Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
That is the question ... We're finally getting some winter-like weather here in the southern part of the central valley of California. We have had the mildest fall ever. I am still riding in long sleeve tops with no jacket! Thursday's high was supposed to be 54℉ with a low of 41℉. Friday is supposed to be cooler with a high of 52℉ and a low of 37℉. We're also having a little rain and a lot of humidity. For us, this is winter; it's doesn't get too much colder than this. I am not a fan of blanketing. Instead, I keep my ponies with a full winter coat. I tend to go with what nature intended as often as possible. It's not that I think there is anything wrong with blanketing, I just don't. Well, not very often that is. I have more blankets than I can count, most of which are from my endurance years. I always blanket away from home since it's almost always colder elsewhere, but our barn is very snug, our winters very mild, and horses have a built in apparatus for warming themselves. A few years ago, Montoya got hung up in her blanket and injured herself enough that she was out of competition for almost a year. She ultimately healed, but it reinforced my no need to blanket creed. Speedy has been blanketed twice this season after getting pretty sweaty during his Monday night lessons. I don't like to put him away wet and naked. If he's damp, he gets blanketed until the next morning. On Thursday night, I finally caved and tossed blankets on both my boys. I told our barn owner to leave them on during the day since it's not going to be any warmer. This way she won't have to put them back on tonight. We're going to Hubby's work party so I can't get to the barn to blanket myself. Click photos to enlarge, especially since they're so good! I think they'll be happier, but believe it or not, I won't be. I'll worry all day. Are they too warm? Are they tangled up? Is someone feeling claustrophobic? This is all silly as both boys have worn blankets many times before. They probably like the damn things and wonder why I deprive them all winter. Sometimes I ask myself the same question. Next week's weather is supposed to be just like yesterday's, only slightly cooler.
To blanket or not ...
I have Riva blanketed most all the time, since I had her body clipped. Only a question of the light, medium, or heavy weight. Our retired TB only gets blanketed in extreme cold, though.
Karen
12/14/2012 10:07:57 pm
Naked horses need blankets for sure!
Val
12/14/2012 09:42:26 pm
I made the decision to blanket Harley last year for the winter months. He is not clipped and has a thick coat, so I use a medium weight blanket only at night and then during the day when the winter is at its coldest. I started blanketing him last year in December, but it hasn't been that cold here yet, so I am waiting. I do not really like to blanket until the temperatures are below freezing. My vet says that she worries more about horses getting overheated from heavy blankets than she does from them being too cold.
Karen
12/14/2012 10:09:55 pm
I really don't like to blanket - neither horse wore one EVER last year. For horses that are clipped, hard keepers, old, etc. - theI think blanketing is necessary. But both my boys and round and sassy with THICK coats and they live in a comfy barn. I HATE to think of them being hot - I would go insane if I couldn't take my coat off! 12/14/2012 11:42:56 pm
You're missing one important point: blankets keep that long, nasty winter hair CLEAN. Huge timesaver.
Karen
12/14/2012 11:58:28 pm
That would be true for us except that we don't have long nasty winter! :0) I do frequent leg and belly washes even during the winter. 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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