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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Sometimes I am Actually Right

1/10/2017

 
My plan for Christmas break was to ride and ride and ride. I didn't. Instead, I did a lot of bass fishing (more on that in a day or two) and watched the rain. It's hard to complain about the weather when we're in the midst of a very long and entrenched drought.

I managed to ride Izzy once or twice each week. The good thing is that he's on a huge turnout 24 hours a day so when I did get to ride, I didn't have to worry too much about riding a rocket on a string. 

We had a break in the rain on Friday, and while it wasn't blazing sunshine, the air was fairly dry without the gloomy dampness we've had. I tacked up slowly, part of my patience with a good attitude thing, and spent some time visiting both boys. I've discoverd that Izzy is a much happier fellow if I groom Speedy first. It seems to give him some time to look around and relax.

Even while it rained, I spent a few minutes each day bridling and unbridling. Izzy really lost confidence in the bridle over the fall, and the double sent him over the edge. While he's not back to perfect, he's getting better and better.

It took me a few minutes on Friday to persuade him to take the bit, but rather than get frustrated, I turned it into a game. He eventually lowered his head and opened his mouth. I counted that as a win.
Picture
Post ride "where is the candy?" face.
When you're not worrying about getting to First Level, it's okay to spend the entire ride walking. That's been my attitude lately. If he's rushing, we walk. If he's willing to be soft, we trot. If he's happy to listen to my aids, we canter. On Friday, even after standing in mud for most of the week, he gave me a lovely, lovely ride.

He got sassy early on, but rather than get exasperated over his 10,000th time spooking. I Iaughed and saw the shenigans for what they were: unbridled exuberance (no pun intended). I kept to my posting rhythm and gave a firm half halt reminding him that it's all in the stretch down.

Over and over I half halted and asked for a stretch. At one point, I felt his back really let go and he offered a swinging, bouncy trot that brought a huge smile to my face. I shifted my weight slightly and brought my inside hip forward. Before he knew what was happening, he was canterig to the right without any attitude. 

We did one large circle and came back to trot before he had time to think about it. We changed direction and did the same thing to the left. It was the best ride he's given me in weeks. I realized that simply riding the horse that I have today, instead of trying to improve on the horse I had yesterday, allowed us both to enjoy ourselves.

My next ride might be a disaster, but the good ones are coming more and more frequently. That's all I can ask for.
jenj
1/10/2017 06:12:24 am

Sounds like a delightful ride!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:17:52 am

It really was. And I had another great one yesterday!

Leah link
1/10/2017 06:18:00 am

Sounds like a lovely ride!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:17:20 am

It was. :0)

Exploringdressagebiomechanics link
1/10/2017 06:43:02 am

Nice! I think you are on the right path with Izzy fwiw. Really good New Year's resolution.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:16:57 am

Thanks, me too!

Karen P link
1/10/2017 07:37:21 am

Sounds like a very positive ride!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:16:32 am

They're coming faster and faster!

Carly
1/10/2017 10:22:14 am

Such a good feeling when things are easy for once!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:16:04 am

Right?!

Tracy link
1/10/2017 10:47:12 am

It's so easy to get caught up in our goals and want constant, even progress... but that's not life and that's certainly not horseback riding! It's amazing what a little bit of patience will get you :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:15:38 am

Very true!

Nicole link
1/10/2017 12:25:48 pm

Murray was never very confident with the bridle, and my friend's horse was downright recalcitrant at times. We both started feeding one mint right when the bit went in and it helped both ponies immensely! It might not be the right solution for all situations, but it worked for our ponies. Good luck with the bridling! I'm glad Izzy seems like he's back on the right track.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:15:11 am

I've done this many times before and have even painted the bit with molasses. When I first got Izzy two years ago, bridling was a bear. He wasn't obviously afraid, but he REFUSED to lower his head to help me out. Over time, he got pretty good until he decided he didn't like the fat snaffle and then the double.

You reminded me of the trick though so I did give him a bit of candy cane while bridling yesterday. He dropped the candy as the bit went in, but once the bridle was on, I quickly retrieved the fallen piece of candy, wiped off the dirt, and popped it in his mouth. He still enjoyed it!

Thanks for the reminder!

Nicole link
1/12/2017 11:06:42 am

Dirty candy canes are one hundred percent edible, I agree with Izzy.

Emma link
1/10/2017 06:10:27 pm

That's awesome- Izzy looks so cute in that picture! I'm glad things with the bridling are going well. Knowing that a lot of readers look to your blog as a resource, do you ever consider revising past posts about the double bridle (and it's initial impressions) to reflect your findings over time? Just thinking about the casual reader who may be influenced by your writing.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/11/2017 05:11:08 am

Thanks, Emma.

I rarely go back back and edit a post - there are simply too many of them to keep track of! As you already know, most bloggers share their experiences with the rest of the world in the hope that it might help someone out. On the other hand, I don't consider myself a "go to site" for information. If someone reads a past blog post, they'll get how I was feeling at the time, but I hope they realize things might have changed since then.

I had a GREAT experience with the double bridle, and if I had used it just once or twice to kind of break the cycle of resistance, Izzy probably would have been fine. I am sure that we'll be able to come back to it in the future, For right now, it was simply too much for him.

He's back in the correction bit and going better and better each each. He's taking a solid connection with it and bridling is no longer a fight. Even though the show legal bit should arrive today, I am sticking with the correction bit as long as he's happy in it. We're not showing right now anyway. :0)

emma link
1/11/2017 06:35:17 am

makes sense to me - glad he's doing so well!!

Elinor link
1/11/2017 10:51:08 pm

Big O' smile after reading this!!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/16/2017 03:15:42 pm

Thanks, Elinor. :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy 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.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
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