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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Yet Another Intro C Test

7/2/2013

 
And this one was (nearly) as bad as all the rest. That doesn't mean I am unhappy with it though. I am actually quite proud of my Kiwi from Down Under. I asked a lot from him this Sunday and he stepped up to the plate.

The first difficult thing that I asked of him was to load up in the trailer in the near dark at 5:30 in the morning. He didn't exactly barge past me to load up, but it didn't take much to convince him that yes, I really did want him to step on.

It's a two hour drive to the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. It's a steep climb on California's busiest freeway. It's loud, and since my load is pretty big, I am required to take the truck bypass lanes which means the vehicles traveling around me are, well, trucks. Big, loud, long trucks. Sydney rode quietly and even ate half the hay in the bag.

When we pulled in, he unloaded politely, although he quickly realized that we were parked away from the action of the barns and arenas and quickly became anxious. I've dealt with anxious endurance horses, and they can be a serious pain in the butt. Sydney's version of anxious is to call loudly, listen for a reply, take a few steps to the left, grab some hay, and repeat.
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A little worried, but not raising too much of a dust cloud.
I did have to leave him on his own for a few minutes to check in and get our number, and I could hear his plaintive calls from quite a distance, but as soon as I was back in sight, he quieted down. I've had several horses that behave that way. Once they trust that I will return, they develop confidence and are fine on their own.  Sydney's getting there.

No point in making a novel out of a crappy test so I'll keep it brief. To Sydney's credit, he actually "warmed up," meaning that we could walk, trot, and canter without any wild shenanigans. If you've been following his progress this year you know that's an improvement.

The test itself rode much like the few before. He was tense, but he was also listening and trying very hard. Even when he was disobedient (check out movement 12 down below) he got over it and came right back to me. Even when he reared and whirled at A, he halted calmly as I reached down to pat his neck. (The audience sits at A at this dressage court and when he whirled and reared, they gave a collective gasp and deep sigh when I got his feet back on the ground).

I suspect that my showing confidence is really growing because I feel no pressure to hind my corrections from the judge or audience. This was a schooling show so I felt perfectly comfortable stopping his forward movement before it got out of control. In movement 7, the judge commented that he was running, cantered, and halted. The halt was me saying no faster, let's regroup.

What I learned from this test, which is really the same problem we've had at each show, is that since he is so tense, the canter work puts him over the edge. You can read what the judge said at the first canter, "some resistance in transition, problems on canter circle."

After the test was over, I went back to the warm up and CANTERED. A lot. It was hot, but he needed to release the energy. I finally figured out that he was negatively anticipating the canter cue. When I asked for the canter transition this time, I asked with as quiet an aid as possible. And then we cantered and trot. Cantered and trot. Cantered and walked. Canter spiral in, canter spiral out. We cantered so much that eventually he picked up the canter when I thought the word canter. 

Here's the score sheet for Introductory Test C (a lot of 4s!). Tomorrow, the Training Level Test. Not to give away too much, but we rocked it! 
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It's funny that even though we're bringing in some seriously low scores, I feel more successful on Sydney than I do when riding Speedy G.
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The judge was really encouraging and understood exactly what was going on. I appreciated that fact that she just didn't assume I was a crappy rider.
Sandra
7/2/2013 05:06:21 am

Well done! Sounds like a successful ride!

Karen
7/2/2013 09:24:41 am

Scores wouldn't confirm it, but I know he's getting it. Thanks! :0)

Lauren link
7/2/2013 07:55:52 am

I feel like you could give me lessons with my own horse and show anxiety after you've come so far with Sydney :)

Karen
7/2/2013 09:57:27 am

You know, Lauren, I've been trying to figure out WHY I feel so good about how Sydney is doing. The best I can figure is that I've been riding Arabs for a long time. They become your family which means EVERY naughty thing they do is PERSONAL. Speedy PISSES me off, and I get mad. I've depended on judges to gauge our progress rather than how I feel. Mostly because I am PISSED at him so much of the time.

With Sydney, the dynamic is totally different. I just realized today that when he "talks" to me, he calls me "nice lady" - no family connection. I don't take ANY of his resistance personally. It's easy to "help" him as I know that he is genuinely nervous and NEEDS ME to help guide him. My Arabs, and particularly Speedy, need me for food and providing adoration. That's IT. Since Sydney isn't my "child," his behavior doesn't reflect poorly on me like when my other "child" is a jerk.

Weird way of explaining my total lack of nervousness while showing, but there it is. And don't misread. I ADORE Sydney and find that I love him more each day. I just don't feel anxious about showing him. I know that doesn't help anyone else to deal with their show anxiety, but there it is. :0)

Austen link
7/3/2013 01:04:54 am

This is so funny, because that's feeling of taking naughty behavior personally is something I fight with. My tb is very much a one person pony, so when he lets me down (usually through nervousness or a distracted moment) it hurts. Working on controlling those emotions is really tough, but knowing the nervousness is something I can help (through reestablishing rhythm, taking off pressure, or soothing with voice) really makes a difference.

Interesting!

Karen
7/3/2013 01:54:23 am

I hear you, sister. I've been trying really hard to get over Speedy's naughtiness, but I just can't let it go. I seriously feel like he resists me because he can, so there! I know this can't be so, but it is such a hard feeling to surrender. I think he would get past many of his issues if I could be more objective about his behavior. But alas ... it just ain't so. :0)

When you find the solution with Guinness, please share it!


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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    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    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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    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    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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    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

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    National Rider Awards

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    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
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    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

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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
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home