Putting the Pedal to the "Medal"

Speedy G is da man! The dude is getting a ton of peppermints today, not like he doesn't get them already. He can be a real pain in the patootie, but right now, all I see is my knight in shining (bronze) armor.

I loved that 72%!

For two solid years I worked on improving my Training Level scores. We started out with a few scores in the high 50s, but then those scores got replaced with 62s and 64s. Before long we earned our USDF Rider Performance Award at Training Level, and by the end of last year, we finally earned scores in the 70s.

At the show we did a few weeks ago, I knew I had earned high enough First Level scores to mark those off from what is needed for the USDF Bronze Medal, but they finally got posted to Centerline Scores. I still have to earn scores from Second and Third Level to actually earn the Bronze Medal, no easy task, but at least we're on the board.

See that little edge of the Bronze Medal shaded in? Woot! Woot!

When I was still endurance riding, I was hugely motivated by the awards programs that AERC offered. The most important awards, in my eyes anyway, were the chevrons and medals awarded for attaining certain mileage levels. It wasn't until I finally earned my 1,000 Miles chevron that I finally felt as though I "belonged." There was no pressure from other riders to reach that mileage marker, but it was important to me. Those chevrons are still framed and hanging on my wall today.

I nearly made it to 4,000. The 5,000 Mile chevron was my pie in the sky goal. That's a tough one to get.

AERC also offers Medals. Those are awarded to horses who reach 1,000 mile increments. Montoya DSA earned two medals, and wasn't too far from her third before I lost her to colic in 2010. I have those medals on my wall as well.

Very hard won, and still cherished.

So now I am working towards new medals and patches with USDF. I have a lovely Rider Performance Award patch already, but I am looking forward to earning my second one, this time at First Level. I know how hard this stuff is to get however, so I am not counting any chickens just yet.

Hopefully, I'll be adding the next one this year.

Earning those First Level scores and filling in a small part of that Bronze Medal is a lot like earning that 1,000 Miles chevron. It helps me feel like I actually "belong" in the dressage court. Filling in one little chunk doesn't mean anything in the whole scheme of life though, and it's not like the chef d'équipe of the US Dressage Team is knocking at my door. But for an Adult Ammie plugging away on her own, it's a nice pat on the back.