Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I was recently accused of being a bit of a Negative Nelly of late. I would agree. In my defense however, I have been particularly worried about this upcoming show. I really, really hate to do poorly. Just recently, I heard Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR crew chief, put it this way: we hate losing more than we love winning. Yep, me, too. I get it though. Life is too short to spend all of my time worrying about how well my horse can perform a simple change. Once we get that mastered, there's the flying change to worry about. After that, there's something else. In the spirit of not obsessing over simple changes and counter canter, I thought I'd remind myself how truly awesome my gray pony really is. In 2012, just two years after our leap into dressage, Speedy and I were Introductory Level Champions at the California Dressage Society's (CDS) Central Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC). The year before, we were the Ventura County Chapter of CDS's Introductory Level Champion. The next year, we were the year-end Training Level Champions at El Sueno Equestrian Center. In 2014, we were once again RAAC champions, this time at Training Level. At the 2017 Central Region RAAC, we earned Reserve Champion for First Level. It wasn't a blue neck ribbon, but I couldn't be prouder of that red ribbon. We worked really hard and were up against some great horse and rider teams. Since we started showing dressage in 2010 - our first show was three weeks after a 55-mile endurance ride, we've earned a Show High Point score seven times! We've earned the season average high point twice (for two different CDS chapters) and been reserve champion once. We've also earned five scores in the 70s, three of which were at USDF shows. Three of the scores were at Intro Level, but two of them were at Training. I don't care at what level they were earned. I'll take a 70% any day of the week. Speedy is truly an awesome horse. His heart is huge, and he just keeps on getting better. What I enjoy most about riding him is how consistent he continues to be. He shows up at every show always ready to perform and do his best.
Why would our debut at Second Level be any different? 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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