Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I know I promised no more posts from the Tehachapi show, but in the interest of honesty, I felt an obligation to show the good with the bad. And while video is probably the best tool for evaluating how we ride, photos can also tell us a lot, especially when there is a series of them. My photos from the June show were really, really, terrible. After that show, I was completely ready to quit with Speedy G. The photos show how braced and resistant to the bit he was. I don't even want to share the link, but I feel that it's only fair to show you how awful my rides were. You can see the photos here.
After seeing those, if you bothered and I wouldn't have, do check out the photos from the next show just one month later - here. Something clearly changed. I've been blogging about my AHA moments, and obviously I had one before this last show because we look a ton better. I already posted that my leg position, torso, and bent elbows were vastly improved over last summer. The photos from this last show definitely support that. The main problem, and I realize that there are several issues, is just what the judge called me on - contact that was too heavy. So, I've gone from no contact to too much contact. With just a bit more practice I feel that I can hit on the Goldilocks formula and get that contact juuuust right! Feel free to offer suggestions and feedback, but just be nice! (It's really hard to post bad photos of oneself!)
Kendal
7/31/2011 02:56:55 pm
AHA moments are awesome. I dont think you can overanalyze your progress, because this time you look at your pictures, you may be focusing on your arms and getting supple; next time you might focus on your horses bend and the progress you have made on that over time. That is the great thing about learning.
Karen Sweaney
8/1/2011 12:03:17 am
Kendall - thanks for the feedback! I am much happier about our latest effort, even though my scores at the second show were a LOT lower (65% down to 57%). I would rather have a 57% and the rides we did than a 65% with a braced and resistant horse.
Val
8/1/2011 05:31:01 am
I thought that you had a lot of nice photos. There is even some good to be said for the first set. Kendal made some good points. Riding is about finding the next working hypothesis. It never ends, which is why you have to be a horse nut to keep at it! 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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