Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Time is short - have to hurry. Sydney's lesson on Monday was short because he "got" the exercise very quickly.
We're working on establishing more inside bend while accepting the contact. After warming up in a large circle, JL had me decrease the circle to about 10 meters. I was to keep his nose bent into the circle towards her while asking for a few sideways steps out. When he gave me a few nice steps, I quit asking. We repeated the exercise for several circles and then let him walk. After a short break, we did it again: small circle, nose inside the circle, ask, ask, ask, relax. Repeat. The results were very positive. Sydney's ears were flopping to the side and his foot falls were very quiet. We took another walk break and then tracked right. Right away Sydney was stiff and braced in his neck, but after only a few minutes, he started relaxing and lowered his neck. I tipped his nose in, asked, asked, asked, and then relaxed. And that was the lesson. My homework for the next week is to continue with long rein to loosen him up, but then we are to do the 10 meter circle to develop some strength and flexibility in his ribcage. That's homework that is easy to do! 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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