Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I bet that even Charlotte Dujardin thinks about someday with Valegro. You know - someday he'll be able to do this, someday he won't do that anymore, or someday we'll be able to whatever. I am pretty guilty of the somedays. It's not that I think it's wrong to want your horse to be better, or in my case, to be more mature, but the wanting should probably be accompanied by an appreciation for what he can do right now. When I got to the barn yesterday, Izzy called to me a few times like he always does, but then he went and stood outside in a way that looked ... patient. At first I thought he might not be feeling well as he let me clean his stall without pestering me. Usually, he's trying to tip the cart over and grabbing the fork from my hands, so when he left me alone, I got a bit suspicious. When I brought him over to the cross ties, he stood very quietly and almost dozed. He's always a good boy while I tack up, but he can be a bit impatient. Early on he would fling his head up and down to rattle the cross ties. He doesn't do that anymore. Lately, he likes to back up to just the right angle so that he can grab the cross ties or the lead rope and chew on them. But last night, he just stood there like a solid equine citizen. When I walked him over to the mounting block, I kept asking if he was alright. He was being too perfect. Everything about him oozed relaxation and confidence. He wasn't worried about a thing. I walked him around the arena for our normal warm up, but he was anything but "normal." He was relaxed, supple, and super mellow. I realized immediately that we were having a someday ride and praised him profusely for his maturity and submissiveness. The bummer about it was that while I did get a few minutes of trot work, I had to call it quits early as Izzy has a sore foot. On Monday afternoon, he tweaked a shoe and the farrier wasn't able to re-set it until Wednesday. He's still pretty sore on it, but he was at least marginally better last night. He's sound at the walk, but he's still clearly lame at the trot. I am not asking him to work more than a few minutes at the trot, and it's mostly so I can gauge his soundness. Hopefully, the tenderness fades away over the next few days.
Even so, I was thrilled with having my someday horse right now. If this is what I am going to get if I keep on working like I am, I will be one super excited girl. This horse is going to be fantastic. And actually, he's fantastic right now!
Aimee Towell
10/9/2015 10:35:01 am
I love those moments of realizing that yes, you actually are progressing. :-) Glad you had one. 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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