liked this canter too. Over the past few days, I hope you've been able to get a sense of what type of trainer Chemaine is. I love how she avoids criticizing her riders; Lord knows there's plenty of fodder for that. Instead she focuses on what I am doing right. She also makes things simple and relatively easy to work on by myself once I get back home. While we have a very long journey ahead of us, Chemaine certainly helped me with a lot of little steps. As I watch this final video, I see a much happier and relaxed horse. And all of that came from first regulating his rhythm (last month's lesson focus) and controlling his haunches (this month's focus).
8/14/2015 11:00:07 pm
We're figuring this thing out, but I am pretty sure I'll have plenty more for Chemaine to deal with next time we see her. :0)
Carly
8/14/2015 01:09:26 am
Really love listening to Chemaine teach! 8/14/2015 11:01:46 pm
I do too! There is never a moment where she doesn't know how to fix whatever I am doing wrong. And I know not everyone likes the non-stop coaching, but I LOVE that she coaches me through every single stride. I am not out there wondering if I am doing it "right." :0) 8/14/2015 11:03:15 pm
Thanks! However, when you can grab whichever shot you want in a sequence, it's easy to make them look good. Let's just say that I had to scroll through LOTS of funky moments to find some good ones. LOL! 8/14/2015 11:12:43 pm
Thanks, but that will probably be a long while. I don't have enough control to do many diagonals or long sides yet. :0) 8/15/2015 09:52:38 am
You guys are probably farther along than we are! Chemaine added a whip to my routine. He hasn't done a true back up or halt this week with it. He has certainly thought about it, but all I need to do is simply give it a wiggle, and he's all about the forward again. 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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