Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I got some really cool horsey gifts this year. Two I asked for, but the rest were just what I needed without knowing that I needed them! You already know about the stock tie from Appy Does Dressage. You'll see it on someday when I get better at tying it. I've done some practice and it's getting better, but I hate taking selfies so you'll have to wait for a real photo op! A new reader, B.C., offered me a nice gift, too. She lives very near to where I grew up, so I think she felt a bit of a kinship with me; it's a lightly populated area. Anyway, she had recently purchased a new helmet from Stateline Tack and received a $10.00 e-card with her purchase. She knew she wasn't going to spend it so she sent it my way. I had that puppy spent within about 2 minutes. Stateline Tack has excellent prices and while they aren't known for their dressage tack, they do have a fairly decent selection. I ordered Speedy a new dressage pad. With B.C.'s $10.00 e-card and Stateline's 15% discount, the pad only cost me an additional $16.00. Thanks a ton, B.C. I gave Hubby a wish list this year like always, but I never know for sure if he's going with my suggestions or if he's going to wing it. He did a little of both this year. We have a door at the cabin that swings shut, so for the past 8 or 9 years we've propped it open with a small waste paper basket. Hubby surprised me with a horsey themed door stopper. Cool! Hubby stuck to the list for the next two gifts; an Embrazio Curva belt (I wrote about it here) and a pair of Roeckle show gloves - ooh la la! These are the nicest gloves; I school in a black pair but couldn't justify paying that much for a pair that I'll wear only periodically. Since I've ridden the heck out of my black pair, I know the show pair will last me forever. And finally, my barn owners surprised me with a gift that I had no idea I needed or wanted! For the last two years they've given me a Dover gift card which is a totally awesome gift in and of itself, but this year, they added these blue things... The cones and meter tape were mine already. The T-Square things and rope are new. I am sure you're wondering for what on Earth I could need those things. Simple: making a dressage court that isn't a (non-right angled) parallelogram! Well, maybe not that bad, but it is a PAIN to rebuild the court once it's been dismantled for the tractor. My "court" is just a series of poles laid out in a rough rectangle, but I do try and get it as accurately sized as possible. I use my meter tape to get it an official 20-meters wide, if not the required 60-meters long. The entire arena is maybe 60-meters long so I only have about 50 meters for the length. With the new tools, I got my court VERY square, and it will now take me a fraction of the time to do it. What a clever gift! Thanks again, Santa! Now for my upcoming birthday ...
Barbara
12/28/2013 12:18:31 am
I am excited that you were able to use it :) Happy Holidays 12/28/2013 01:57:01 am
Nope … no fancy barns in this part of California. I keep my horses at a private residence, but even if I wanted to board at a dressage barn, I wouldn't be able to find one.
Sandra
12/28/2013 01:51:49 am
Oh my goodness! Those blue things are awesome! I could have used them when I rebuilt my dressage court the other day! It would have saved so much time! Santa was very good to you! 12/28/2013 01:58:23 am
They are AWESOME and now that I have figured out how to best use them, rebuilding my court will be so much easier. I have the BEST barn owners in the world. :0) 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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