Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've known since Speedy was a four year old that one of his butt cheeks was larger than the other. I took him to the vet where he was poked, prodded, and measured with a tape. We also had an ultrasound performed on the overly large cheek. Two vets came to the same conclusion: dunno. Keep an eye on it. I did and I do. The two photos above were supposed to provide a side-by-side view, but since one appears to be from a closer angle, it doesn't reveal much. In any case, the first is from September of 2009, and the second is from September 2013, four years apart. The same two photos are down below. Scroll down to read more ... I am not the world's best photographer so the poses aren't exactly the same which makes a comparison slightly difficult. In the first photo, Speedy G looks to be standing square on both hind legs. In the second photo, I couldn't get him to bear weight evenly on both hind legs at the same time. I think that some of the roundness seen in the left cheek might not have been so pronounced if he had been standing square on that side.
Even so, I think it's safe to say that Speedy's butt remains asymmetrical. The good thing is that both cheeks appear more developed than they did four years ago. The left is definitely meatier, while the right looks to be holding its own. Speedy has never been lame on either hind leg, and the uneven muscling hasn't ever caused any trouble; it just looks weird. So there you have it. If you ever thought your butt looked big, go check out your pony's derrière. You'll feel a lot better!
lytha
9/16/2013 03:31:41 am
This is why your blog rocks: ) Creative stuff like this with the yearning to understand, documented over the years.
Karen
9/16/2013 10:24:56 pm
Aw ... thanks, Lytha. :0)
Karen
9/16/2013 10:25:32 pm
The left doesn't look at least a little bigger? Well, good. :0)
Karen
9/16/2013 10:26:25 pm
That's what I thought! Although I think the left is also bigger.
Karen
9/16/2013 10:27:14 pm
No one else will stop to examine pee color or the quality of the road apples either. And endurance people are the worst! :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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