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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

The Second Test

8/28/2012

 
Since Speedy was seriously wound up after the first test, I took him back to the warm up where I planned to canter him for the full 15 minutes that I had before needing to be back in the show arena.  We cantered to the left for a long, long time.  It definitely helped.  He got softer and softer and finally quit plowing through my hand.  Although he was slightly hollow, we did earn a 6 on the second test for the left lead canter so I must have been right about Speedy's need to work some of his tension out.

After working on the left lead canter, I started to work to the right.  At this point, all hell broke loose.  I became one of those riders that trainers warn about in the warm up ring.  To those who were trying to warm up, I offer my sincerest apology.  I know that we were scary to be around, and I hope that I didn't mess up your own warm up.

Every time I asked for the right lead canter, Speedy either gave an enormous kick/buck, or he dove to the inside, or he did a combination of things.  He was throwing an all out temper tantrum.  Each time he blew a gasket, I slammed the breaks on, and asked again.  I would get one semi-decent canter transition for three ugly ones.  Before I knew it, my fifteen minutes were up and I had to report to the show arena.  Crap.

As I stood at the gate waiting to go in, I had a panic attack.  I simply couldn't remember the test.  Speedy's shenanigans had me pretty flustered. After my first season of showing, I decided that memorizing my tests was the only way I could be successful as I always travel alone and don't have a reader at the ready.  On this day, flying solo was not going to to the trick.  

To no one in particular, I simply said, I need a reader after all.  Several ladies looked in my direction.  They must have had some sort of show down in the eye meets eye duel, because one of them clearly lost.  She asked which test I was riding and looked genuinely sorry when she said she didn't have a copy.  I pulled my Winnie Widget out of my pocket and handed it to her.  We both talked through the test; she was trying to learn it while I was trying to get my brain moving again.  

The second lady, the winner of the eye duel, kept telling me to just breathe and remember that it was one simple test and no big deal.  She shared her own earlier problems with her own horse and reminded me again and again to breathe and relax.  By the time I went through the gate, I was smiling and laughing at the whole thing.  I greeted the judge who also smiled very good-naturedly.  It's been more than two years since someone has read the test to me.  I would not have made it though without her.  Thank you, Kind Soul!

Our trot up the centerline, always our best movement, earned a 6.5 and our first loop to the left also earned a 6.5.  I could feel that we were on a track for a solid ride.  Our left lead canter earned a 6, as did the canter circle at B. In this test, the rider circles at B, but then continues on past C to H where she has to cross the diagonal returning to trot at X.  We haven't done much work on this movement, so I wasn't surprised by the 5.5 or the judge's comments.  This is an area we need to work on.

Our medium walked earned a 6.5 as did our free walk.  The single loop to the right earned a 6 which is a solid score especially since we've only done it twice.

The next section of the test cost us many, many points.  For the right lead canter, Speedy threw a wild fit.  He bucked, kicked, and refused to pick up the canter.  We earned a 3.  Once I did get a canter, it was on the wrong lead so I brought him back to trot and asked for the departure again.  The second time he actually picked up a decent canter, but it was too late for a good score: 4.5.  However, our downward transition to trot after those shenanigans earned a solid 6.  I felt it was a good recovery.

Training Level Test 3 saves the stretchy trot for the very end.  We scored another 4.  Halfway through the trot, which was nothing like stretchy, he hopped into a right lead canter, SERIOUSLY - this is when you canter??????.  I am quite sure the judge should have been harsher in his score.  I was grateful for the 4.

After failing at the stretchy trot, I set my eyes on nailing the trot up the centerline.  I know we do this well, or at least better than anything else, so I positioned us for the best score possible.  The judge rewarded our effort with a 7 and the comment, straight.

We scored a dismal 55.800%, 10.5 points shy of a 60%.  The right lead canter depart has a coefficient of 2.  Earning a 3 there really hurt our score, as did the 4.5 for the canter circle.  I am trying hard to look at the movements separately rather than the overall score.  We goofed in only three movements.  The rest of the test was very satisfactory.

I keep reminding myself, my goal is improvement, not perfection!

Here is the score sheet.  Click to enlarge.
Val
8/27/2012 11:42:15 pm

Not dismal, Karen. You had lots of respectable scores with a few missed moments and you ended on a very strong note with that 7!

I cannot resist suggesting that you try softening your shoulders into the canter transition. This does not mean throw the reins away (although he may need a longer rein, too, if he wanted to canter nicely when offered to stretch). My teacher has done a lot of work with me in letting my shoulders go. The shoulder blades of the rider must be down and relaxed, not squeezed together or raised, which blocks the horse. I have not mastered this, but I can feel the difference it makes when I can let my shoulder blades stay down. It is so easy to hold tension there when I am concentrating and this raises them. An aloof horse may just refuse to canter, while a sensitive horse will express his frustration. I own one of those too, by the way. ;)

Kelly link
8/28/2012 03:15:46 am

I like Val's suggestion about relaxing/softening the shoulders - esp the description to relax the shouder blades down

It was one test and you had many good portions/movements to be proud of. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!


Karen
8/28/2012 11:09:18 am

Thanks, Kelly. I am pretty brave about asking strangers (at shows anyway) for help. I know I am always willing to help someone out so I figure they probably are too. :0)

Karen
8/28/2012 11:08:11 am

Thanks for the support, Val, and for the suggestion. I'll run it by my trainer tomorrow. I actually took Speedy for an extra lesson last night, but I asked my trainer to ride him so that we could figure out what was causing the fuss at the canter, especially to the right.

JL rode him and remarked at how soft he wants to be. Since he is lazy behind, I've had to really whoa the front end. She rode him with spurs which really got his end moving. Once he was listening to her leg, he got really soft up front. I will be schooling in spurs in the future. She got buck free canters although they weren't pretty.

I hopped on him afterward and changed a few things. With her spurs on, I was able to get him much lighter in front as well. For the canter, she had me just sit very still and SLOWLY add my outside leg. She said he wants to canter, but he is getting pissed at too much leg which is the reason for the bucking and kicking out. I finally got a few transitions that weren't pretty, but at least they were forward. We'll work on it again at our Wednesday lesson. I'll be sure to ask about my shoulders.

Angela
8/29/2012 02:46:53 am

Great advice from Val; I don’t think I’ve ever focused on my shoulder blades. But now, I think they might be a factor in some of my own issues. Relaxing my shoulder blades is something I’m going to practice today!
Karen, I admire both your spirit and your un-inhibited nature; you got the job done, which is something else I can definitely learn from :). Sorry I didn’t stick around, but I was just spent with it being my first show and all (and a bit overwhelmed). However, after reading this post, I have also realized the importance of being able to listen to the test and process the test while riding! This is something I think I should start practicing immediately, because you never know when it might all go blank. Practicing reading the test and gaining confidence to step in for someone else, seems like a good idea too!!! Great lessons – again. Thanks for sharing.

Karen
8/29/2012 11:09:51 pm

Angela - I write to help myself process what happens at lessons, shows, and even when I ride on my own. I am always glad if what I write starts a discussion, or if it gives someone a new way of thinking about something, myself included.

I think you give me too much credit though! :0)


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I 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.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy 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.
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    Izzy 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.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
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