Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
This is not a new topic; it's one I come back to now and again. Does anyone ever feel that they are good? And I mean the kind of good where you don't have to qualify it: yes, I am a "good" rider compared to a non-rider. In my world, you're only "good" if you're Carl Hester or Steffen Peters or Isabell Werth or any of a half dozen names. How can I say I am a good rider when people like that are in the world? At the El Sueno show a week ago, I warmed up with riders doing Prix St. Georges and Fourth Level because the show is run from the higher tests down through the lower levels. At the time, I felt comfortable warming up in that crowd and never worried about running anyone over. Later though, I wondered to myself what in the world I thought I was doing in such prestigious company. No matter what level Speedy and I do, I still feel like that endurance rider giving Intro Level a try. Speedy looks exactly the same to me as he did eight years ago. He's lost most of his dark gray coloring of course, but I just can't see the "wow" that everyone else tells me they see. Here we are at Second Level. No matter how many people remark that Speedy is moving so much differently, I still feel like the bumbling Intro rider who's trying to fool the judge. Does that feeling ever change? Someone recently told me to remember that Speedy wouldn't look the way he does if I weren't doing something right. It's a crisis of confidence for sure. Maybe I'll feel "good enough" if we make it to Third Level. Or does the feeling come at Fourth? Please don't tell me that Carl Hester walks around feeling like a walking train wreck; my already minuscule ego couldn't handle that.
Good thing Speedy doesn't care. He likes me no matter how bad I am. The feeling is mutual.
Jamie
8/7/2018 07:57:39 am
I feel like that ALL THE TIME... we are our own worst critics. The trick is to give yourself a break, & know that it is ok to feel that way & don't beat yourself up over it. 8/8/2018 06:32:49 am
Thanks, Jamie! Instead of calling myself a good rider, I usually default to solid rider. Somehow, solid doesn't sound "fantastic." Instead it sounds like a rider who isn't likely to fall off. LOL
Sharon T
8/7/2018 08:11:44 am
I don't have a horse, but train and show my dogs in obedience. When I advance to a higher level of competition I often feel like "I'm in with the cool kids" even though I'm working just as hard. It's all in how you see yourself and being your own worst critic 8/8/2018 06:34:11 am
So weird! As soon as you said showing dogs, I immediately thought, WOW! She's amazing! I wonder why we can't give ourselves more credit? :0)
Dom
8/7/2018 01:29:01 pm
You sound so much like one of my favorite students. She and her horse are making wonderful, steady progress, and no matter how well they do (or how much their scores improve) she never feels like she's "good". I'm not sure if that feeling ever goes away for perfectionists like her, but it's nice to have photo evidence that shows you're definitely improving!! 8/8/2018 06:36:16 am
Yeah ... it's a bit of a curse being born a perfectionist. While we are super motivated and work really hard, we always feel "less than." I am not sure if it wouldn't be better to be a slacker who has high self esteem. LOL 8/8/2018 03:06:39 pm
Aren't we all? :0) Every time I move up a little, I am humbled even more. I remember watching Second Level riders warm up and show. I thought they were the cat's meow. Even though I've peeked behind their curtain, I still feel like such a beginner. LOL
laura
8/8/2018 02:15:41 pm
Horses certainly keep us humble don't they? Dressage is so hard, just when you feel like you can execute a concept, you learn there are like for more higher levels of that concept LOL. People with huge egos tend to not do to well in this sport, its always about learning. 8/8/2018 03:11:14 pm
Thank you, Laura, that's kind of you to say. Someone once told me that dressage is like an onion - you just keep peeling back the layers. 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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