Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
This is one for the record books: On Monday, I took a walking lesson on Speedy, and it was TOTALLY AWESOME! As you know, Speedy has just entered Phase 2 of his Heal and Rehab. And so, rather than dreading the next six weeks of walking under saddle, I have decided to embrace, relish, and capitalize on the opportunity to slow. things. down. I started riding him a few days ago in just my riding halter and breeches, no saddle, pad, or bit. I certainly don't recommend this for everyone, there is no way I'd attempt this with Sydney, but Speedy is pretty well behaved and has a round, rideable back. And since he'd already demonstrated that he remembers his manners, I asked JL if I could take a lesson bareback with just the halter. She hesitated for a moment, but then realized that it would give us both an opportunity to really stretch and try something new. I showed up on time with a groomed, but naked pony. (It's easy to do when you don't have to really tack up.) Speedy is such a rock star that getting on bareback is as simple as asking him to step closer to the mounting block and sliding a leg over his back. He stands very well for mounting, saddled or bareback.
For the next 40 minutes, we worked on getting good quality sideways movements using the outside rein and the inside leg. Talk about deconstructing an idea to its most basic core elements. Riding bareback with only a halter strips you of any cheats or helps. I didn't even use spurs. (JL called it keeping the volume low.) Almost immediately, I had a gigantic AHA! with the outside rein. It's the same AHA! I had with Christian at the last clinic. For the past several years, I have relied pretty heavily on the inside rein while consistently dropping the outside rein. During this lesson, I could really feel the dance between the outside rein, my inside leg, and Speedy's legs. We worked on suppling Speedy to the left without using my inside rein (OH MY GOD - I finally get THAT idea). Inside of asking for inside flexion, which isn't wrong, I used my outside rein to catch and slow his outside shoulder while pushing him out with my inside leg. Within no time, he let go with his neck and was on the outside rein with a soft and flexible neck. Squeal. We repeated the exercise to the right and then moved on to figure eights and the "s" done at first level - the two half circles done at X. The most interesting part of the whole lesson was Speedy's response to the work while not carrying a bit. Every time I asked for something hard, he chewed, clacked his teeth, or gaped his mouth. We couldn't figure out if these were just habitual responses, or if moving his mouth was a physical manifestation of him thinking. It was actually quite funny. I planned to start back with the bit next week. I am pretty sure I am going to hold off on that as long as possible. I enjoyed relying on my seat aids more than my rein aids. I think Speedy did, too!
jenj
4/3/2014 03:53:51 am
Sounds like a great lesson! 4/5/2014 01:42:14 am
I love the question. I am writing a blog post about it. :0)
Val
4/5/2014 12:09:54 am
I like your riding halter. 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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