Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I've ridden Speedy several more times since his last lesson, and my goal has been to recapture the feeling of "throughness" that we had when I kept his head up. I am pretty surprised at how quickly he has figured it out. He still does the usual hop and skip thing he does when he's trying to avoid me, but I just kept my leg on (why didn't I start wearing spurs ages ago?) and insisted.
In no time at all, I can have him trotting around with a much more consistent rhythm and he is a lot steadier in my hand. When he tries to duck behind the bit, I add leg and lift the left rein to remind him of where he needs to be. (To the right it's the outside rein, but to the left it's the inside rein.) Several good things are starting to happen:
I will continue with this exercise for the next two weeks. That's when he goes back to see JL. Sydney gets to go for two weeks now. The question I have now is at what point do I start to lower my hands? He has offered to come down, but I know it was in an effort to hide behind the bit. I don't want to play that game. When I asked JL about this after my lesson on Sydney, she suggested I ask for some vertical flexion. If he can continue to use his hind end, he's ready. If he loses steam behind, he's not ready. Hmm ... something to work on. Even with my hands so high, I am soft with them. When he really engages his hind end and lifts even the slightest bit in his withers, he gets some "relief" from the bit. I know that isn't the right way to describe the feeling, but it's the best I can do. When he works with me, I can shift my hands forward and he really launches us around the arena. It's a fun feeling! There's no way to do that when his nose is touching his belly button.
Val
10/9/2012 07:00:32 am
I do not know how high you are holding your hands, but you may want to keep them "up". It is possible that this does not look as funny as it feels. In fact, it may give you an excellent, effective position! :)
Karen
10/9/2012 10:59:08 am
Val - I think my hands are higher than feels "right," but JL said that while tracking right especially, Speedy's poll is in a good training level position. While my hands may be UP, they aren't over the top UP as in over my head! And I do feel as though things are falling into place which probably means my position is more effective.
martina peterson
10/9/2012 10:11:07 pm
Karen, I read your blog but must admit that I couldn't understand the technical "stuff". But I can tell that you know exactly what you are talking abolut and that you are progressing nicely. Keep up the positive attitude and hard work. You sure have come a long way since you switched from endurance riding to dressage training. I am so proud of you and when ever someone comes to my house I just have to show off your picture of you and Sydney. Everyone who sees it is quite impressed and I am like a proud peacock!!!!
Karen
10/13/2012 12:19:50 am
Mom - you give me too much credit! Most of the time I don't get the technical stuff either. Thanks for reading. :0) 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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