Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I don't spend as much time with Speedy as I once did, but I make sure that he gets to be the star of the show at least once a week. I pick his feet, curry his coat, and turn him out into the yard. This weekend I also took him up to the arena for a short lunge. While it doesn't matter if he's sound or not, I like to check just to make sure there isn't more that I should be doing for him. I see him charging around in his field with Izzy alongside, the fence between them, but with adrenalin coursing through his veins, he'll always look sound. I also watch him as he plays out in the yard. He frequently gets a wild hair and trots around gaily or even charges along the fence as he races to visit his lady friends. He always looks sound, but still. I like to put him on the lunge at least occasionally to really evaluate his way of moving. Over the winter there were a few days when he came up quite lame. I couldn't find an abscess and there was no heat or swelling, but it passed within a week or so. Since then, I haven't seen him take a wrong step. Speedy is always very well behaved on the lunge line, but he has never let me take video. The instant I point my phone at him, he sees it as the cue to stop and come in. Before I took my phone out, he was doing very nice transitions within the gate at the trot, all on my aids. I wasn't able to catch any of them on video though. Even so, I was quite happy with how he was moving. He looks as sound as can be. I am throwing it out to the universe again; if someone wants some time in the saddle, even a junior, please reach out to me. Speedy would love a job. He's feeling good, and he's sound. He's definitely out of shape and lacking some muscle tone, but that wouldn't take long to rebuild. He's very sweet and eager to please. And while he probably doesn't want to do much collected work, he's happy to pack someone around in a working trot or canter.
Who could resist that face? 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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