Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
You all know how much I adore Speedy G. The dude is awesome. In case you don't know our story, here it is in three sentences. I took my six-year-old endurance horse to a dressage show to see if we liked the sport (we did). I've trained himself with the help of lots of lessons. We're now showing Second Level on Sunday. We did an endurance ride on June 5, 2010. Three weeks later, we went to our first dressage show where we earned 63.5% at both introductory A and B. It was the first show either of us had ever done. Speedy doesn't always do it with a smile, but when he's cranky, it's never dirty or without cause. He really does try to figure out what is expected of him. Right now, he knows I want a simple change which means he keep trying to give it to me ALL THE TIME. This is great except that I only need a simple change twice in Second Level Test 1.
The other problem we're having is in the counter canter to walk. He figured out really fast that changing the bend at the counter canter means that a walk transition is coming next. So, to save me a whole of trouble, he decided to start giving me the walk as soon as I changed the bend. Doh! Even though I don't practice the test from start to finish, he's figured it out and is anticipating all of my requests before I can even get the words out. To say the test is going to be interesting is an understatement. The good thing is that I won't get the comment late.
martina peterson
3/15/2018 11:40:42 am
Karen, what an interesting blog. I didn,t realize that horses could really anticipate manuvers like Speedy does. I always thought they did the required moves solely based upon YOUR commands It's pretty cool that you can be one with your horse and that they truly want to please you. You look so awesome seated upon speedy. Love mom
Val
3/16/2018 03:08:32 am
Speedy is so cute and spry in those photos! 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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