Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Time is simply flying by me. I am never caught up and feel as though I am just barely hanging on. For Speedy, that is a GREAT thing. I haven't worried about his recovery for one second. In fact, most of the time I forget that he's on the disabled list at all.
When I show up at the barn, I toss Sydney his flake of hay and then Speedy gets my full attention for the next thirty minutes. The small bit of thrush he was developing is well under control, largely due to the fact I have started picking out his feet before we take our walk. I am pretty thorough about it, too. Once his toes are freshly picked out, he usually gets a quick groom, and then we're off. Last Tuesday was day 36, 20% of the way through the recover/re-hab timeline. I meant to do an update then, but as I mentioned, time got away from me. We've hand walked every day (except one) for more than 40 days. By this next weekend, we can begin under saddle work, at the walk only, for the next 6 weeks. I am not really looking forward to that as he is going to be really bored, and probably naughty. At least right now he gets to graze and sniff and paw at whatever catches his fancy. A couple of days in a row he even rolled in some sand along the road that had been freshly drug by the tractor. I have several routes that I follow for our daily walk. On Thursday we walked down to the river because it was fairly warm (low 80s), and I thought he might enjoy playing in the water; take a look. 3/25/2014 10:26:00 am
Hard not be be when your life involves no work and all play. :0) He's quite the lazy boy by nature and seem to be quite in love with his new lifestyle!
SprinklerBandit
3/24/2014 12:47:03 am
What a cool place to have access to. :-) 3/25/2014 10:27:20 am
The Kern River is the center of Bakersfield's equestrian community, such as it is. Just two or three miles to the west is a nice trail system that cover at least 10 - 15 miles. I think there is a lot to be said for being too busy to fuss over one that just needs time to heal. I am a total control freak worrier, so I understand why people do it, but I always wonder how many healing processes suffer from an owner with too much time on their hands now that they can’t ride and constantly checking/testing the horse to see if he’s improved yet from five minutes ago… Speedy looks fantastic. :) 3/25/2014 10:21:18 am
Agreed! I know that poking and prodding does more harm than good. Unfortunately, this isn't my first rehab. Each time I've had to do this, I try to find other ways to spend my time. Having a second horse always helps. :0) 3/25/2014 10:28:02 am
Absolutely! And yes, he's pretty darn happy about the whole "no work" thing! 3/25/2014 10:29:46 am
Oops … wanted to add … but I make sure to spend a good 30 minutes a day with him so that he still feels as though he has a place in my life. Arabs are quite sensitive to their people and need to feel needed. He loves me to death and is happy to see me and do whatever little "game" I have in store for him, even if it is just grazing and walking. 3/25/2014 10:23:12 am
if our water water was "cold" and "running," I would agree! Our water is actually daily warm and runs rather slowly! It was more to stimulate his brain than for any therapeutic effect. :0) 3/25/2014 10:24:46 am
Maybe I am only showing you the "good" parts? We do have some lovely areas, but they're actually quite small. I see some of what you all have and think, if only! 3/27/2014 10:21:10 pm
The story starts here … http://www.bakersfielddressage.com/1/post/2014/02/whats-wrong-with-speedy-g-part-1.html 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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