Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
As much as I hate to lose an hour's worth of daylight each afternoon, I am so glad the time changed. I get up around 4:30 a.m. each day, and it's been getting harder and harder to do. I get up so early so that I can get to work by 6:00 a.m and finished by 3:00 p.m. My early day means I can get to the barn around 3:15 each afternoon. I don't have lights, but I have just enough time to get in a decent 45 minute ride before it gets dark. The extra hour on Sunday morning was so wonderful. I slept in, made biscuits and gravy for breakfast, rode my horse, went grocery shopping, and was still home before noon. Izzy enjoyed the extra hour as well. When I pulled in, the ranch owner stopped to chat. Apparently, Izzy got out during the night. I am super vigilant about chaining his gate, but somehow it was not chained on Saturday night. Maybe I missed the link when I snapped it shut on Friday, or maybe his finger-like lips managed to undo it. Either way, he had a good old time on Saturday night. When the ranch owner came out to feed on Sunday morning, Izzy gave her an "oh, crap" look and hustled back into his paddock. He knew the jig was up. She poked around the property to make sure he hadn't destroyed too much but found that his shenanigans were limited to the lawn in front of his paddock. I gave him a thorough grooming and checked him all over for any hidden bumps or scrape, but all was well. He did seem a bit tired while I rode, but I'll never complain about that. It would seem that Izzy doesn't get worked enough. Maybe someone can propose a new time schedule that gives us several extra hours. I know I could use more time!
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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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