Bakersfield Dressage
www.bakersfielddressage.com
  • Home
  • About Me
  • My Horses
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Imperioso
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • My Show Results
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Showing Dressage
    • Upcoming Events
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Membership
    • Documents & Forms
    • Judges & Scores
    • Dressage Videos
  • Educational Stuff
  • Local Stuff
    • Bakersfield Vet Hospital
    • Veterinarians
    • Farriers
    • Feed and Tack Stores
    • Facilities
    • Saddle Fitting & Boot Repair
  • Photo Gallery

Missed It By a Hair

8/24/2015

6 Comments

 
I had so much fun this weekend, and I learned so much that I just want to skip the riding recap and go straight to the here's what I walked away with. We Missed It By a Hair, Made it By a Hair, and Missed the Mark Completely, but since none of that would make much sense without seeing how we did, I had better stick to a more linear story line.

Before I do that, I need to give a huge shoutout to Team Symphony, led by the always awesome Chemaine Hurtado. She runs the most motivating training barn that I have yet seen. I am not sure if it's a deliberate strategy or if it just happens because of Chemaine's attitude toward life, but with her, dressage is fun first followed by sound practices and hard work.
Picture
Symphony Dressage's tack stall with Morgan (Chemaine's daughter) and Chemaine herself.
If Chemaine provides Team Symphony's structure, it is her daughter, Morgan, who is the glue that helps hold the team together. This up and coming Jr/YR is not only a talented rider herself, but she epitomizes the ideals of good sportsmanship. She's a motivator, a butt kicker, boot polisher, horse handler, videographer, Jill of all tasks, and all around good friend.
Picture
Chemaine offers all of her students so much support in her coaching style. (photo courtesy of Edyta)
With Team Symphony, it doesn't matter who is in the saddle; everyone pitches in to polish boots, remove leg wraps, take photos, check scores, and cheer loudly no matter what the score. I feel so blessed to have been included in this wonderful family. Thanks, Team Symphony!

Missed It By a Hair

My least favorite score of all is the 59%. It's not like a 55% is all that pretty either, but 59% means you probably missed a "satisfactory" by just a point or two. In my case, it was one and a half points that kept me from earning my last score towards my USDF First Level Rider Performance Award. Womp womp.
Picture
Video still shot - 10-meter trot circle (6.0)
Speedy was a fireball during the first warm up, which was completely the other end of the spectrum from where he was at last month's show. Remember that? He ended up needing to pee. Well that wasn't a problem this weekend. He was jazzed up for this go round.
Picture
Video still shot - working canter (6.5)
Speedy and I have participated in the CDS Regional Adult Amateur Competition for the past four years, but this year's show was far bigger than the previous three. There were four rings going, all brightly decorated. Between rings one and two there is a raised platform covered with a circus-like tent and flags snapping in the breeze. There were tables set up for the evening performance and for spectators later on. There wasn't any one thing that spooked Speedy, but the general atmosphere was exciting with lots of color and movement.
Picture
Not completely downhill in the right lead canter! Heading into the single loop - 6.0.
There is no question that Speedy was against my hand through parts of this first ride. He was also pretty stuck on the left rein, as usual. My position was certainly not as good as it can be, but when he and I brace against each other, that's what happens. Most of the tension came from the C end of the ring where the judge was seated. He didn't want anything to do with that red, white, and blue bunting. There's video down below.
Picture
Video still shot - 15-meter canter circle (7.0)
Overall, the ride felt rushed, and Speedy was heavy in my hand. I also made a stupid error, aren't they all, near the end of the test. I have the test memorized, but I was listening so intently to Chemaine's instructions that I mistakenly heard C 10-meter circle instead of B Half circle 10-meters. Even as I was making the 10-meter circle at C, I was wondering why Chemaine would ask me to do that. She hadn't of course.

I knew before the judge blew her whistle that it was an error and just finished the circle and headed to B to make the 10-meter half circle to finish at G. I now know this test so well that I can do it without a reader. There will be no more off course errors for that test. The 2 point deduction for going off course cost me the 60% score. I missed 60% by 1.5 points.
Picture
Video still shot - lengthen stride in trot (6.0)
This was certainly not our best test, but it was a heck of a lot of fun, we both gained some more experience in a "bigger" ring, and I have plenty of time in which to earn that last score for the Rider Performance Award. I am not being negative here, but we'll be working on First Level for a while. 

Here's the video.
Here is the score sheet for the First Level, Test 3 AA (RAAC Warm Up Class) ... click to enlarge.
I don't generally criticize the judging, but they did seem a little tougher at this show. Overall, we finished the test with a 59.559% which was sixth out of a class of nine. We've definitely done better, but I am not that disappointed. I can see where we need to improve (more length in the trot lengthening, more length in the canter lengthening, and catch those drifting hunches in the leg yield), but the good thing is that Chemaine gave me some great exercises and advice to help me.
Picture
So close to a ribbon!
Tomorrow, Made It By a Hair!
6 Comments
jenj
8/24/2015 12:27:35 am

Aww man, I am also a member of the "missed it" camp due to an off-course mistake. Still, the rest of the test seems like a great way to start out the show... congrads!

Reply
Susan Friedland-Smith link
8/24/2015 12:49:13 am

I've only done one dressage show (a schooling show at that). It didn't occur to me that going "off course" was a thing. I watched the video and think you looked great. One day I'd like to try dressage. I'm still working on getting precise canter transitions with my OTTB. It's all a journey.

Reply
Jan link
8/24/2015 01:13:37 am

Ugh!!!!! The "missed it camp". I am a proud member of 2nd (half point), 3rd (1.5 points), and now Intro (1.5 points).

Checking out your score sheet, that's an awful lot of corrections/mind changes that the judge made. Just something I find strange. I agree that your pace looked a bit rushed, but I really enjoyed the amount of forward Speedy carried. HE had the forward without you pushing for it, so regulate the tempo with your core in posting trot and half halts from there, and that'll put you at a whole 'nother level of connected. I find it so much easier to bring back the forward horse back to the right tempo and make him connect then to create impulsion for the whole ride and then you're working double hard to make him meet the bridle.

And Chemaine's group sounds wonderful!

Reply
Lauren link
8/24/2015 02:22:59 am

So close! It's always those silly little mistakes

Reply
Tracy link
8/24/2015 03:29:45 am

Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn. You've got such a great attitude!

Reply
emma link
8/25/2015 12:47:39 am

frustrating to be so close!! sounds like it was a great test anyway tho, can't wait to read the rest!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About the 
    Writer & Rider

    I am a lifetime 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.

    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian
    Email Karen

    About Speedy G

    Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse and occasional trail horse. He is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

    Picture
    July 2017 - Photo by Sue Dockweiler

    About Izzy

    Izzy 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 schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand Zweibrücker gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    Second Show - July 2016

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!

    National Awards

    • USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    • USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    Stuff I'm Working On ...

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
    Second Level Scores:

    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 61.282%
    Score 3: 62.879%

    CDS Championship Qualifying 
    Second Level Scores:

    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 61.282%
    Score 3: 62.879%
    Score 4: 
    Score 5: 
    ​
    CDS Ruby Rider Award
    Training Level Scores:

    Score 1: 70.179%
    Score 2: 
    72.600%

    First Level Scores:
    Score 1: 
    66.093%
    Score 2: 
    68.750%

    Second Level Scores:
    Score 1: 63.485%
    Score 2: 62.879%


    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award
    Score 1 - 62.879%
    Score 2 - 
    Score 3 - 
    Score 4 -  

    2018 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USE 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    (Q) Must Qualify

    2018 Pending …
    6/16-17/18 El Sueno (***)
    5/27/18 Tehachapi (*)
    6/24/18 Tehachapi (*)
    7/22/18 Tehachapi (*)
    8/11-12/18 RAAC (Q ***)
    ​8/26/18 Tehachapi (*)

    ​2018 Completed …
    1/14/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    2/10/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    2/24/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    3/17/18 Hurtado Clinic (t)
    3/18/18 GEAHS (*)
    3/31/18 Hurtado Clinic (c)
    4/14-15/18 El Sueno (***)


    Stuff I Read

    • A Collection of Madcap Escapades
    • A Enter Spooking
    • A Horse Crazy American in Germany
    • A Horse for Elinor
    • A Work in Progress
    • Avandarre in Dressage
    • Codex Dressage​
    • DIY Horse Ownership
    • Equestrian at Hart
    • 'Fraidy Cat Eventing
    • Fly on Over​
    • Guinness on Tap
    • Hunky Hanoverian
    • Journey with a Dancing Horse
    • Poor Woman Showing​
    • She Moved to Texas
    • SprinklerBandits
    • Symphony Dressage Stables
    • Tales From a Bad Eventer
    • The $900 Facebook Pony
    • Wyvern Oaks
    • Zen and the Art of Baby Horse Mangement

    By Topic

    All
    Art
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Defeating The Demon
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Local Stuff
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third Level
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Vet Care
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


    Picture
    Visit their site by clicking the photo. I wear one every time I ride!
    Picture
    Sydney wearing the Riders4Helmets dressage pad I won for a helmet story.

Website and Blog by Karen Sweaney
✕