Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've already told you that Peggy Klump was the judge for this weekend's show. She's also the current California Dressage Society president. Talk about pressure. Except I didn't feel any. She was very friendly, positive, and didn't seem to care a bit that I was a lower level rider. What she did seem to care about was that the rider pay sharp attention and that she do what was asked. I later found out that I met Peggy's expectations and was given a thumbs up for my effort. Before I share my clinic experience, here's a horrible photo showing Speedy's naughtiness at the canter transition, Edyta, the photographer, jokingly referred to it as a capriole (if you check out the link, scroll down to the photo at the bottom of the page. It is so Speedy!)! ![]() Photo by Edyta - click photo for larger view I am an excellent student. I can confidently toot my own horn in that department. I don't whine, I don't complain, I don't quit, and I keep my mouth shut. I do what the trainer says, and I work hard. Very hard. Peggy asked me right away if I was going to be tired after fifteen minutes of trot work. Nope. Even after a long gallop sequence where I was huffing and puffing, I sucked it up and kept right on working. Fortunately Peggy could hear my ragged breathing and eventually called us back to a walk to talk about what we were doing. I needed the break, but I wasn't about to ask for it! So what did we work on? I didn't take notes, and I was a bit star struck, especially since I had an audience, so my recollect isn't as sharp as it normally is after a lesson. But these are the things that really struck me as important.
Whew! This is a lot, I know. I am sure there was more to the lesson, but these were the points I was able to remember. One of the most gratifying parts of the day was how much Peggy boosted my self-confidence. Within just a few minutes of working, Peggy enthusiastically shouted out, this girl can ride! Give me a good rider, and I can teach! I was a bit embarrassed, but it was nice to hear a compliment from someone so far up the food chain. I was told that at the clinic the following day, Peggy was heard "bragging about my good ride." Wow! Pretty nice compliment.
Val
11/16/2011 11:35:03 am
Nothing like a good student to make a teacher happy and teaching a pleasure. You know that as well as I do. :) 11/16/2011 09:56:17 pm
JL, my trainer is BIG on loose! She's working on me, but there are obviously still some stiff parts. At last night's lesson I shared Peggy's observations. JL pointed out that she started with my shoulders, moved down to my elbows and is on her way to my hands. She said she coudln't start at my hands because my top was too stiff. I like that she has a plan! 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 Second Level. 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: 2021 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic (Q) Must Qualify 2021 Pending …
3/27-28 SCEC (***) 4/10-11 SCEC (***) 5/16-17 El Sueño (***) 5/23 TMC (*) 6/12-13 SB (***) OR 6/19-20 El Sueño (***) 6/27 TMC (*) 7/3-4 Burbank (***) OR 7/17-18 El Sueño (***) 7/25 TMC (*) 8/14-15 RAAC (Q) (***) 8/29 TMC (*) 2021 Completed … 10/24-25 SCEC (***) 11/7-11/8 SB (***) 2021 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) 2nd Level Qualifying 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: 60.610% Bhathal Score 2: Score 3: CDS Championship 2nd Level Qualifying 5 Scores/4 Judges/61%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Score 4: Score 5: Stuff I ReadBy Topic
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