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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

The Struggle is Real - Part 2

5/31/2018

 
Before you go thinking that Part 2 must have a comeback story, it doesn't. In fact, we scored even worse than on the first test. Two things to note however - 1) I had never Ridden test 3 all the way through, only its individual parts, and 2) both my trainer and I felt that I did a much better job regardless what the score says.
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10-meter circle.
Before the ride recap, which isn't going to be that exciting anyway unless you love the number 5, I want to share a super quick story. I've told you this first part about 900 times, but here it is again (make it 901).

I rode my first dressage test just a week or two after an endurance ride. Speedy and I started at Introductory Level. Having already competed in endurance racing for nearly two decades, it was tough going back to beginner status. I desperately wanted to be successful and felt that getting to Training Level was where it was at. Forget about First Level; I knew I'd never make it there. Second Level was home to the Big Dogs. I felt guilty even breathing their air. 
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Trying to be a medium trot.
The way the dressage court is situated at the Bear Valley Equestrian Center, most people wander back and forth between the court and the show office. To get to the arena, riders have to pass through this back and forth traffic. Speedy loves it as he is always surrounded by what he considers his peeps. 

A very nice woman walked up to us and wanted to chat. She was very complimentary as she stroked Speedy's face. During our conversation, she said something like, I ride, but I'll never be as good as those of you riding at Second Level. Imagine my embarrassment. I spluttered, didn't you just see my test? If I can make it to Second Level I told her, ANYONE can!

The lesson for me is that Grand Prix riders put on their underwear just like I do. And for those of you who feel like everyone else is doing it better; they're not. Okay, maybe some of them are, but they have their bad days too.
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Collected trot. Looking kind of fancy!
After the first test, Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables, insisted that I ride with a whip and get after Speedy each and every time he tried to drop behind the bit and leave his hind end trailing.
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The moment just before the canter.
I am not sure the judge liked a single moment of this test other than when we turned to leave the arena. Fifteen of the twenty-seven scores were 5.5 or lower. She even found creative ways to criticize. Her comment on our final halt, too many short steps into halt. It felt like she was really digging for a negative thing to say. Her favorite word was "too". He was either too deep, too shallow, too constrained, or too high.
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A very dramatic transition!
I am not suggesting that the judge was wrong, but it felt as though she had made up her mind about us after the first test. I feel like judging can be done in at least two ways. First, some judges look to reward your good moments. Other judges take a more negative view looking to penalize your bad moments. On this day, it felt like we had more of the latter.
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Counter canter
In all probability, it's just a case of sour grapes. I didn't get a good score so the judge must be mean. I don't think so though. Our final score was a 55.122%. At least I know what we need to work on. Here's the video.
Our next show is in two weeks. It's another two-day USDF show. We'll see how it goes!
Sean
5/31/2018 08:16:46 am

Awesome camera work!! 😁

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/31/2018 11:01:02 am

HAHAHA! It was actually. :0)

Karen
5/31/2018 08:48:33 am

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but I had a judge at second level this season call me up to the booth and say, "This is a fabulous horse, you really need to find a better rider for him." And of course it was heard by everybody. Good times!

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/31/2018 11:05:15 am

Holy crap! Are you kidding?!?!?! That was HORRIBLE!!!!
I am so critical and hard on myself, but when it comes to everyone else, I am their biggest cheerleader. I genuinely want other riders to do well, and when they don't, I realize that it's not for lack of trying. None of us is out to do a half-assed job. If the ride is less than stellar, we can all find something encouraging to say. We can only do our best and the horses don't care if we ride at 2nd or intro as long as we treat them well.

Sheesh ... sorry about that. :0/

Jan link
5/31/2018 09:16:34 am

Behind the vertical, poll not the highest point, croup high are highly punishable offenses at second/third level because they show the horse isn't connected, through, or lifting their shoulders in the "low" moments of each gait. I've gotten my fair share of them because Penn enjoys being "down" so much. It was a lot of work in forward, self carriage, and finding my own seatbone connection to fix it.

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/31/2018 11:06:44 am

Believe me, I know. We're working on it, and my trainer told me that this is my biggest homework - getting Speedy working more off his hind end. We'll get there. :0)

Sarah W link
5/31/2018 10:05:30 am

Can I just say that your final halt was SUPER!

I'm not sure how a judge scores at 2nd level because I've never made it past training but holy cow, if you do such a lovely test and get those scores, there's NO hope for Dassah and I. Guess we'll stick to eventing...

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/31/2018 11:10:47 am

Thanks, Sarah, that's really kind. I think it was scored a tad bit low, but I am biased. LOL

Speedy has a way of making things look "easy" in that he doesn't resist in dramatic ways. So if you're just watching, it's easy to overlook the quality of his movements. Picky judges see it while kinder judges are taken in a bit by his overall submissiveness.

Regarding eventing, you've got me beat! I am too afraid to hop over anything other than small ditches, small poles, small anything! LOL

Tracy link
6/1/2018 09:19:30 am

I can sympathize with this! Some days it seems the judge loves you and maybe you're 100% sure why. Others, they just seem to hate you -- such is the nature of subjective judging! But I also remember that for as many times as I felt like I didn't get the ribbon I deserved , I've placed better than I felt like I deserved. It all seems to somehow even out in the end!

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/1/2018 01:38:58 pm

I think it does too, but I am going to be s lot more appreciative of higher scores whether deserved or not. :0)

Val
6/1/2018 12:31:46 pm

That counter canter serpentine is no joke! You did a great job with it.

I think sometimes judges score more harshly if the test is a higher number, like they are really starting to look for the requirements of the next level. You and Speedy have already come so far. You will get there. :)

Bakersfield Dressage link
6/1/2018 01:18:39 pm

Someone else just said that as well. This is the first time that I’ve had that experience. I am definitely going to be talking to my trainer about it. And thanks. CC was hard at first, but we both finally understand how to ride it. Mostly anyway. LOL


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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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  • 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
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