Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Our weather has gone wonky which means fall is finally here. We went from mid-90s a week or so ago to snow in the mountains yesterday just a few miles to our east. With cooler weather, I've actually wanted to take a break from arena riding, so on Wednesday, I spent 30 minutes hacking around the ranch. If we walk, the loop around the ranch takes about 10 minutes, so three loops is a solid half hour of riding. Whenever we start to school something that Izzy finds challenging, like flying changes, I know that it ramps up his tension. If I am not careful, he starts to worry about everything which is why I thought a hack around the ranch would be a good break from the hard stuff. Another benefit is that it affords me an opportunity to work on just the tension without worrying about geometry or straightness or being on the aids. When we walk, my only expectation is that we head forward with ears that are below my waist. I would love a level neck, but he can't quite give that to me the entire time. Yet. For this week's hack, Izzy was really good. I've been doing this ride for the past several weeks, and despite having ridden this exact same loop for years, he is finally showing some relaxation. We've had enough conversations that include me enforcing the rules that he occasionally remembers that I am up there talking to him. Of course, yesterday, he was super spicy when we did real work, so it would seem that we're going to need a few more chats about the rules.
TGIF, friends, TGIF. 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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