Blog Posts

Review: Ovation Aqua X Silicone Full Seats

2/1/2019

I've mentioned this several times already, but in case you missed it, I've lost a fair amount of weight - close to 40 pounds in fact. I actually need to write about that in a separate post as it has changed my riding in some ways. The reason I mention the weight loss is because it created some problems with my wardrobe.

Can you see the problem?

None of my breeches fit anymore. And I don't mean they're a little loose. I could live with loose. They're so big that I can take them on and off without unsnapping them. They're so big that the butt sags in a most unattractive way. These are the same breeches that I used to suck it in in order to snap them closed. When I ride, the saggy butt bunches up and forms lumps under my seat. I had to order some new ones.

This pair is even bigger.

I discovered that this is not necessarily the best time to buy breeches. It seems like everyone is getting rid of their old inventory (cheap, but limited sizing) and bringing in new inventory (pricey). Since my body has changed so much, I've had a harder time finding breeches that fit my new shape, especially at the price point I was interested in. I am firmly in the $100 range, but will go up to $125 if something is just perfect. Speaking of which, I actually ordered the LeMieux Engage X-Grip Full Seats, but the backordered date got moved to March. That wasn't very helpful when your pants are falling off today.

So, I went with the Ovation Aqua X (silicone seat). Their price point is fabulous at $89.88, especially if you can find a pair in your size. The problem is that they're a closeout item which means if I totally love them, which I do, I won't be able to get more.

After spending all morning at the ranch.

I wasn't sure I would love them, but they have quickly become a favorite. The first thing I noticed when I pulled them out of the box was the fabric. It feels like they would be water proof. In fact, while I was hosing out a bucket, I over-sprayed and splashed water down my leg. The water simply beaded up and rolled off. Bonus feature, for sure.

The fabric is also really stretchy without losing it's shape. The tag reads 77% Nylon, 16% Micro Nylon, and 7% Lycra. They definitely hold their shape without bagging at the knees or butt.

The other thing I noticed is that nothing seems to stick to the fabric. I've actually worn them for a week straight, and they still look clean with no hair, hay, or dirt sticking to them. The photos are actually after giving both horses a thorough grooming and riding Izzy for 45 minutes. There's not a spot on them.

I've only just started buying silicone seats, and so far, nothing has been too sticky. Once I sat in the saddle, I never even gave the grip a second thought. Silicone is definitely cooler than suede or leather, and with our brutally hot and extra long summers, I need all the cooling features I can get.

The mid-rise is where it's supposed to be, and the bottoms have a stretchy panel instead of a sock bottom - and no nasty velcro. They have front pockets but no rear pocket - I do love a rear pocket, and my C4 belts fit in the belt loops even though they look like they'd need a narrower belt.

Stretch panel bottoms.

I took a chance and ordered all three colors - gray, white, and black. The "features" really sold me.

Ultra-light cool Aqua-X™ fabric
Inner cool IceSilk™ lining
ChannelFlex™- 2-way stretch and moisture channels
Resistant to abrasions, dirt and hair with RepelTech™
Odor Resistant and Antimicrobial FreshLock™
UltraUV™ 50+ UPF protection

What's not to like? Anything that helps with heat (our recent January highs were hovering right around 70℉) is my best friend.

A rainbow of grayscale.

My only complaint is the sizing. Before losing what amounted to a bag of beet pulp (doesn't that put weight gain and loss in perspective?), I was wearing a 32. Sure they were a little snug, but not uncomfortably so. All those pounds later, I was certain I was down to at least a 28 if not a 26. HAHAHA. Nope. Or at least not in these breeches. I had to go with a 30.

Overall, these are really nice breeches, despite the humbling sizing. My fingers are crossed that they'll actually help with our summer-time heat. And maybe those LeMieuxs will get here sooner rather than later.

6 Comments

Lilo Fore?

1/31/2019

4 Comments

I hate to make big announcements before they're a sure thing, but this one just can't wait. Each year the California Dressage Society (CDS) hosts adult amateur clinics in each of three regions - North, Central, and South. I have been selected twice in the past - you can't participate as a rider two years in a row, and I was chosen again for this year's event!

Riding with Marisa Festerling in 2014.

Don't be impressed by being "selected" as there is no skill requirement in being chosen. If you're a CDS member in good standing and can walk, trot, and canter, you're eligible. My CDS Chapter says they pull the names out of a hat. I am pretty sure my name has been the only one in the hat as I am generally not that lucky.

The first year I attended was in 2014. I rode with Marisa Festerling. You can read about it here and here. There's also some video that I had completely forgotten about. Wow, but have we come a long way!

Riding with Hilda Gurney in 2017

For the clinic in 2017, I rode with Hilda Gurney. That was a very ... intense clinic and nothing like the first one. If you haven't read about it already and care to, you can find it here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

This year's Adult Amateur Clinician is Lilo Fore!

The clinician for this year's series of adult amateur clinics is none other than Lilo Fore. When I saw who the clinician was, I put in a "self-nomination" before our chapter chair even made the announcement. And then I prayed fervently that no one else was eligible or wanted to attend. The universe must think I need some additional help with my riding because my name was indeed selected.

The central region's clinic is at Templeton Farms near Paso Robles in mid-April. You need to check out this facility. Holy Moley, is it ever swanky!

Photo Credit: Templeton Farms

Of course, a lot can happen between now and the clinic. Speedy is just now recovered from two abscesses. His Cushing's could cause other problems that I am not yet aware of. Or, heaven forbid, some other random thing could strike preventing us from going. And no, Universe, I don't need any more drama at this time, thank you.

Any Lilo Fore fans out there?

4 Comments

Pretty Is as Pretty Does

1/30/2019

0 Comments

A weird sentiment, but it's one I believe in. I am definitely a function over form kind of girl. Who cares if something - or someone, is beautiful but useless? On the other hand, having both beauty and talent makes that someone a keeper.

Cushing's or not, showing or not, both of my boys are firmly in the camp of useful. Some days they both look pretty ragtag doing it, but what they lack in the glamour department, they definitely make up in the "work hard" department.

And then there are moments when I catch them being truly beautiful. Even when they're pasture dirty and slightly sweaty, my heart still goes pitter-patter. Beauty truly is what beauty does.

Or so thinks every horse mom!

0 Comments

Team Symphony

1/29/2019

2 Comments

You all know how much I value my trainer, Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. First and foremost, her teaching is sound, and horses and riders improve under her tutelage. Almost as important is her ability to promote and maintain a positive attitude within her team of students. Team Symphony is pretty drama free; not something you always see amongst a group of dressage riders.

That includes Team Speedy

Just over a year ago she relocated from Simi Valley to Tehachapi which is just under an hour from Bakersfield - woot! woot! Moving to Kern County meant a new group of adult amateurs and juniors joined Team Symphony.

I already have Symphony Dressage Stables emblazoned on everything from shirts and a jacket to saddle pads to vehicle stickers and even on a license plate frame. I knew Chemaine's new clients might want to sport her team logo as well, so I offered to put together a shirt order from my favorite screen printer and embroider shop, New Generation Graphics.

Team shirts in black.

And so began Operation Team Jersey. I am just gonna say ... wow, was that ever hard! Even though I sent everyone links to the shirts with pricing, getting everyone organized was like herding cats. Some wanted all of us to order the same color. Most wanted to choose their own color. Some wanted long sleeves, some short. We also have a man in the group which meant I had to find a shirt for him. I finally built a spreadsheet to keep everyone's preferences organized. Friday, the last two shirts arrived.

19 Shirts (plus two more coming from the printing place)

Because I know the fit well, I have at least five of them, we ordered the Horze Trista shirt. I like this particular shirt for a variety of reasons. It's flattering for a lot of different body types. It comes in many colors and two sleeve lengths. Equally important is that the price is low enough that paying extra for the printing didn't make the shirt unreasonably expensive.

Pink with dark blue

We're putting Chemaine's logo on back of the women's shirts, but the men's style shirt will have the logo emblazoned on the left chest. We chose a metallic silver ink which should look good even on the gray shirts.

Chemaine's logo

I took everything to the printer yesterday afternoon. I know everyone is eager to get their shirts, even me. I bought three!

2 Comments

A Cushing's Tutorial

1/28/2019

10 Comments

So what exactly is Cushing's Disease? Until a few weeks ago, I only knew that it was a disease that mostly affects older horses with symptoms that include long shaggy coats, pot bellies, and problems with hooves. Sort of like this guy.

A Cushing's horse I found on the internet.

Very simply - or not, Cushing's Disease, also called Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is a disfunction of the pituitary gland. Over time, the pituitary gland becomes over-enlarged and produces too many hormones. Not good. Ask any woman approaching 50 (cough, cough) what it feels like to have your hormones go out of whack.

In particular, horses with PPID produce too much of the hormone called the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). High levels of ACTH cause an over-production of cortisol. And since hormones have effects on many different organ systems, increased cortisol creates a variety of symptoms like:

Hypertrichosis (long, curly hair )
Delayed haircoat shedding
Change in body conformation (muscle wasting and rounded abdomen or “potbelly”)
Decreased athletic performance
Change in attitude/lethargy
Fat deposits, especially along the crest of the neck and over the tail head
Laminitis
Increased drinking and urination
Recurrent infections
Abnormal sweating
Absent reproductive cycle/infertility
Neurologic deficit/blindness

So who gets Cushing's Disease? According to the AAEP, "the average age of horses diagnosed with PPID is 20 years, with over 85 percent of the horses being greater than 15 years of age. Although most common in aged horses, PPID has been diagnosed in horses as young as seven years of age."

I think you can see where all of this is heading. Speedy will be 15 in April. Speedy has never before had an abscess, yet in the past few weeks he's had not one, but two. My vet decided we needed to check for Cushing's Disease.

There are several ways to test for Cushing's: 1) the dexamethasone suppression test and 2) the measurement of resting plasma ACTH concentration. However, one thing to note is that the time of year the tests are done can affect the results. In the fall, horses naturally increase the production of a variety of hormones as the body prepares for winter. Fortunately for Speedy, January is a great time to check ACTH concentrations.

A normal ACTH concentration is somewhere between 10 and 50. Speedy's ACTH level came back at 56, just outside of the normal range. Some horses can have numbers above 1,000. A lot of things can affect that score - time of day, when the horse last ate, and so on. Even though Speedy's ACTH level was very close to normal, Dr. Tolley felt that it would be prudent to put him on medication.

Here's where most owners cringe and ask, "What's that going to cost?" I almost find it funny that Speedy needs a daily medication as I had just this month decided to take my boys off ALL supplements. Joke's on me I guess. The only FDA approved medication for Cushing's Disease is pergolide, brand name Prascend.

I bought Speedy's first box of 160 tablets from a friend who no longer needed it. When that box runs out, I'll need to reorder from somewhere like Allivet as Prascend is available by prescription only. It's per day cost is right around $1.75. Prascend is actually cheaper than the Platinum Performance was, so I can't complain too much.

There is a glitch of course. Pergolide is on US Equestrian's prohibited substance list. Don't even get me started on how incredibly stupid my vet found that rule. One of the worst things you can do for a Cushing's horse is to stop and restart pergolide every other week during show season.

There is good news though. As of December 1, 2018, US Equestrian will now allow pergolide if the horse has been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). An explanation of the rule change can be read here.

I've already applied for a TUE, and my vet has submitted all necessary paperwork. When I phoned US Equestrian, the woman I spoke to had no idea how long it takes to be granted a TUE. She said that a panel must review my request. Way to go, US Equestrian. No timeline or answers make me feel great.

So that's it. Speedy now has Cushing's Disease which means daily medication, annual bloodwork, and of course getting that pesky TUE. Dr. Tolley wasn't too concerned and neither am I. There's just no cure for getting old.

10 Comments

For Heaven's Sake!

1/25/2019

2 Comments

After he bankrupts me, Speedy is clearly trying to send me to an early grave. As I came driving down the ranch driveway yesterday, I looked for him as I always do. He's easy to spot with his nearly white coat, especially this time of year as there's no foliage to hide him. When I did lay eyes on him, I could only shake my head in disgust.

Could you try to get a little more gross?

Since a dirty horse doesn't really tell the whole story, let me clarify. Since Willy's move to a new home, Red Mare is Speedy's new best friend. She lives in the adjoining dry pasture. A maintenance crew has been dragging composted manure out to the bottom of her pasture, so she was temporarily moved to a small grass pasture immediately adjacent.

Even though I wasn't there, I know exactly what Speedy did (and said) about her move 50 feet to the west. He ran himself into a lather, screaming his head off all the while. She was well within sight, but he was no doubt pissed to be separated from her. His frantic gallop up and down the fence line stirred up quite a cloud of dust which is now pasted to his once white and fluffy coat.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

That WAS a wrapped hoof.

Why does Speedy have duct tape hanging from his hoof? I hear you ask. Well, he literally wore through several layers of duct tape as he paced the fence line wailing piteously for his lady friend. Jerk.

No more duct tape.

I peeled off what remained of the wrap and redid it. But first, I poked around at the drainage hole and was pleased to note that he didn't appear sore at all. As I walked him back to his pasture, I asked him to pick up a jog in the grass. He was very nearly sound.

Well, hallelujah. Maybe we'll be back to work sooner than I thought.

2 Comments

Abscesses Abound

1/24/2019

6 Comments

Holy freaking hell, people. I am not making this up. Speedy went back to Bakersfield Large Animal Hospital (BLAH) again on Monday to figure out why his abscess hadn't healed after more than a week. This makes three visits for abscesses.

Dr. Tolley checking for a digital pulse.

I was on the phone every day last week consulting with Dr. Gonzalez about Speedy's abscess. While Speedy never got better, he did show some improvement. Dr. Gonzalez explained that abscesses in the horse's bar can be particularly painful and slow to heal. When I got back from the CDS Annual Meeting and saw that Speedy was no better, I put in a quick call to BLAH asking if I could bring Speedy back in. This time it was Dr. Tolley who was on duty.

Checking out the first drainage hole.

When I asked Dr. Tolley where exactly the "bar" was, he was quick to drag his finger alongside the frog. Showing my lack of knowledge here, but I had always thought the bar was the edge of the hoof where the below diagram shows the quarter. Oops, glad Dr. Tolley cleared that up for me. This is why I love him; he's always happy to teach me something new.

Image borrowed from the internet.

Dr. Tolley went on to explain that the sole wraps around onto itself forming a layer called the bar. Abscesses form in that spot because there is the possibility for something to squeeze between the layers.

After putting the hoof testers on and getting a loud OUCH! from Speedy, Dr. Tolley knew the abscess was still festering. He pulled out a special set of knives (they were really cool) and slowly started paring away at Speedy's sole.

I am always so fascinated by this stuff. I just wish it were happening to someone else's horse.

In no time at all, liquid poured out of the hole in a volume that I've never seen in an abscess. Not that my data sample is particularly large. In fact, it's actually quite small, but still, a lot of fluid came pouring out.

The red is from Betadine, not blood. If you look closely, you can see the fluid dripping off Speedy's toe.

Dr. Tolley scraped away layer after layer of sole, allowing fluid to drain out after every cut. No wonder Speedy has been so sore. That abscess was filled with liquid that was putting a ton of pressure on the internal structures of the hoof.

The original drainage hold is that bright red spot to the right of the frog.

In the above photo you can see how deep the new hole is. Dr. Tolley referred to it as a subsolar abscess because the pocket of pus was well beneath the sole. Speedy's treatment will continue to include every-other-day wrapping for a week. Dr. Tolley felt confident that Speedy should be back to work in less than two weeks.

I certainly hope so. More important than riding is that Speedy start to feel better. It has to be pretty discouraging to wake up day after day with a pounding "headache" in your foot. Keep your fingers crossed that we finally have this problem beat!

6 Comments

The Educational Element

1/23/2019

2 Comments

Like I've already said, I was at the California Dressage Society (CDS) Annual Meeting and Health Fair over this past weekend. Speedy and I toted home a couple of awards and I got to peek behind the curtain so to speak. On Sunday, I attended the Health Fair which was comprised of a series of lectures and a panel discussion.

Knowing that I had a long drive through Los Angeles's notoriously heinous traffic, I only stayed through lunch which meant I missed listening to Dr. Mike Tomlinson, a long time endurance vet. I remember him from my endurance days and really wished I had had the time to sit and listen. I did catch Hilary Clayton's lecture on The Pyramid of Training: A Biomechanical Perspective though, which was definitely worth staying for.

Dr. Hilary Clayton

Whether by design or mere coincidence, the USDF Connection had an article by Dr. Clayton in this month's issue - "Some Thoughts on Conditioning Dressage Horses." It's interesting and worth the read. So when I saw her name on the list of lecturers, I was intrigued. She didn't disappoint.

Exercises to create Suppleness, the second tier of the updated Pyramid of Training.

Dr Clayton presented the newly updated Pyramid of Training and talked about a horse's body as it related to the different levels.

Rhythm - she stressed that hind-first dissociation is desirable. The hind feet should land first followed by the front feet. This is uphill balance.
Suppleness - instead of relaxation, we should think about elasticity and freedom from anxiety. That really struck a chord with me particularly as it relates to Izzy.

Contact - she shared some interesting slides showing the difference between a horse whose poll is truly at the highest point as opposed to a horse who has broken at the C3 vertebra. Ideally, the poll should actually look flat as the C2 and C3 vertebrae form a flat spot that you can actually see from the saddle.
Impulsion - Dr. Clayton focused on two types of tendons, positional tendons - they help position the leg, and elastic tendons - those that stretch and recoil. It is the elastic tendons, such as the superficial digital flexor tendon, that we must guard closely against repetitive injuries.

Compare the heel length in the photo to the right.

Straightness - One way that Dr. Clayton suggested we think about straightness is that the alignment must be equal. To achieve this, there must be lateral suppleness on both reins. She also dispelled the myth that the position in the uterus determines sidedness. She explained that horses have sidedness in their entire bodies, including the eyes and legs. According to her, horses prefer their handlers to be on the left side.

Collection - collection comes from balance and lightness from increased engagement.

If I had to sum up Dr. Clayton's lecture in a tweet, it would go something like this: All horses are born with some asymmetry, and it is our task as riders to help balance them.

The Flapless EQ Science Saddle

Besides Dr. Clayton's lecture, there were a few other educational opportunities that I took a moment to check out. There was a footing rep, a CBD Oil booth (I really wanted to snag a bottle but it was pretty pricey, and a rep from the Flapless EQ Science Saddle. I am sure you've seen this saddle advertised. The first thing most people think is that it's not very traditional, and frankly, it's kind of ugly.

All of that is true although the company has designed a pad that hides all of the innards of the saddle. The panels of this saddle are nearly identical in design to those of the Reactor Panel saddles - I think the rep said the two companies are related somehow.

I have to say, this saddle, as funky as it looks, was really comfortable. And if a horse's sides are anything like the barrel of the saddle stand, you would definitely get a close contact feel. Also surprising was that I couldn't feel the billets underneath my leg at all. I am not in the market for a new saddle, but it never hurts to sit on one that's just standing there.

I am going to be sending my Chapter Chair a write-up of the meeting, and maybe I'll get to go again. Has anyone else ever been to their GMO's annual meeting? Do other GMOs even have annual meetings?

2 Comments

The Business End of CDS

1/22/2019

0 Comments

Over the weekend I attended the California Dressage Society's (CDS) Annual Meeting. All members are welcome to attend Saturday's general session, but it's mostly chapter chairs that participate. When I found out that my chapter chair wasn't going, I asked if I could go as a representative. I got the go-ahead and headed to Anaheim as an official chapter representative.

Check in.

I checked in alongside my friend, Jen, who is a chapter chair, and was made to feel welcome immediately. Even though CDS is the largest Group Member Organization (GMO) of the United States Dressage Association (USDF), the general meeting still had a small club vibe.

Kevin Reinig, the outgoing president, made numerous jokes during his report and even asked other members to step in to answer questions. The morning was long, and I could see how it might get boring to attend the meeting year after year, but I was fascinated. After the president's report, each committee chair shared their own bits of news, progress, or general state of things.

The Executive Board in back with Kevin Reinig, outgoing president, giving his report.

After a lunch break, which was excellent, we then reconvened for a roundtable discussion amongst regional chapter chairs. This part of the meeting was the most engaging as each chairperson shared their chapter's successes or obstacles. As a designated representative, I felt honored to share the wonderful things that my own chapter does. It was very gratifying to hear such positive feedback from the rest of the group.

Silent auction gift basket.

What I enjoyed most about the day was the feeling of being so connected to the inner workings of the dressage world. Being a part of the CDS General Meeting felt like having a direct link to both USDF and US Equestrian. The people with whom I was rubbing elbows were the very same people that talk to USDF's people. And when CDS asks for something, USDF listens (usually).

Most of the time, we are content to school in our arenas, head to local shows, and collect our ribbons at the end of the day. We think of USDF and US Equestrian as these massive organizations that do whatever they want, whenever they want with no thought to our needs or desires. Being at this meeting helped me see that that is not entirely true. When we offer feedback to our GMOs, that feedback does make its way up the pipeline.

My chapter's silent auction basket - put together by Chemaine Hurtado.

I can't say that I particularly want to serve my GMO in an official capacity, but filling in as a representative felt like giving back in at least some small way. I also offered to help another chapter in my region with a project they'd like to get started. The dressage community, at least here in California, seems to be pretty tightly knit with a genuine desire to work together. I like that, and I am proud to call myself a member.

The meeting was a lot like jury duty; I never actually want to get picked to serve, but once having done so, I'm left feeling like I've made the world a better place.

0 Comments

It's Not a Grammy, But ...

1/21/2019

4 Comments

I am just going to start off by saying that I have a TON, yes, a literal ton of stuff to share about this past weekend's California Dressage Society Annual Meeting and Health Fair. Since I can't seem to organize myself, I am just going to start with the most exciting part while the educational stuff percolates for a day or two.

I am so stupidly proud of these two awards.

Before I jump into the awards part of the weekend, I should tell you a tiny bit about the meeting just to give you some context. Each January, the California Dressage Society (CDS) holds its annual meeting. On Friday, the Executive Board meets. Saturday is the general meeting where the budget and other things related to the purpose of CDS are discussed. Committee chairs also share, and the chapter chairs hold round table discussions. An awards banquet is held later that evening. Sunday's activities vary from year to year, but this year there were lectures focused on equine and rider health.

Team Symphony kicked butt this year. Left to right - Morgan, Jen, me, and Chemaine

A very delicious dinner was served during the awards banquet, and a variety of awards were presented, two of which I was there to receive. While I don't know this for a fact, I am assuming that most of the award recipients don't actually make it to the banquet. California is huge, and not everyone can or even wants to drive ten hours to pay for a hotel room just to receive a $5 pin or an $8 plaque. Only twelve ladies were called up to receive their Gem Awards, but I am certain that many more stayed home and saved themselves a ton of money.

Gem Award recipients - Morgan on the far left, me on the far right.

To each her own of course, but we had a laugh-so-hard-it-hurts good time; I am glad I went. Who wouldn't want to cram four punch-drunk ladies (okay one wasn't actually a "lady" as she's only 16, but still ...) in one hotel room with nothing to do but talk horses?

I won't mention any names, but one of us (not me!) schlepped a full-sized printer, laminator, laptop, gift basket for the silent auction, and suitcase full of clothes but forgot to pack something to wear to the banquet. Even more hilarious was that the sixteen-year-old bought blue and pink dye on the drive to Anaheim so that she could dye her hair ... in the hotel room. I am not saying you would have enjoyed it, but we certainly did.

Did I mention we were next door to Disneyland? Jen started it!

Chemaine pointed out that this was one successful Cinderella. ... me, if you can't tell.

Back to the awards though. So what's a Gem Award? I hear you asking. For me, it was the Ruby Award which is earned when the rider earns qualifying sores at Training, First, and Second Levels. It's a bit like a USDF Medal in that the scores need not be earned in a single season or even on the same horse. I won't even tell you how long it took me to get those six scores. Let's just leave it at a long time.

It's a little bigger than a quarter.

The pins are typically worn on your show coat lapel. The super cool kids wear their Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal pins down one lapel with their Diamond, Sapphire, and Ruby pins down the other. And if you have Freestyle Bars to go with them, well you're just too cool to be seen with me.

My Second Level Horse Performance Award looks kind of puny next to Jen's Prix St Georges Award.

The Gem Awards recognize rider perseverance, but since all of my scores have been earned on Speedy, the pin is just as much his as it is mine. I am sure he won't mind if I pin it to my jacket; pinning it to his "coat" might be painful.

The Second Level Horse Performance Award is given to horses who earn six or more scores of 60% or higher. Scores need not be earned all in one season. I am ridiculously proud of the fact that we earned fifteen scores of 60% or better at CDS and/or USDF-rated shows in just one year. We kicked that requirement's butt.

Jen and I were both a wee bit disappointed that the awards don't come with the horses' names engraved on them though; a cost saving measure I am sure. In case any of the Executive Board are reading, I would have paid an extra three bucks to have Speedy's name on the plaque. Just sayin'.

Receiving Speedy's Second Level Horse Performance Award from outgoing president, Kevin Reinig.

Never having been to a state level awards banquet, I was very surprised by the camaraderie that was expressed. It didn't matter whose name was called; everyone cheered for each rider no matter which award they were receiving. Being surrounded by so much good will left me feeling empowered and eager for this next show season and beyond.

Throughout the course of the weekend, many people congratulated me personally and introduced themselves as readers of my blog. I am always thrilled to meet the people who actually take five minutes to read over what I've written, but I am also deeply humbled. I still feel like that endurance rider having a go at Introductory Level, Test A.

I feel so lucky to be a member of the California Dressage Society. Besides earning some terrific awards, I totally dug feeling so connected to a larger organization. More on that tomorrow.

4 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime 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.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently schooling Third Level in preparation for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

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 schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

Second Show - July 2016

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

2019 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USEF
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2019 Pending …

3/9-10/19 - Somis (***)
4/12-14/19 - AA Clinic (c)
5/26/19 - TMC (*)
6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
6/22-23/19 - SCEC (***)
6/23/19 - TMC (*)
7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
7/28/19 - TMC (*)
8/10/19 - RAAC (Q) (***)
8/25/19 - TMC (*)
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

2019 Completed …

Qualifying Scores for 2019

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:

CDS Championship Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:
Score 4:
Score 5:

Working Towards:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level:
Third Level:
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -

Review: Ovation Aqua X Silicone Full Seats

Lilo Fore?

Pretty Is as Pretty Does

Team Symphony

A Cushing's Tutorial

For Heaven's Sake!

Abscesses Abound

The Educational Element

The Business End of CDS

It's Not a Grammy, But ...

About the
Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

Stuff I Read

By Topic

Archives

About the Writer & Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Awards

Stuff I Read

By Topic

Archives

About the
Writer & Rider