Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

More to Love!

1/23/2016

 
Who's tall and blond, wields a sword better than most men, and is as honorable as they come?
Picture
Brienne of Tarth
If you recognized Brienne, you're probably a fan of Game of Thrones. The newest addition to our family comes to us from the house of Spartacus the Valiant. Really. That's her dad's name. He's a purebred black Labrador Retriever. She's a blond with a bold and fearless attitude.
Picture
All 13 pounds of her against our 85 pound Tobias (not her father).
I'd like to introduce you to our very own Brienne of Tarth, just Brienne around the house, and maybe "Bri" for short, but her tag bears the entire moniker (it's been ordered, but hasn't yet arrived). We're still getting around such a big name for a little puddle of blondness.
Picture
Picture
We met her this past Wednesday, but we had agreed to take her before we even saw her. My best friend had picked out one of her littermates for her brother-in-law and had shared some photos with me. We'd been talking about getting another dog for the past few months, so this litter came up at just the right time. After we went and met her, my best friend decided to take another one of the black pups to keep for herself. She and her husband already have two yellow labs.
Picture
Purebred, but very rare. He wasn't available.
Brienne came from a litter of eleven: three blacks, seven yellows of varying shades, and a very unusual black and tan. LV, the breeder, told us that it is a rare coat color that comes from the perfect pairing of recessive genes. She told us to check out Guiding Eyes for the Blind's website as they have some good information about this coat color, which is very unusual in labs.
Picture
First car ride. She was very "stressed" out.
I picked her up on Friday afternoon and drove straight to the vet. She had had her first round of vaccinations but was due for the second. It seemed best to get her checked out before we even brought her home. Travis Thurman, our canine vet, gave her a clean bill of health and thought she was a very nice looking puppy. I think he says that to everyone though. Dr. Thurman is the vet who helped us nurse Tobias through parvo. 
Picture
Settling in.
My husband bought Brienne a ginormous memory foam bed to park alongside Tobi's equally ginormous and fluffy bed. They take take up half the bedroom. Of course, she wouldn't sleep in the thing until I dragged it to my side of the bedroom and snuggled her to sleep. Every three hours. It was a long night, but having done this for three other labs, I know she'll learn the routine in no time.

We're quite smitten with her already. Tobias seems to like her, but he needs her to get a bit bigger before she'll be much fun. It won't take her long.
Picture
Brienne of Tarth
Stampy and the Brain link
1/23/2016 10:29:09 am

She's adorable! Congrats on the new addition!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/23/2016 10:38:17 am

Thanks. We're in it for life, so puppies always feel like children to us.

Amanda link
1/23/2016 10:41:06 am

OMG, she's adorable! AAAHHH. I grew up with yellow labs, now I want another puppy...

(I had no idea Labs came in black & tan! Thanks for sharing that.)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/23/2016 01:34:52 pm

My husband had a yellow growing up and we've had three blacks, we still have number three, Tobias who is 4. Kirby lived to be 15 and McGwire was 11. We love all dogs, but labs just fit our lifestyle. My husband enjoys hiking and quail/chukar hunting, so the dogs are his fix like the horses are mine.

I had never seen the Black and Tan coloration before, so that was a treat for me too.

Hillary link
1/23/2016 11:24:47 am

Congrats on the new edition! The rare coat color is so cool!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/23/2016 01:36:11 pm

Thanks!!!! ❤️🐾❤️🐾

Teresa link
1/23/2016 01:36:33 pm

Oh she is beautiful! She has the eyes of a smart dog.

Congratulations!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/23/2016 03:02:03 pm

Good call on your part, Teresa. She does seem VERY smart! She might turn out to be too smart. :0)

Olivia link
1/23/2016 03:05:23 pm

She's so cute. But now I really want a black and tan lab.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/23/2016 06:23:46 pm

Me too, but that will probably be the only one I ever see!

Megan link
1/23/2016 10:12:15 pm

She is SO CUTE and I love her name!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/24/2016 08:43:49 am

Thanks, Megan. She is turning out to be a total terror. We've had three labs and NONE of them have been this wild, and she's only nine weeks! Fortunately she also likes to take naps. Thank God. :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    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 showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    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
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    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
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    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


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home