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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Schooling Show #2

7/12/2016

 
I took Izzy to a schooling show on Sunday, his second. Spoiler alert: we didn't win, and his scores were really low: Intro A earned 54.4% and Intro B earned a sad little 49.7%. As low as they are, the scores don't show how much he has learned or how hard he tried. I am not at all disappointed, quite the opposite in fact. He was such a good boy, and I am so excited for our next show in two weeks!
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How and when did he get so BIG?!?!
Right from the start, I asked him to do a lot of new and different things. First off, he had to load at 4:45 a.m. in the dark. Fortunately, my friend Laurel came with me so she was able to give him a thwack on the butt when he said no to loading. That was all it took though - one smart whack and he stepped right on.

Izzy rarely gets to work with anyone else in the ring, so this warm up provided another first for him. At our first schooling show, I was the last rider before lunch so we warmed up on our own. This time, we showed in the middle of the morning so the ring was hopping with other horses. While he wasn't what anyone would call business-like, he listened and tried.
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Photo by my trainer, Chemaine Hurtado
Hansen Dam Equestrian Center is a lovely place to show, but the ring can be pretty intimidating. You can sort of see it in the picture above. The court is laid out in the center of a large arena that has a near solid fence around it, so when the horses walk in, they're fairly isolated from everyone else. It took a small amount of persuading to get him in, but once inside, Izzy tried really hard to focus on me.
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Baby steps! (Photo by Chemaine Hurtado)
Laurel agreed that even though the tests earned only lowly scores, both were much better than the first time he showed back in April. Even though we had a different judge, I think the slight increase in scores was still merited. We earned almost a full point better for each movement on Test A, and in Test B, we improved in almost every movement except for the walk. The judge made comments like Good bend, too choppy; good moments in the circle, too choppy; and needs to focus and stretch over the top line. Yes, yes, and yes.
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Didn't even notice the judge! (Photo by Chemaine Hurtado)
The judge was very correct in her scores, the 4.0 (and later a 3.0) for the free walk was well "earned." He pretty much jigged his way across the diagonal, but I wasn't worried about it one bit. He was trying. He didn't spook or bolt, and he went where I pointed him.
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There's some real potential there! (Photo by Chemaine Hurtado)
In all honesty, he didn't do anything "wrong." He stood tied to the trailer by himself for a fair bit as Laurel and I walked up to the show office and later took a tour of the grounds. While he danced around a little bit, he was mostly just very "looky." He nibbled at his hay though and lipped at his water. He even relaxed long enough to take a pee in the warm up ring. 
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Good boy pats (Photo by Chemaine Hurtado)
If my goal for the first show was to simply stay in the ring and not get disqualified, my goals this time were to have a good warm up and actually do some work during the tests. While there were still a few 4s, I love the 7.0 he earned for tracking left at C (right in front of the judge no less!) and the 7.0 for his 20-meter trot circle, both in Test B. Those movements earned a 5.0 in April.
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Finishing Test B (Photo by Chemaine Hurtado)
The judge's Further Remarks are dead on: When you get the brain working with you, will be much better performance. Isn't that what I was just saying? I don't have a tense horse, I have an easily distracted horse!

When Chemaine shared these photos on Facebook, she added this comment: When schooling the babies, all you look for is a few nice moments... here's one! Great riding today, Karen Sweaney! I love how Chemaine thinks. Stringing good moments together is what it's really all about. I love this last photo as it shows how much potential this boy really has.

To my delight, we had more than one or two good moments. As we continue to work, there will be fewer and fewer derp moments. We have another lesson and a schooling show in two weeks, and I can't wait to see what we will be able to do by then!
Leah link
7/12/2016 05:45:49 am

Bringing along babies is such a fun thing when you have a patient coach! Congrats on your improvements at this show!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/12/2016 02:28:28 pm

Thanks, but I just watched the video. Chemaine's still pictures make us look soooo much better. :0/

Leah link
7/12/2016 03:30:57 pm

No sweat! I'm a photographer too, and I infinitely prefer posting pictures of myself than videos haha 😉

It doesn't matter how slow the progress is, as long as it's there! And it definitely sounds like it's there.

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/13/2016 05:59:33 am

I totally agree. The reason I am not discouraged is that every single day he is just a bit better than the day before. When I was trying to bring along Sydney, he got WORSE instead of better. :0(

I don't care how long it takes us since we're at least making progress. :0)

Tracy link
7/12/2016 06:22:13 am

IMHO horse showing is a skill that both horse and rider have to learn. Riding at a show is so much different than riding at home! Sounds like Izzy is learning how to be a show horse one step at a time, which is all you can ask for!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/12/2016 02:32:13 pm

Of course it is! I get so irritated when people tell me their horse is at such and such a level, but they never show. Uh-huh. Showing really demonstrates what your horse can do when life is not super comfortable and easy! LOL

We still look like crap (I MIGHT show the video), but at least we look less crappy than we did 3 months ago. :0)

I have the showing stuff down - I never get nervous or worried (in fact I dented my trailer as we pulled into the show and it didn't phase me a bit). It's Izzy that needs to get over it. Once he can just trust me to make the decisions, he's going to be amazing! I hope. :0)

SarahO link
7/12/2016 11:51:16 am

Looks like lots of good moments!

I love that you go to shows for the exposure and experience without big performance goals. That's my philosophy too but when I don't see many other greenies at shows I tend to get embarrassed and want to stay at home until we're better. Reading your posts inspires me to keep getting out there, because that is how we get better :-)

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/12/2016 12:08:49 pm

Exactly, SarahO. You nailed my philosophy on the nose. I hear so many people say "I am not ready." I always think, nobody is ever "ready." I want to get Izzy out and about and comfortable with stuff while we're at a level that no one cares about. We can bumble our way through a hundred intro schooling tests and no one thinks anything of it. I don't want to wait until we're working at Second Level to try and bring him to a show because it would be a complete disaster.

I used the same strategy with Speedy. It was different with him because he had done so many endurance rides, but I needed the show exposure at the lowest levels. I had to learn to deal with rider tension and worry. I'd rather do that at intro than at second level for sure!

Get out there and keep doing it. Who cares what people think. :0)

Micaylah link
7/12/2016 02:57:46 pm

he looks damn fancy for intro! I love following this journey

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/13/2016 05:56:48 am

Thanks! I really don't want to ruin the imagine of "WOW," but I feel like I should share the video would shows the real story. LOL!

Elinor link
7/12/2016 06:37:39 pm

He looks really fabulous! Too big for himself :)
Great experience for him. For you both! With some more relaxation in the walk, you'd score great there since I'm sure he can produce a beautiful walk. At home :)
And those 7's in the trot circle will turn into 7's all around with some time. He's made for this!
I think he has a lot going for him just entering the ring, he looks the part, no? :)
Well done both of you!

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/13/2016 05:58:01 am

He definitely looks the part, but we need to get some relaxation before things can get good. When you see the video, you'll see what I mean. LOL

Elinor link
7/13/2016 04:12:21 pm

Neh :) We just like to think it's all pretty! Forget the video!! :)

Teressa link
7/13/2016 04:28:15 pm

I am thrilled with how you did. Izzy is growing up- he reminds me of a exuberant kid in kindergarten- lots of intelligence and energy that needs to be directed.

I'm thinking that we might actually be ready for a show in august. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
7/13/2016 05:48:42 pm

Thanks, Teresa, but you haven't seen the video. It's a bit rough. :0)

There were some fancy moments though, and more than just one or two! I can't wait to hear how you and Carmen do. It sounds like you guys have really made it over the/a mountain!


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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    Email Karen

    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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    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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