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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

My 5 Things (that turned into 6)

3/23/2013

 
I really had a great time at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center Spring Show, but I am getting a little tired of writing about it. I write to help myself process what I've learned so I feel obligated to share one more chunk. During the course of the show, I noticed that there are five things that I could use to make my show experience easier.

1. The first thing I absolutely need to buy for my next two-day show is a stall chain. I've never owned one of these before, but I can see how it would be very useful when stabling in a box stall. The stalls Speedy has stayed in have had hard to open latches and heavy doors that swing wide. The latches are also hard to close once you're inside. For all the zillion times that I've needed to go in and out, it would be much easier with a stall chain.
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I need a stall chain.
2. I've never really been a big fan of these over the door bucket hangers; they strike me as unsafe, but I can see how they could be useful. Speedy G is not a fan of drinking out of a five gallon bucket that is parked in the corner of his stall on the ground. At this past weekend's show, I had to keep emptying it out because it kept filling up with shavings. I think I am going to get a couple of these bucket hangers to try out at the next two-day show.
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Maybe I can find a style I feel is safer ...
3. I hate braiding; I am not very good at it, and it's just plain hard. I saw a lot of people using Quic Braid over the weekend and their braids looked lovely. I am pretty sure that perfect braids don't squirt out of the bottle, but the stuff must help.
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Getting some of this, too.
4. There are also a couple of clothing items that I need to update. My old belt finally gave out this weekend, not that it was anything fancy in the first place. Long ago I blogged about acquiring my first show clothes. Since I had never shown, I had to start completely from scratch. The belt was picked up by my dear friend, Taz's Mom, at the Goodwill for $1.95. We were ecstatic over the find. I wore that belt to at least 25 shows! Now I need a new one.
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This one is quite pretty.
5. Since I've started schooling in really nice gloves, I want to show in them as well. My really nice gloves were a gift from a friend. I want nice show gloves, but I suspect I am too cheap to spring for them, especially at nearly $50 bucks a pair.
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These are really nice gloves.
Bonus: (I already bought the scrubs so they don't count as one of the five!) Last spring, I saw several riders wearing medical scrubs over their show clothes; I thought it was a brilliant idea. Not knowing where to get scrubs, I let the idea fall by the wayside. A few weeks ago, I noticed that our cafeteria ladies were wearing scrubs every day as their uniform so I asked where they buy them. Apparently, we have a store that sells scrubs just a mile from where I work, so I stopped by and picked up a pair. I am not sure how well they would work on a hot day, but for this weekend's show, they were awesome! I was even able to slide them on and off over my boots.
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This isn't the exact pair I bought, but you get the idea. Mine are darker brown.
Sandra
3/23/2013 02:19:35 am

SRUBS! I love mine! I found a few pairs at the thrift store for a $1 each and got them for PJs, I started wearing them over my show clothes last year and LOVED it! I have since gotten 2 more pair! I live is the high desert of SoCal so it gets pretty hot. My "show scrubs" are pastel peach and very light blue so they are quite cool during the summer heat down here. What a great post! OH! and quick braid... I have not used it, but also hate braiding and find it a little difficult (minor arthritis in my hands lol) I have found that using an "Extra Strength" hair gel works great! It gives just the right ammount of "sticky" to help me hold the hair better and when it dries, Varros braids are totally "set" he can roll and those puppies aren't comming out.Thanks for sharing!

Karen
3/23/2013 09:48:26 am

Good to know, Sandra, thanks for sharing! I guess I need to get a "summer" set of scrubs in a light color. I went with the dark brown for the obvious reasons (dirt hiding!). Even new they weren't too expensive. I think I paid around $16.00. I am glad to hear they aren't too hot in the heat. I'll also have to grab a tube of good hair gel, too. ;0)

Kelly link
3/23/2013 05:29:34 am

We have those buckets holders and I really like them - we used to use these nylon strap type things with clips on the ends, but they were not very durable.

My daughter uses quick braid and loves it. I like Sandra's idea of hair gel - will have to give that a try!

Scrubs are very easy to find around our area - Walmart sells them and Walgreen's. Being in a colder, rainy, muddy area of the US, my daughter and I wear windsuit type pants and jackets over our show clothes. That way we stay dry :)

Great post!

Karen
3/23/2013 09:51:17 am

I don't like the nylon bucket holders either, very awkward to use. Speedy gets a little freaked out by buckets that wiggle when he touches them so I am a little leery of hanging stuff from his stall door. Since they're so cheap though, I think I am going to order some kind of hanger just to give it a try.

I wouldn't know what to do about mud - we never have any! I thought staying clean and dry in hot, dusty weather was hard. Wearing white on a rainy day has got to be very challenging!!!!! :0)

Teresa
3/23/2013 09:19:28 pm

I have used both the bucket strap like this one: http://www.horseloverz.com/Other/240991-Tough-1-Adjustable-Bucket-Hanger---Black.html. it's lasted 6 years and shows no sign of wear. And I've used the hook. I prefer the strap because when the bucket has water in it it doesn't really move but it does also depend on the structure of the stall we're in.

a more recent find is the feed buckets that clip over the sides. I've had so much spilled food from putting a the bin on the ground that it got very frustrating.

Karen
3/23/2013 10:48:42 pm

I do have some of those, Teresa, but Speedy is a little weird about buckets that move when he eats/drinks out of them. I like those bucket straps for a lot of other things though! :0)

Lauren link
3/25/2013 02:43:05 am

Good list! The only thing I have to add is that water works exactly the same as quick braid. I have used both, and as long as the mane does not have conditioner/show sheen applied water is just as good :)

Karen
3/25/2013 04:21:17 am

Hmmm ... Didn't know that. I did some braiding practice yesterday with water. I am still not very good at it though. I wish they made a product that squirted nice braids!


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.
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    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.
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    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.
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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
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
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