Speedy G Rocked It!

10/31/2011

Speedy G after both rides. He looks quite proud of himself!

Short on time, but here's the skinny: No 65% for Intro C. Rats. Instead, we earned a very respectable 63.5%. It's hard to be upset with that score. It's a good score. I'll try for the 65% again in a few weeks.

On the other hand, the 72.5% that we earned at Intro B is pretty awesome! What? Yep. You read that right. Let me say it again in case you missed it - 72.5%. At a three-star event no less. I haven't seen the overall scores for the entire show, but it certainly seems like a stand-out score to me. I said in yesterday's post that I thought we were ready to move up to Training Level 1. This score seems to confirm that. I think we're done with Intro B. Hello, T1. I am looking forward to meeting you!

More tomorrow ...

Kelly RGF link

10/31/2011 04:32:20 am

Could that possibly be a blue-ribbon score? I hope it is!

hammerhorses link

10/31/2011 05:22:41 am

WTG! That's an awesome score!!!

Quick question for you though - How do you keep Speedy's long mane tangle free and unbroken? I'm 98% sure I'm getting a really nice grey pony within the month and she has an amazingly long pretty mane, and I don't necessarily want to chop it but I've never delt with long manes before - I have always pulled or cut. I'm asking everyone I can think of who deal with long manes what they do!

Also, she's grey (white...) so how do you avoid the stains and yuckyness? Blankets or do you just ignore them and bathe them before shows?

Val

10/31/2011 08:42:20 am

Cool!

Karen Sweaney link

10/31/2011 09:14:50 am

Kelly - yes, both scores earned blue ribbons, but I was the only rider in my class so even a low score would have earned blue! I was disappointed by the 63.5%, which in and of itself is a very fine score, but it wasn't the 65% that I need. After thinking about it, I realized that it is score number 1 toward a California Dressage Society "plate". No need to be disappointed!

HammerHorses - I have had horses with AMAZING manes. I think it's because they don't fuss with them, and I don't fuss with them! SOme horses will have scraggly manes no matter what we do. Some will rub them off no matter how hard we try to prevent it. Others grow copious amount of hair!

I try not to use combs or brushes, only my fingers. I also use SHow Sheen, or other products that detangle. For shows I do French Braid. I wish I would have taken a photo for this show because I did a particularly good job. maybe experience is finally helping!

As far as keeping a gray clean - they either do it themselves, or they find the poop to roll in! Speedy's a pretty clean boy if his stall is big enough. He does get hosed off in the winter if he's really dirty. On occasion I do use whitening shampoo on spots where he gets a bit yellow. He doesn't get too dirty, though. Keep in mind that my winters are extremely mild with very little mud. And our mud tends to be sandy which just falls off. I also go to the barn daily and groom when needed.

I am not very helpful, am i? :0) All of my responses make it sound like they clean and groom themselves! But seriously, I am not a big groomer. I just do a little every day and use good products that help.

Oh, and Speedy doesn't get blanketed. If it gets REALLY cold and wet and windy, he might get blanketed for a night or two, but that's it. I bathed him late in the afternoon before Sunday's show and since it was going to be in the 50s I did put a fleece cooler on him for the night. It did keep him clean, but that's the first time I've done that.

Good luck!

Val - Thanks!

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage