Bakersfield Dressage
  • 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
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

October's Casual Clinic with Chemaine Hurtado - Part 4

10/22/2015

 
Last one - I swear!

While Izzy was still sore for Sunday, he did look marginally better. I am not happy that he's still sore, in fact, I am fighting panic about it, but then I give myself a firm shake and remind myself that it's only been two weeks. If it truly is a bruise, it might take more than a month to heal. When Izzy fell on me a month or so ago, I hurt my wrist and thumb. It still hurts when I press on it with even mild pressure. It doesn't mean I am broken for life. It just needs more time to heal.

You can see the lameness in the video. It's worse when the circles are small or he pivots on the left front leg. Going straight, he's nearly sound, and to the right I can't even feel it. Chemaine kept this in mind as she schooled us. She even reminded ME a few times to keep him straighter to the left so he doesn't have to bear as much weight on the left leg.  
We mostly picked up where we had left off the day before - installing a half halt. I warmed up with a walk to halt to walk and then I moved on to the trot to walk. Quickly into the ride, Chemaine had me trotting the long sides of the arena doing the change the bend, half halt, change the bend, half halt.

I like this exercise for Izzy because it is very simple. There's nothing about my weight aids or my imbalances to confuse him. And rather than just trying to work on being round, it gives him a lot more to think about. And the best effect of this exercise is that it make him feel good. As he changes the bend, his body starts to relax so the work feels good - like stretching makes me feel.

We next repeated the previous day's work at the canter. Once again, Chemaine had me leg yield to the corner so that I could put Izzy solidly on the outside rein as I asked for a canter. He decided that he wanted nothing to do with that. He did canter, but then he galloped straight ahead and flat out refused to turn left.

I had this problem with Sydney, and frankly, I got pretty effective with my outside rein. Izzy has been trying this for the last month or so. I eventually started carrying the whip and would whack his shoulder when he reused to turn. That seemed to fix the problem. I then traded the whip for baby spurs, and things were going great. And then on Sunday, they weren't going great at all.

Chemaine had me physically haul his head around to the left to pull him into the circle while half halting with my outside rein. All that happened was that he galloped down the fence line folded in half. Then she had me pull his head around and kick as hard as I could with my inside leg. All that did was exhaust me.

Instead of obviously blowing through the outside shoulder, Izzy found a way to do it subtly by refusing to move his haunches out. I know it's hard to picture, but he let me turn the front half of his body left for the turn, but the back half of his body kept propelling straight.

After a half a dozen tries to kick his haunches around, I called for a whip. We picked up the canter, I said turn left, and then I smacked the inside of his haunches HARD HARD HARD until he whirled around. I patted his neck and did it again. The second time, he did the same thing, so I smacked him repeatedly until he finally spun his haunches to the outside. The third time I asked for the left turn, I had to smack him hard, but he actually made the turn without galloping down the arena.

The forth time we picked up the canter, Chemaine told me to hold the whip quietly without smacking him. And guess what? Izzy decided to make the turn. We quit the lesson on that effort.

Unlike Sydney, who simply checked out and bolted out of tension, Izzy is very smart and always thinking. When he gets an idea, he likes to try it a few times to see if it will work for him. Cantering in a frame is work, and he's not a huge fan of work.

I may have to use the whip agin to remind him that he can make the circle, but he's proven to me time and time again that once he learns something, it sticks. I m looking forward to being able to ride a sound horse, so it might be a few more weeks before we're back on a regular riding schedule.

Our next clinic is planned for November 22nd. Anyone interested in coming?
Teresa link
10/22/2015 04:22:32 pm

Nice work! I'd love to come but it might be too long a haul :).

These youngsters keep us thinking don't they?

Bakersfield Dressage link
10/23/2015 09:04:35 am

They definitely do!!!!


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.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    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.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    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
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

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
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home