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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

The "Un-Bucket" List

1/3/2014

 
Today is my birthday. I don't have a wish list. There are a few things that I'd like, of course, but really, I am good. I live an unbelievably blessed life and feel that I have gifts enough in my adorable husband, goofy dog, and 
super awesome horses.

Mary Baker Eddy says in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more."
Here are 50 equestrian things I am grateful to have already done.
  1. I've owned many horses (quarter horse, Arabians, Welsh/Morgan).
  2. I raised a foal from birth to two-year old.
  3. I've ridden 100 miles in a single day (5 times, actually).
  4. I've swum with my horses in the river (on their backs and holding onto their tails).
  5. I've galloped on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean.
  6. I've been Fox Hunting.
  7. I rode for a week in Ireland.
  8. I've owned horse property.
  9. I've galloped bareback, a lot.
  10. I was a rodeo queen.
  11. I've ridden horses in the Canary Islands (Spain).
  12. I've held the reins of a carriage horse (in Seville, Spain) as it walked down the road.
  13. I've watched the Lipizzaners perform.
  14. I've ridden my horse in a parade.
  15. I rode my horse 200 miles in Death Valley.
  16. I've ridden in the moonlight, many times.
  17. I've ridden in the Redwood forests of Northern California.
  18. I've jumped a redwood log.
  19. I've hauled my gooseneck trailer through Los Angeles's traffic.
  20. I've bought a brand new saddle.
  21. I've bought a really nice dressage saddle.
  22. I've shown in a championship class and won.
  23. I've won TWO coolers.
  24. I've ridden a horse in Belize.
  25. I've ridden a horse in Scotland.
  26. I've been horse camping (too many times to count, actually).
  27. I've helped euthanize two horses. One was mine (not too grateful about that).
  28. I've had two of my horses die (not too grateful for that either, but it was a part of horse ownership that taught me a lot).
  29. I've bought a few horses.
  30. I've sold a few horses.
  31. I've had a couple of free horses.
  32. I've given away a horse.
  33. I've had lessons from an international trainer.
  34. I've won three neck ribbons, although one was for eighth place.
  35. I've "ridden" a HUGE draft horse. He belonged to a friend who used him to pull her carriage (she just led me around on him).
  36. I've been to the horse races.
  37. I've been to Craig Cameron's Extreme Cowboy Race.
  38. I've seen Julie Goodnight, John Lyons, Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli, and a few others do their thing in person. 
  39. I've bred a horse.
  40. I've earned my USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award.
  41. I've been the Introductory Level Champion of a California Dressage Society chapter.
  42. I won a dressage pad from Riders4Helmets for a story I wrote.  
  43. I've ridden in the snow (which is hard to do in California).
  44. I've ridden endurance rides in a halter.
  45. I've competed in nearly 80 AERC Endurance races.
  46. I've seen (and touched) the Budweiser Clydesdales.
  47. I saw the broadway version of War Horse at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angels.
  48. I've owned TWO living quarters horse trailers (the first one was stolen).
  49. I've bought hay by the ton.
  50. I own an OTTB who was imported from New Zealand.

There are certainly other things that I hope to do some day (go to Churchill Downs to see the Derby in Person, ride in other countries, better my riding, etc.), but it's hard to ask for more. I have truly been blessed in this life. 

How about you? Are you grateful for the good you've already received? Do you have a list of things you've been blessed to do? Share it!
Hannah link
1/2/2014 11:20:00 pm

Happy birthday! That is a pretty awesome list.

I...don't really keep a horsey bucket list? I've already been led to some pretty neat places unexpectedly; I plan for a specific horse and period of time, but beyond that I figure I will just hang on for the ride.

I feel awfully lucky to have been able to do a long-format event, and constantly surprised to have a horse at all. And I am grateful for every ride on (and with) my friend.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:34:54 pm

Thank you, and me neither! I have found that cool stuff just seems to find me; I don't need a list! It might be because I am very open to new adventures. I am fearless when it comes to trying something new. (more fear associated with the tried and true)

Lauren link
1/2/2014 11:51:12 pm

I looooooooooove this idea! You've accomplished a lot :) I might steal it and do a post on the future, because in the constant drive to improve it really is nice to take a minute and be thankful for what you have done!

Lauren link
1/3/2014 03:58:30 am

I got so distracted by your great list that I forgot to say... Happy Birthday!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:37:34 pm

Thank you, Lauren! I know you're working on a list. I hope you get through as many as possible this year. :0)

And please, post your own "un-bucket" list. I hope more riders will do so. Having dreams and goals is AWESOME, but stopping to value what we've done is well, valuable. :0)

Tracy link
1/3/2014 12:26:02 am

I love this! It's cool some of the things we've both done: #13, #20, #23, #28 (although, only 1), #36 and #46!

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:39:41 pm

A lot of commonalities for sure. That's why I love the blogosphere; it's great to feel so connected! :0)

Kelly link
1/3/2014 02:37:34 am

Happy Birthday! And great blog post idea - your list is amazing :) I am feeling blessed that I will get to attend Rolex this year - and be able to walk over to it from my job.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:41:07 pm

OMG - wouldn't that be AWESOME!!!!!!! I live in a very centrally located place, but that means that everything is JUST two hours away. Nice, but not walking nice. :0)

Sarah link
1/3/2014 02:39:49 am

Happy Birthday, and AWESOME list of horsey-have-dones.

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:42:17 pm

Thanks, Sarah. I hope I get another 50 to add to the list. And BTW - my 14 photos are done and ready to go - FUN stuff! :0)

Amanda link
1/3/2014 11:57:34 am

Happy Birthday! That is an amazing list. You've done some seriously cool things and I can see why you have a lot to be thankful for!

(On a semi-unrelated note, and in a fun coincidence, I wrote an article about Mary Baker Eddy's horses for my old job. It's online here: http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/collections/research/objects/item/horses. You may be interested in reading it, I had fun researching it.)

Bakersfield Dressage link
1/3/2014 12:14:59 pm

That was a VERY interesting article. Thank you so much for sharing! I never doubted that Mrs. Eddy did things the "right" way, but to hear that her horses were treated so well is a real treat. I loved the article.

Again, I feel very blessed in life (MBE's writings are part of the reason why), and know that I have been fortunate. :0)

Amanda link
1/4/2014 01:24:43 am

I'm glad you enjoyed it! There were so many wonderful stories about the horses in the archives. I could've written three times as much. One of my first big projects was doing the research behind a carriage exhibit and I kept pulling more and more about her horses on the side. I also went through the entire collection of harness leather with a curator and identified each piece for the catalog records - gorgeous, custom black leather with stylized "E" mongrams in metal on each point. Getting a call to do some more work with those collections was always a highlight of my day!


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    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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