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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Photo Proof

10/21/2012

 
From Saturday's Ride-a-Test ...
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I like how "swinging" Sydney's tail looks!
Saturday's Ride-a-Test was a disaster wrapped in gold paper. Sydney fussed and threw a pretty impressive hissy fit, but I stuck it out, felt zero fear, and worked him through the Intro A test.

He was a bit nervous as we unloaded, but it was more of the looky-lou variety. I gave him time to settle as I groomed him and hung his hay bag. After  saddling, I decided to lunge him for just a bit in case he had any wildness brewing.  He jogged around, but nothing spectacular happened. He wasn't exactly relaxed as we warmed up, but he was listening to me and trying to do what was asked.

I went on over to the dressage court with a plan to ride for the entire 30 minutes.  I didn't even care if I managed to do a test. I just wanted Sydney to work as soft as stretchy as he can at home.  It's a good thing I paid for two sessions, 15 minutes each, because I used all 30 minutes and then even stole an extra one.

He tried everything he knew: some rearing, crabbing to the side, bracing his neck, and so on.  I had to circle him for nearly ten solid minutes because he simply couldn't go forward in a straight line.  The judge, Mary Meyer, "L" Graduate, joked that she stopped judging every time we repeated a movement.  We repeated Intro A's two trot circles at least 25 times each. We did "ride" the test, but it was the longest Intro A test ever ridden.  

After halting at X, I told the judge that now I was ready to ride the test. The second time, we actually made it through Intro A with a pretty decent effort: he went where I pointed and kept it together. I forgot to ask for the score sheet, but I know we had some good moments. There were some not-so-good moments as well, but it was a much better ride than either of the two we did in Tehachapi last month.

After halting, the judge suggested I work on my centerline approach since I had a few minutes left.  Sydney must have thought he was done because asking for that small bit of work generated an even bigger hissy fit. He was NAUGHTY! No problem. I calmly told him that we actually had all day. The lunch break was after me so I was able to school him through the "melt down" without the pressure of needing to give up the arena. 

It took a few minutes and a lot of small circles, but I finally felt him take a deep sigh and then he trotted up the center line straight without crabbing his rear end all of the place. I gave him some good boy pats and called it a day.

He was not very relaxed at the trailer during lunch, so I put him in the round pen and worked him a bit longer until he finally gave up. I sponged him off with some cool water and then loaded him up. Once back home, I gave him a good hosing off, he was filthy, and then turned him out in the neighbor's grassy yard for a bit of grazing.

The test portion of the day was disastrous for sure, but I was thrilled with how I handled it; I even earned a compliment or two on my riding ability. I was even more pleased that Sydney pulled it together even if only for a little while. If we can find at least one monthly outing to do this winter, I know he'll get more confident.

Here are some photos of the day, all taken by Donna Fraser. She managed to capture some of Sydney's more obedient moments. Photos sure help illustrate the problems with your position. I am posting all that she sent, both good and bad!
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My left shoulder is definitely collapsing here ... hmmm. I know my hands are wide in most of these shots, but until Sydney can handle a shorter rein length, I feel like the only way to maintain a steady contact is by widening the reins.
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Not too bad here ...
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Ugh ... what the heck? Horrible "chair seat!" But to the good, there is a nice straight line from elbow to bit.
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Better, but I still need to get my legs underneath my body.
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This one is okay, but it's not perfect.
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This is actually my favorite of the bunch. My right ankle has led a rough life which makes it very difficult to point my right foot forward. Aside from that, I like the straight line from bit to elbow and my heel, hip, shoulder alignment is pretty good.
Val
10/21/2012 01:45:35 am

I would not know from these pictures that he was naughty. Sydney looks a genuine dressage horse. He is gorgeous.

Raise you inside hand! That should help Sydney's balance and help lengthen the left side of your ribcage. I practice the exact same correction, as I like to drop that hand, too.

Karen
10/21/2012 02:20:33 am

Thanks, Val! I think my hands suffer fom two problems: I either need to lower the right or lift the left. They're rarely on the same planet! :0)

Judy
10/21/2012 02:43:30 am

I think you did great! This horse is really stretching you to become an even better horsewoman! It's so interesting to me to see a horse who began his career as a racehorse being molded into a Dressage horse! What a work in patience...

Karen
10/21/2012 05:57:59 am

Thanks, Judy, but both you and mom are a wee bit biased. :0)

I have learned more in the last year than I would have thought possible. Any success we are having is in most part due to the excellent trainer that I have found; she's really good. I will take a small bit of the credit though. I am a very good student. I do my homework, I follow directions, and I try REALLY hard!

Patience is certainly the operative word. I will say that somehow my patience level is growing with this horse. I never get mad at him, even when he's rearing. I always have a plan when I ride, but my goals seem to be stretching. I think that is a very good thing! :0)

Kelly link
10/22/2012 05:21:25 am

Great Job Karen! The pics are lovely - you definitely had some good moments.

Karen
10/22/2012 10:19:18 pm

Thanks, Kelly. Now we need to string the good moments together to create nice movements! :0)

Brianna Bowling link
10/22/2012 09:48:15 pm

Thanks for posting your pictures. It takes courage to show others your "mistakes" so they can learn from them as well. I think the two of you look lovely together and I agree that you can't tell at all that he was naughty. His eye looks kind and attentive. Great job!

Karen
10/22/2012 10:25:46 pm

Thanks for reading, Brianna. I have a bit of a problem with honesty - I frequently have too much of it! Sometimes I wish I could be just a little less forthcoming. I am afraid that if I gloss over the truth or embellish a little, someone that knows me might call me out on it. Hence the brutal truth each and every day! :0)

There's no point in posting just the one decent picture and passing it off as my ride as MANY people saw the truth on Saturday. And you can bet I wouldn't have heard the end of an embellishment of the facts

I often search the web for stories, photos, and advice for lower level riders like myself. I find that it can be really hard to find photos of beginners riding - who wants to post bad riding photos? That's another reason I share. I am always hoping that someone will see a sucky rider (me) and realize that everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe my goofs will inspire someone else to give it another try.

Thanks for reading!
Karen


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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    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.
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    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.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
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    National Rider Awards

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    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
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    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

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  • 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