Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Yes. That is definitely a pool noodle and some car tires. I doubt the pool noodle will last the night (it didn't), but for $3.50, it was worth it. The car tires were free. Believe it or not, he actually drags them around.
Izzy started to cause some real trouble for my barn owner by digging some serious holes. He dug down so deeply that he found the water lines. The first time he did it, we were able to cover the hole with his water trough. For a while, his holes just revealed dirt, but he eventually found the water line again and broke it. Miraculously, that line was dead, but the one immediately beneath it was not. My barn owners didn't want to take any chances. They filled the hole and kicked Izzy out. Not to worry, he actually got upgraded to a roomier stall and paddock which we hoped would allow him to burn off some of his excess energy. In case you're wondering, he gets ridden and/or turned out daily. Twenty-four hour turnout isn't a possibility. Unfortunately, the hole digging began again which required me to come up with some new toys. That's where the tires come in. I've also started to throw his "free feed" hay (right now a coarse and stemmy three-grain hay) out in the paddock so that it more closely resembles grazing. I had been throwing it inside near his cube bucket, but this seemed a more playful solution. I've also ordered a 55-gallon industrial plastic drum for him to roll around which I am picking up this afternoon. Now that he has a much larger paddock, he has room to kick and roll around a toy as big as a barrel. It was pretty pricey, so I hope it will hold up to his shenanigans. I am telling you, this is the most destructive "puppy" I've ever owned. None of our hole-digging, hose demolishing, plant-eating Labrador Retrievers have anything on this horse! 5/10/2016 06:03:02 am
The easier the thing is to destroy, the more he likes it! I've seen other horses use the barrel, so I am pretty sure it will be at least somewhat entertaining!
SprinklerBandits
5/6/2016 12:13:29 pm
What a handful! 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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