Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

The Simulator

11/13/2012

 
So? How did the simulator go?

All I can so is wow, wow, wow! That was by far the best lesson money I have spent. If you live anywhere near Ventura, or you hear that Luke will be in your area, I strongly urge you to give him a try.

The Ventura County Chapter of CDS put on a really nice clinic. They had lunch both days, although I didn't stay on Sunday to eat, and all of the participants were super friendly. The clinic was held at Spirit Equestrian which is quite the lovely facility. Check out their website.

I snapped a few photos of the grounds on Sunday, but my photos don't do the place justice.
Picture
One of MANY barns on the property
Picture
We thought these outside runs were interesting.
Picture
One of the dressage courts - there were 8 mirrors!
Picture
A very nice hot walker.
I was in the afternoon session. Barbro Ask-Upmark started with a brief lecture explaining how Luke came to be and how he works. Since I was first, I tossed my saddle up and cinched him up. He has such a live presence that it was weird to cinch him up so matter-of-factly without worrying about pinching him.

The first part of the ride was simply about assessing the rider's balance. Barbro set Luke to walk, trot, and canter for one minute. My job was to sit like I normally do and hold the reins. There was no need to steer or use my legs. At the end of the minute, Barbro printed out my results so that I could see what I needed to work on.

Here's a photo of one of the other riders during her lesson.
Picture
Barbro on the left with Julia aboard Luke
My core proved to be pretty stable, but Barbro helped me lengthen my spine. The simulator also showed that my left leg is weaker than my right; my left hand is stronger than my right; and my right wrist is blocking the flow of energy.

During the first day, Barbro helped me with my pelvis position, rock it back, and had me work on taking a firmer hold of the reins, a necessity for establishing a good, steady contact which is an area I've really needed to work on. The second day we focused on contact and maintaining the contact while steering. I discovered that I hold the left rein too long in the turn.  

More tomorrow, including a video.
Angela
11/12/2012 11:10:48 pm

The clinic sounds amazing! I'm just awe-struck (if that's a word) that it could tell how your right wrist was blocking the flow of energy! I get how it can determine your balance and detect your weaker and stronger sides/limbs, but the flow of energy...Simply amazing!! I need to do this. Just one question. Did you post the cost? Perhaps, I missed it. If you are open to sharing the cost, I would love to know.
Thanks!
}

Karen
11/13/2012 10:38:00 am

It really was great, Angela. Tomorrow's post talks about the cost, but it was $180 for both days, $90 for a 45 minute lesson. I paid that same price to ride with Leslie Web so I think it's the going rate (or maybe less) for lessons with well-known instructors. I really want to go again this winter.

Kelly link
11/13/2012 02:36:14 am

The mirrors in that outdoor are great! I would love to do this clinic- has to be so enlightening. Looking forward to the video!

Karen
11/13/2012 10:39:00 am

They had several nice dressage arenas, at least three! It was a great clinic. I plan on going back for more rides with her - it was that good!

Sarah link
11/13/2012 09:37:01 am

Awesome! Didn't realize you were at Spirit (thought it was at El Sueno for some reason) - what a gorgeous facility. I got to board there for a few weeks after emergency evacuating following a mudslide down the road. Anyways, I'm so interested to hear more about your experience - I thought it was so overpriced but if its money well spent then I sure need to take a second look!

Karen
11/13/2012 10:41:56 am

Sarah - it would have been great to meet - next time for sure. I paid $90 a lesson to ride for 45 minutes with Leslie Web. I thought this was better for the same price. I can't afford to do this every week, but for an occasional thing, the money was totally worth it. My trainer LOVED the results she saw in me and is interested in going down to try it out for herself. I am going to write about my Monday lesson with her. She was really impressed with what I was able to learn in such a short time. :0)

If you have the money floating around, it's worth a try!

martina peterson
11/14/2012 08:12:23 am

I was curious to know that when you are on "Luke" do you look on the screen as if you are actually out riding

Karen
11/14/2012 09:18:02 pm

Hi Mom! It depended on what I was working on - if it was just balance, I watched the screen to see where I was off balance. The next day, I actually "rode" which was like those video games where you drive a race car. In front of me was a dressage court so I had to steer Luke around so that I didn't ride through the wall. It was pretty hard but also quite fun!


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.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    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.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    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
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home