Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Or … How I am not being effective with the outside rein. You saw it in the videos and photos from this weekend's show. I felt it particularly over the weekend while riding Sydney. Since we've started working on improving our walk to canter transition, we've lost the right lead canter again.
That thing is going to drive me crazy. We'll get it, but then my trainer will add a new element and we lose it. On Saturday, we lost it completely. Sydney ducked, whirled, spun, reared, or flat out refused to go forward every time I asked for a right lead canter. I tried everything I could think of without any luck. Fortunately for us, we had a lesson on Monday. I had had time to think about why we couldn't get a right lead canter before the lesson, and I was pretty sure it was because I was overly focused on getting an inside bend. Sound familiar? I was right. JL explained that by over-bending Sydney to the inside, he wasn't straight and was losing his hind quarters to the outside. When his butt is pointed out, he's going to canter toward the middle of the circle. We went back to an earlier exercise. From the trot, I halted Sydney as hard as necessary with the outside rein. Then we did some trot work by turning him with the outside aids. This put him in a slight counter bend. When I could feel him on the outside rein, I ever-so-slightly used my inside rein to get his neck straight. JL asked for a canter, but before I could even cue for it, Sydney volunteered a calm canter on his own. I laughed and exclaimed that we were finished. JL explained that Sydney had been telling me that I was doing it all wrong and once I had it right, he was able to do his job. We didn't quit of course because we needed to get at least one more nice, right lead canter. When I asked for the trot again, Sydney was very anxious and tried running around the circle, but since I knew what he needed, I went back to the outside rein exercise until he was listening to it. Within a minute or two, we got several right lead canter departures that were relatively calm and correct. Then we called it a day. JL has a very good understanding of how these anxious OTTBs think. It's not that I am doing anything mean or horrible, it's just that Sydney needs to feel very safe and secure or he checks out and leaves the conversation. To the left, I know what I am doing (enough anyway) so he tries for me. I still need to figure out what he needs to the right. Once I can prove to him that I've got everything under control, these melt downs will be a thing of the past. As an interesting side note, Sydney was even tense in his stall after our Saturday ride. He kept nickering at me and asking for me to do something with him. I had a show on Sunday so I wasn't able to ride; only turn him out. I rode Speedy first on Monday, and even this upset Sydney. When our lesson was over, he had the most loving look on his face. He kept kissing my arms and neck and practically snuggled up to JL as we talked in the middle of the ring. He is a much happier horse when he feels that all is right with his world. It definitely motivates me to be the best rider that I can be. One last thing … I am officially on summer break this afternoon (hallelujah!). To celebrate, we are headed to the cabin for the weekend so I won't see you until Monday. Have a great weekend! 6/1/2014 11:00:59 am
I don't know if he loves me or not, but he certainly likes me. :0) 6/1/2014 11:03:38 am
I may not be able to manage it consistently, but at least I've figured out how to fix the problem. The trick is to be straight: he can't be over bent to the inside, but he also can't be counter bent. Who but a horse person would be so obsessed with the concept of straightness? And you;re right, nothing can be accomplished without being on that outside rein! :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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