Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
For starting out the season feeling woefully unprepared, Speedy and I did pretty well in the awards category. We've already received some of the goodies from our various "wins," but others will take longer to get here. In mid-October, we attended my CDS chapter's awards banquet. The Tehachapi Mountain Chapter might be small, but they put on a great summer series of CDS-rated shows with generous awards. At the banquet, Speedy and I were named the 2018 Second Level Adult Amateur Champion. Last year, I kept track of points, working towards winning TMC's First Level Championship; we ended up Reserve. While I was maybe a bit disappointed - come one, who doesn't like to win? - placing second in that year's Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) felt like a win enough that I was really happy being reserve. This year, as green as we started at Second Level, I didn't think we had a chance at winning this year's RAAC or TMC's Second Level Championship. To win both at Second Level felt pretty good. No one gives a speech when receiving their award at the TMC Awards Banquet- no one wants to sit there that long, but if I could have, I would have thanked my trainer, Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. I think there are a lot of trainers who wouldn't have let me make the move to Second Level out of fear of me making them look bad. I get it. My performance is a direct reflection of my trainer's teaching and coaching skills. Especially so when I use her logo on my saddle pad and walk around with her logo bedazzled on the back of my shirt. I am a walking billboard for Symphony Dressage; she needs me to represent. Even though we didn't get any 70% scores this year, I know that because of her teaching and coaching, she turned a First Level horse and rider into a confirmed Second Level team. And under her experienced eye, I know she's going to get Team Speedy ready for Third Level and a Bronze Medal. Doing well for myself is always on my mind, but the truth is that I want to do well for her. I have so much respect for Chemaine's teaching that I want to be the student that showcase's her talent as a trainer and coach.
Thank goodness that she's okay with me just being mediocre.
Jamie
10/24/2018 07:38:13 am
Congratulations, that is so cool! You should be so proud of yourself & Speedy!! :D 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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