Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
We Can Do This![]() It took six months, but I "broke" MIckey myself and taught him what he needed to know to be a trail and endurance horse. I used every training technique I knew: treats, approach and retreat, and repetition, repetition, repetition. Before I could even begin any under saddle work, I had to teach him that he could be touched. I spent the rest of that summer, fall, and winter teaching him how to be groomed, how to pick up his feet, how to come to me in the pasture, how to stand tied, and how to load into the trailer. None of it was easy. By late winter I was finally saddling him and working in long lines. Hubby threatened to sell him when I was thrown violently and sprained my pelvic bone (I didn't know you could sprain that part of your body!). I convinced him that I was okay, and I could finish this horse. For the years that I owned him, I don't remember coming off Mickey again. On the Trail![]() Los Padres National Forest Mickey turned out to be the most surefooted horse I have ever ridden. When I was mounted, we were one unit. I could literally ask him to go over or under anything. He was fearless, brave, and very balanced on the trail. He never tried to dump me and when he did spook, he always kept me perfectly centered in the middle of his back. He trusted me implicitly. I challenged that trust many times on the trail, but he never failed me. If I was on the ground, his confidence disappeared completely, and he was a different horse. He would spook at loud noises, plastic bags, or anything that he perceived as a threat. He was always afraid of men. I never quite trusted him while tied, and if I wasn't very careful, he would pull back hard enough to break halter and lead rope. If I left his sight, he would panic and call for me until I returned. The instant my car pulled into the barn, he started to whinny for me. Most people laughed at how attached he was to me. I knew that his attachment was actually a problem for him and worked for many years to build confidence in himself. As time went by, he did gain confidence and learned to trust other people. To be continued ...
Val
12/4/2011 08:59:40 am
Between him and Montoya, you have had some very interesting horses! Arabians are a breed apart.
Karen
12/4/2011 09:23:31 pm
Val - While I am especially fond of Arabs, I would never claim that they are "superior" since I know that each breed has very remarkable attributes. That's why I bought Sydney, a NZ Thoroughbred. Arabians are very well known for their attachment to their people. 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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