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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Well ... Crap!

8/19/2011

 
There was a blog post this morning.  Honest.  And it was actually a good one.  I published it.  It's not here. What happened?

Did you catch yesterday's post?  If not, scroll down a bit.  I blogged about being stressed out and busy now that I am back to work.  And already today, I proved that to be true.  Here's what happened.

I couldn't make it to the barn on Thursday.  I felt guilty.  I woke up at 5:05 a.m. on Friday, threw my barn clothes on, and was at the barn by 5:15.  The 5:00 a.m. visit was due to the fact that I had a second obligation on Friday evening which meant no barn visit again.  Two days in a row just felt unacceptable.  

It was dark, but the arena and wash rack lights were on so I could see well enough.  I turned Speedy G out.  He clearly needed it because he did some big gallops with some equally big bucks thrown.  Those were just to keep me from feeling too relaxed.  When he was finishing up with his last gallops, I went to get Sydney. Speedy was then tied to the rail and Sydney had his turn to run amok.  He must have needed it as well as he did quite a few cork-screwy maneuvers.  I was forced to squint so I wouldn't have to see the impending wreck. Both boys came out unscathed.

I cleaned their stalls, fixed them an early pre-breakfast lunch, and added all necessary and appropriate fly protection.  I left the barn at 6:23 with both boys resting happily after their morning work out. 

I raced home and showered.  I logged onto the website, found today's post, hit publish ... except I didn't, gobbled down some breakfast, packed a quick lunch, and made it to work by 7:15 a.m.  Sometime during the day I checked for the blog post and saw yesterday's post.  I hit refresh.  Nothing.  And then I realized what I had done.  Instead of hitting publish, I hit delete.  Well ... crap!

So ... here's an abbreviated version of the blog post.
Picture
Riders4Helmets recently ran a contest asking for helmet stories. My story was chosen as a top winner.  My prize?  This super nice, embroidered dressage pad.  Thank you, Riders4Helmets!  To see the complete list of winners, click here. To see my entry, click here.

I promise the original post was more interesting.  Sorry about that!  Please check back tomorrow - I have a good post ready to go that includes a video of JL (newest trainer) schooling Sydney.  It's worth a peek!

Val
8/20/2011 05:39:56 am

Karen,

That story was unnerving! My goodness. I am certainly glad that you are okay.

Great saddle pad!

~Val

Karen Sweaney
8/20/2011 09:20:39 am

Val - it was quite the scary day. It was many months before I lost that tense feeling that comes when you ride with fear. It didn't happen all at once. Every once in a while I would find myself smiling while riding. That's when I would notice that I wasn't afraid. After several months I would only be tense and nervous in what I perceived to be scary places on the trial. And even that fear slowly began to subside. By spring I was finally riding with no fear again. It was quite a relief to let go. Fear is a heavy burden.

Maybe that's one reason my riding position has improved over the last six months! As I let go of the fear, I must have started to sit taller and deeper. Riding with fear must have made me clench my knees and "hunch" forward.

In any case, the helmet no doubt prevented a much more serious injury. I think riders4helmets is doing a great job making helmets a "cool" thing to wear. If you haven't checked out their site, you should give it a peek. They post all kinds of interesting bits.


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.
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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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    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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Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
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    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
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