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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Photos of the Ranch

8/4/2016

 
When I pulled into the barn yesterday morning, I could see Izzy whooping it up by himself. The sun hadn't yet cleared the tree tops, and the air was just slightly cooler than it had been making it a good day for goofing off. He was bucking and gallivanting around his paddock in what seemed like a happy-to-be-alive dance. I rolled my eyes in exasperation of course because I had assumed he'd be tired after his long drive from the day before.

​Apparently not.
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All that room, but he's squished into the corner!
I had already planned to give him the day off, especially after being stuck in the trailer for five hours the day before. Giving him a day off at my previous barn always carried a bit of stress as I never knew what mischief he would cause in his boredom. At the ranch, I don't have to worry about it. He's got plenty of room to run around, and if he digs a hole or bangs on the fence, nobody cares. I left him to himself and met up with best friend and her mustang, Rio.
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Speedy and Rio - both distracted by something that we couldn't see.
After our stroll around the neighborhood, we dropped Rio and his rider off at home, and Speedy and I walked back to the ranch. I let him graze on the grass and then I sat in the shade and gave my tack a good cleaning. The ranch was quiet except for the buzz of insects and the sounds of the horses munching their morning breakfast. 
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Speedy's row of stalls.
Izzy has an older stallion to his north and three horses immediately to his south. He is enjoying their company. I've already taken a small bucket of treats out to the horses in front of Izzy in an effort to get to know them and their routine. I've also been doling out cookies to the stallion who seems to really enjoy the extra attention.
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He's hard to see, but the stallion is down in the shade visiting with Izzy. There is an alley between the two fences so they can't actually touch each other.
Speedy seems to have finally settled in as well, so he got turned out for the first time last night. The ranch owner will feed, and then open Speedy's paddock gate each night. In the mornings, his gate will be closed so that Willie can enjoy his day out. The horses will alternate at each meal time.
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What horse wouldn't enjoy hanging out in the shade watching the river flow by?
I go back to work officially on Wednesday, but I'll have to go in on Monday or Tuesday to get things ready for my students. I already spent Monday afternoon setting my classroom back up after the summer clean-up. All of this means that my daily four-hour barn visits are over. 
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The view from Speedy's row of stalls. He now knows where my car should be.
When I get to the barn now, it's going to be hot, really hot, and our summer heat lasts until Halloween. While it's not quite as hot in October, we always have several days over 100 degrees. By November, our temperatures are more tolerable. That means that I have 10 weeks of hot afternoon riding in front of me.
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North of the stallion is Archie and his gal in their equally large paddock with attached grass pasture. Just beyond them is the arena.
Both horses have today off as we're driving over to the beach for the day with the dogs. It is such a relief to know that Speedy will have had twelve hours of turn out and Izzy can run off his energy any moment that he'd like. I'll still be at the barn every day, but now I won't have to spend my time waiting for horses to finish their 20 or 30 minutes of turn out.

I think we're all going to be a lot happier.
Tracy link
8/5/2016 07:44:51 am

I always take for granted just how much space is available for horses in this part of the country. So glad Izzy and Speedy have some more room now, and that they're adjusting well!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2016 05:51:17 pm

Thanks, Tracy! Yeah ... land is at a premium here in California. :0)

Leah link
8/5/2016 08:08:52 am

In that photo of Rio and Speedy, perhaps they're looking at Pokemon? 😉

The new place looks great! Living in the Midwest, I take turnout for granted sometimes. Following so many bloggers across the country has reminded me that keeping horses can be vastly different in other areas!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2016 05:52:44 pm

Your comment made me snort and laugh out loud!

I am wth you - one of the things I love most about reading other people's blogs is finding out how THEY do it where they live.

Jan link
8/5/2016 08:36:03 am

I also take for granted the space we have. The thought of Penn having less than a couple acres to run around on blows my mind. It's wonderful that Izzy has all that space all the time, and Speedy doesn't miss out either.

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2016 05:56:25 pm

Acres? Yeah ... not gonna happen here unless you have your own place. Rio's owner has 2 1/2 acres, but her house, yard, chicken coop, hay barn, tack room, and such take up about half. The rest she has crossed fenced into side-by-side pasture with a gate connecting the two. She doesn't have an arena, just the pastures.

About 11 years ago, we sold our 5 1/2 acres and moved back into town. Property is expensive here - property taxes make it even more so! :0)

jenj
8/5/2016 09:17:32 am

So glad they are settling in so well, and that Izzy is making the most of all the space!

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2016 05:57:06 pm

Thanks, jenj, and I know he is. I love to hear him thundering around out there. :0)

Olivia link
8/5/2016 01:03:49 pm

I really like your new barn. I can't believe you go back to school so soon. When I taught on the east coast, school never started before Labor Day.

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/6/2016 06:01:41 pm

When I was a kid, we went back to school after labor day, but for the 26 years that I've been involved in teaching (4 as a classroom aid), we've always started before then. For the past few years, the districts have moved the start date up to allow for a week off at Thanksgiving and an earlier dismissal in June.

Most people don't know this, but the school year has always been 180 days (even when we were kids!). It is up to each district to determine how they spread those 180 days around. We start so early (like everyone else in town) so that we can be finished Memorial day week. We're always done the Thursday after Memorial Day. I wish we could be finished BEFORE Memorial Day. :0)

Teresa link
8/7/2016 05:30:38 pm

This sounds like just the ticket for your horses. I always find it funny how different it is around the world for horse keeping. I will stop complaining about how hot it is here. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
8/8/2016 05:48:54 am

That's one of my favorite things about blogging - seeing how horse owners around the world do it. I feel like we have it pretty good here in California. For one thing, we have GREAT weather (although very hot in the summer) which means I can ride in a long sleeve t-shirt through much of winter. :0)

Micaylah link
8/9/2016 09:45:04 am

I'm pretty sure Ries is the only horse that doesn't want a giant paddock. Or he'd take it, but really not use it. Seriously he gets twice daily turnout and he runs out of his stall..and then wanders back five minutes later, weaving to get back in. Weirdo


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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    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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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