Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
![]() I am not going to give a play-by-play of the show. I don’t want to bore you. We didn’t get in a wreck on the way, I didn’t get lost, and the show was where it was supposed to be. Instead, I want to tell you about the interesting parts, although that might still bore you! Read what you like, skip the rest. So … the rookie mistake. Even I know not to do this. Endurance riders NEVER EVER try something new at a race, not even new underwear. If it hasn’t been tested, don’t use it. Why did I think I could try something new at this show? I will give myself at least a little credit as I did bring a back up. So what’s the mistake? You know those new dressage boots I bought last year? The ones I’ve been saving for SHOWS ONLY? The ones I have put on three times. Yep, that pair. So there I am dressing in my finest breeches and recently hemmed coat and smiling oh-so-smugly to myself as I slide my feet into those beautiful, black boots. As I tugged on the slightly stiff zipper to get it over my calf, I grimaced a little, and then did a peg-leg wobble over to Speedy. Boy, these boots sure are stiff! I laughed as I tried to get on Speedy G with what felt like boards strapped to my calves and feet. I finally mounted, but it wasn't pretty. I walked over to the warm up arena all the while admiring how beautiful my feet were looking. I asked for some spiral-out at the walk and was slightly dismayed at how it felt like I was pressing against a wall with my inner leg. Hmmm … not quite what I was expecting. As everyone else was working on canter departures, extended trots, and other highly sophisticated maneuvers, I decided I should at least pick up some kind of trot. Uh-oh … What the hell? Where did my seat go? Speedy’s trot was literally launching me out of the saddle and slamming me back down. I took a deep breath, opened my legs a little so that I wasn’t so grippy, sat back a bit so that I wasn’t leaning forward, and sank my heels. Except my heels didn’t sink. In fact, I couldn’t even feel my feet. It truly felt as though someone had encased my entire leg with cement. I knew it was the boots. No biggie, I knew what to do. Rather ungracefully, I hopped off, which is how you do it when you have cement wrapped around your lower leg. I dropped my stirrups a hole and climbed back on. When I picked up the trot again, I wasn’t being launched upward, but I was having a heck of a time keeping my feet in the stirrups. Rats! I had worked too hard for this day to be sidelined by a pair of pretty boots. And here’s where my endurance experience kicked in. When things are falling apart, pull off the trail, take a breather, re-evaluate what you’ve got going on, and FIX it. So that’s what I did. I rode back to the trailer. While holding Speedy’s reins in one hand, I climbed into the trailer, and with my other hand I unzipped my boots and slid into my old field boots. Ah … instant relief! You know what happened. I put in a nice ride earning 71.88%. I’d say I made a good call! So here’s what I learned: when I first started riding dressage, I rode in my endurance trail boots and saved my used, but still nice, Ariat field boots for shows. I showed in them five times and was uncomfortable all five times. I bought a pair of SHOW only boots and turned my field boots into schooling boots. I used them regularly for five months until they felt really good. Guess what I need to start schooling in? What use is a nice pair of boots if you can’t use them to ride successfully? Ah … the perils of being a rookie! 4/12/2011 01:01:53 pm
OH no I have a show this weekend and I've ridden in my SHOW boots twice!!!!!! Am I in trouble???? Can I break them in before Sunday???
Karen
4/12/2011 01:44:59 pm
I made it until lunch time wearing mine with a long black skirt! Everyone laughed at me when I took them off and groaned in pain ... then satisfaction ... and finally with relief. They only bugged me around the knee. A few more "wears" and they should be ready for riding! Good luck at the show! Is it the PDM show? I am hoping to come and watch! :0) Comments are closed.
|
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
|