Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
While in Washington, DC, our first stop was George Washington's Mount Vernon. We took a river boat cruise up the Potomac to reach the plantation. Washington acquired Mt. Vernon in 1754 and spent the last 45 years of his life working and expanding his farm. He considered himself a farmer above all else. He found the farming practices of his day to be quite inadequate and is credited with inventing and utilizing many innovative farming techniques. Washington invented a round threshing barn that had two stories. On the upper level, harvested wheat was piled on the floor. Horses were sent trotting around the circle. Their hooves helped separate the grain where it would fall through the cracks to the level below. Washington was also the first person in the United States to build a structure to compost manure, or dung, as it is referred to at Mt. Vernon. I'll let the placard explain it. Mt. Vernon has been restored and functions as a living, thriving farm. There are sheep, a blacksmith, gardens, and of course horses. There are approximately 15 horses that work at Mt. Vernon throughout the year. They help till the fields and pull visitors in a large wagon through Pioneer Farm. Hubby was quite accommodating when I insisted we take a turn. If you live here in California, imagine La Purisima or any of our other larger missions. That's what Mt. Vernon felt like. The mansion was very pretty, but humble. The outbuildings are numerous, but also small. And while the place hums with activity and noise, it was hard not to be moved by the fact that this was the home of a great Revolutionary and our first president.
4/24/2014 12:28:40 pm
I am sure you'll enjoy it; it's really an interesting place. 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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