Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
The first change is in the weather, thank God. Our afternoons were in the mid-70s this week instead of the 90s, but that's not what I mean. Since we came back from the show at SCEC two weeks ago, Izzy has been different. Better. More relaxed. Almost - dare I say it? Confident. Of course that didn't happen overnight, and maybe it has been there longer than I've recognized, but I am seeing it now. It's not like he's now bold and fearless because he's not, but I can honestly feel that he is looking to me for his cues about how to behave. He was really good this week. And it wasn't just that he wasn't spooking - that has sometimes been my criteria for good, he actually responded to my questions. The one in particular was the question, can you give me more? As in more energy, more stride, more bounce. And he answered with a yes. It happened first in the leg yield. He was really doggin' it, so it I said come one, dude, move it. He saluted smartly and said yes ma'am. Then it happened in the shoulder-in. Then in crossing the diagonal. There was just that feeling of a little extra impulsion and bounce. Sean Cunningham, owner and trainer at STC Dressage, has been telling me for more than a year that it was going to happen if I kept asking. Besides just asking though, Sean has said it 12,000 times if he has said it once - trust him. Don't throw away the reins, but give just a little more when he's doing things right. Well, he did, I did, and he answered correctly.
This is a very good change. 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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