Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
The next 6 weeks are dedicated to the walk. For most of us, I think the walk is probably the most neglected gait. Let's face it; it just doesn't have the glam that the other gaits have. There's no suspension, no sense of elevation, and it's really slow. Who can blame us for wanting to do something with more pizazz?
Since I am not supposed to do anything more than walk with Speedy right now, I am embracing the gait and plan to milk it for all that it's worth. For those who are wondering, Speedy came up REALLY lame two months ago, so lame that he didn't even want to walk. After radiographs, nerve blocks, and a thorough lameness exam at one of California's premier equestrian medical centers, it was decided that Speedy either had a deep bone bruise or a collateral ligament injury in the hoof capsule. (I still suspect an abscess.) Without an MRI to confirm which injury Speedy might have, I decided to follow the most conservative treatment option which was only going to cost us some time. We've finished the 45 days of hand walking and have moved on to 45 days of walking under saddle. In about 6 weeks, we'll be able to add some trotting and then continue from there. The best news of course is that since the day after we returned from the vet, Speedy has not taken a single ouchy step. This is also frustrating as he is very, very sound. I would love to throw caution to the wind and just get back to full training, but the risk of a repeated injury, whatever it was, is just not worth it. I kind of like this horse and would prefer that he have many years of sound riding in front of him. So here's my current walking plan:
He was very happy to be back to work, and I didn't realize how much I had missed the view from between two white ears! 3/31/2014 12:14:25 pm
Yeah … I tend to be in it for the long haul. What's a few months when you're going to have them for a decade or more?
jenj
3/31/2014 03:28:49 am
Love the pic! What a great moment! 3/31/2014 12:15:08 pm
I have a series that Lori shot that are equally as cool. :0) 3/31/2014 12:36:03 pm
I had a great lesson tonight, and all we did was walk. It was quite the educational experience. 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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