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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Training Level Test 3 Debut

8/8/2012

 
Still in reverse order ...

I forget to mention how happy I was with Speedy when we got back from the show.  It was just getting full dark, but he really likes a quick turnout when he unloads from the trailer so I unloaded and walked him straight to the arena.  Speedy barely cleared the gate before he halted abruptly and took a good long pee.  Then he ambled for a bit before finding a deep, sandy place in which to roll.  Once in his stall, he took a HUGE drink of water, sighed deeply, and dug into his dinner. 

Wendy and Mea, the owners of the haflingers, were both very impressed with how quietly Speedy hung out at the trailer, even when he was left alone.  I am always impressed with how good he is at the trailer.  If he has a pal with him, forget it.  He's always best when he's alone.  Go figure.

I wasn't able to stay late enough to catch the rest of the training level and above tests or scores, but from what I saw from the Intro scores, this judge was a wee bit tough.  
Picture
Click photo to enlarge
I am okay with tough as I know I've been the recipient of give 'em a break scoring.  My score for test 3 though was even lower than I thought it should be.  I blew test 2, more about that tomorrow, but I felt like we were on fire for test 3 ... until the end that is.  If you'll remember, this was my first ever attempt at test 3, and I was feeling a bit nervous about the 1-loop serpentine.  I already have some issues with the canter departs and stretchy trot.  Throw in a tricky loop and you've got the recipe for a stink bomb. Not for us!  We scored a 7 for our very first loop and a 6 for the second one.  I should point out that the second loop followed our free walk which earned an 8!!!!!!!

And then things went to hell.  AGAIN.  We had a similar problem in Tehachapi last month.  Speedy picked up the canter between A & K (I thought it was going well) and then we circled at E.  Just as we were finishing the circle, he spooked at ... nothing ... and refused to canter forward to C.  Instead, he lunged right and we weaved back and forth until we got through the corner.  The judge gave him a .......... 2.  And since I COULD NOT get him to canter past that scary spot, we couldn't transition to trot at C, which we were already doing poorly, which earned us a 4.

After the debacle at the corner, I trot past the judge and ... you have to know what's coming.  I forgot where I was in the test.  I halted, took a breath, and remembered that I needed to do a stretchy trot at B.  Yeah, if we have trouble with that when I am prepared, imagine how awkward it was going to be at M knowing that I needed a stretch within just a stride or two. We didn't get it.  Score ... 4, with an additional 2 point deduction for going off course.

That whole section of the test cost us, at the very least, 8 points.  And my trot up the centerline, normally one of our strong points, earned a measly 5, another two points that I should have had easily.  Even with the really rough ending, I came out of the arena with a big smile.  Several people who watched the test said it looked perfect until the spook at the end.

The judge also liked most of the ride.  Here are her further remarks: "Good start.  Improved energy until disobedient at end.  Generally liked the trot work.  Improve [unclear] and lateral bending in canter work."

On the positive side, Speedy earned a 7 for gaits although he got nailed again for confidence, 5.  We also earned another 6 for our left lead canter and a 5 for the right.  Those scores are a definite improvement over the 4s we were earning earlier in the season.  When you check out the score sheets, down below, you'll see that from the start all the way through movement 9 that we were on track for a 60%.  Those last four movements got us though so we ended up with a 55.600%. 

My new motto, the rider's goal should be improvement, not perfection, was in play for the day.  I didn't beat myself up over the errors and in spite of some really awkward moments, I enjoyed myself immensely! 

Click images to enlarge.
Kelly RGF link
8/8/2012 05:39:20 am

I'm pretty sure it says 'improve ob' (as in obedience).

WELL DONE for your 8! Speedy does have some good stretch in him ... one day he'll get it in trot :o) He didn't really give himself a chance in that test. Those scores do look low ... it would be really interesting to watch a dressage show over there and see the similarities and differences to here.

Test 2 is building up to be quite a story, I'm anxious with anticipation!

Karen
8/9/2012 04:58:52 am

Thanks for the clarification, Kelly RGF. I think you're right about the "ob". At Wednesday's lessons we worked A TON on obedience. JL gave me some great exercises to keep control when he wants to shy or spook. I got to try them out today and we had a much more "obedient" ride.

It's not that he constantly spooks or anything, but when he does, it's big and he ignore me completely. JL gave me some techniques for keeping him between my aides. There is absolutely nothing that scary during a dressage test. It's not as though we're going to encounter a bear or other wild animal. He needs to listen to me even when he's spooked, especially if he's simply spooking at a shadow!

Do you think shows are that different from country to country? The Olympic tests look they could be happening right here. Although the stands are much fuller of course and the horses are a wee bit better than I am used to seeing in person. :0)

Kelly RGF link
8/9/2012 06:15:55 am

I always presumed the judging would be pretty much the same in different countries, but on the weekend just been we watched a few tests from the USDF's On The Levels at a judges clinic. Everyone was quite surprised at the high marks the judge on the DVD was giving. They were fairly consistently a mark above what the score would have been here. On the other hand, where the odd horse spooked or had a minor 'moment', the marks tumbled right down (to a 2 even, if I remember correctly). It could just be the particular judge in the video, of course, but it was interesting.

Clever Speedy ... he knows this dressage thing is hard work!

Karen
8/9/2012 06:23:27 am

Oh, you're right about the "On the Levels" DVDs. I love to watch them, but the judges always give higher marks than I think the rider will get. I WISH that's how our rides were actually judged. I have no idea what it's like in the rest of the country, but here in California, our judges give lower scores than what you might get if you were riding for the judges who do the "On the Levels" DVDs.

I did see several tests were the horse spooked, especially in the training level tests, but I don't remember it lowering the overall score by as much as I thought it would. I should watch them again this week to see. I saw the training level tests a few weeks ago, but I think a review would be good especially after this last show!

And yes, Speedy knows this is work. JL calls him a smart fart. You have to really get him on board. He doesn't volunteer or give anything away for free!

Kelly RGF link
8/9/2012 06:16:01 am

I always presumed the judging would be pretty much the same in different countries, but on the weekend just been we watched a few tests from the USDF's On The Levels at a judges clinic. Everyone was quite surprised at the high marks the judge on the DVD was giving. They were fairly consistently a mark above what the score would have been here. On the other hand, where the odd horse spooked or had a minor 'moment', the marks tumbled right down (to a 2 even, if I remember correctly). It could just be the particular judge in the video, of course, but it was interesting.

Clever Speedy ... he knows this dressage thing is hard work!


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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    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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    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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  • Home
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