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For those of you who don't know, I teach 5th grade. School started last week, so my life has been turned upside down. Something kind of funny happened yesterday at work that brought my dressage life and work life together in an unexpected way. We are doing boatloads of assessments right now - poor kids. The test I was administering is called DIBELS. Each child reads a passage for 1 minute while the teacher marks any mistakes they make in their reading.  Not a passage my kids read. There were three of us administering the test in the same room - myself and two reading specialists. Since the test is timed, we all use the timers on our phones. I prefer the stopwatch, but they were using the timer with a bell to indicate when the time was up. As my students were reading, they would pause after a time until I encouraged them to keep reading. Their score is calculated based on the number of words they read. Finally it dawned on me that they were pausing because they thought the bell at the next table was their own.  A Speedy pic from 2014 I almost laughed out loud. The same thing has happened to me while showing. I can't tell you how many times I've mentally halted during a test when I've heard the bell ring. Was that for me? Did I go off course? Why hasn't the judge said anything? I never actually stop though since I know the bell might not be mine; it usually isn't.
Please tell me I am not the only one who does this!
I've been out of school for a while... and that timed reading test makes me queezy even though I should have no trouble with it. My oral reading fluency was not good in 5th grade (my parents had to bring in language/hearing specialists to help me differentiate sounds). It's been super tough and I still have trouble sometimes hearing the right sounds. Thank goodness I'm good with context clues! 9/3/2016 04:44:44 pm
We actually make the test as low stress as possible. The kids actually seem to enjoy the time with the teacher. :0)
jenj
8/26/2016 07:12:53 am
This is why I think it's really important for the judges to have different signals at each arena... bell, whistle, car horn. I have DEFINITELY had that queasy thought of "wait, was that for me???" and then realized nope, it's for another arena. 9/3/2016 04:45:41 pm
TOTALLY!!! I try hard to look at what kind of bell the judge has so that I'll recognize it when I hear it. 9/3/2016 04:46:54 pm
I try to hang out near A for that very reason. I can't believe the people that hear the bell and then take an entire lap around. THAT freaks me out!
lytha
8/26/2016 09:20:52 am
Wednesday was the first day of school, and the first day of high school for the 5th graders (here high school is 5-13 grade). 9/3/2016 04:48:00 pm
I actually have a really nice class this year - so far anyway. it could change at any moment, but I am enjoying it while it lasts. :0) 9/3/2016 04:49:04 pm
I am surprised you were disqualified. It can be really hard to tell which bell is yours, especially when the arenas are side by side!
Carly
8/26/2016 12:44:36 pm
I'm so paranoid I won't know the right signal to enter the ring at events that I was quadruple check which my judge has--bell, whistle, horn, etc. Better annoying than eliminated!
Justine Image
8/28/2016 04:52:13 pm
In Australia, (at the low levels I compete at) the judges sit up in their cars at C, so if you can work out the particular tone of their horn before your test you are right. 9/5/2016 05:57:12 am
If you read the above comments, you now know that it is a bigger problem than you'd think. I wondered if I was the only one who had trouble knowing which bell was mine. Apparently it's a universal problem. :0) 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. 
Photo by Lori Ovanessian
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.
July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)
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.
March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)
Bakersfield Dressage approved!
My favorite breeches!
FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
I love her stuff!
Watercolor Artist and Friend
National Rider Awards
USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013
State Rider Awards
CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
State Horse Awards
Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
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
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