tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post4237042696678235339..comments2023-05-27T11:53:06.487-04:00Comments on Memoirs of a Horse Girl: Dressage Show Reflection and A GiftValhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-36677522202886404572011-10-29T10:14:26.286-04:002011-10-29T10:14:26.286-04:00Thanks, Fantastyk Voyager!
I do not like to hear ...Thanks, Fantastyk Voyager!<br /><br />I do not like to hear about judges discouraging any competitor, especially kids. Presented kindly, I am a fan of constructive criticism, but deconstructive criticism, not so much.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-36239137644026808122011-10-29T09:54:51.265-04:002011-10-29T09:54:51.265-04:00I'm proud of you for going out there and compe...I'm proud of you for going out there and competing honestly against all those who have trainers and "dressage-able" horses. I think Harley looks good and is cute too. That should be enough.<br /><br />Kudus to the judge for taking a few minutes to offer advice rather than a put down or discouragement. <br /><br />My daughter went to a 4H clinic on her fat old Arab mare and the guy working with the kids told us that we should buy her a "trained" QH if we wanted her to get anywhere in shows. That's just not right.Fantastyk Voyagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15065772565014490544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-58239185288073217852011-10-26T19:05:48.386-04:002011-10-26T19:05:48.386-04:00Hi Katie- Thanks very much. How neat that your ho...Hi Katie- Thanks very much. How neat that your horse will still be showing at 20! Many more years to you both.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-57199954975223397312011-10-25T23:29:28.823-04:002011-10-25T23:29:28.823-04:00Congrats! Those are some great scores, and kudos ...Congrats! Those are some great scores, and kudos for taking that leap into First - it can be intimidating - at least it was for me. Sometimes you just don't know how far you can go without taking a few risks.<br /><br />As for age, don't worry. My horse didn't show dressage until he was 16, and the next time we plan on going up centerline, he'll be 20 (just don't tell him I told you that!)Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11233954417930056246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-61603710259804900952011-10-25T21:22:56.759-04:002011-10-25T21:22:56.759-04:00HammersArk- Wow! Those are two amazing horses. T...HammersArk- Wow! Those are two amazing horses. Thanks for sharing their ages and breeds. I agree that trying was better than not going to the show. Then I would have been really disappointed.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-36050527795519788242011-10-25T16:58:16.249-04:002011-10-25T16:58:16.249-04:00If you did your best and know where to improve, th...If you did your best and know where to improve, there is no reason to be disappointed. The only thing you could have been truly disappointed about would have been if you hadn't even tried. <br /><br />Oh, and 13 is YOUNG in dressage years. I've said this on my blog before but thought I should say it here: I've ridden 2 PSG mounts - one was 24 and one was 29. They both could still perform PSG level movements. What I haven't said is that both were untraditional mounts. One was a fat, ugly appy gelding (some appies are pretty but he wasn't!), the other was a fat, ugly perch/qh cross. I would NEVER have picked those horses as being the level they were, but both were worth their weight in gold. And both were still being shown, and winning (though admittedly both were on joint supplements, but at that age, who can blame them?!). Age is just a number!!!<br /><br /><br />I can't wait to hear what the judge did with you two after the show!hammerhorseshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07144749417680923288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-40116809250838980592011-10-25T16:53:03.831-04:002011-10-25T16:53:03.831-04:00SprinklerBandit- Dressage on a shoe-string. That&...SprinklerBandit- Dressage on a shoe-string. That's my motto!<br /><br />Thankfully, knowledge and learning are mostly free. For this reason I rarely turn down the opportunity to learn something new, although weekly dressage lessons are just not happening. I try to make the most out of every lesson and training experience. I also read ANYTHING that I can get my hands on!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-69620074026127926442011-10-25T16:43:58.420-04:002011-10-25T16:43:58.420-04:00Karen- You are absolutely right. I needed to hear...Karen- You are absolutely right. I needed to hear that. I should print out your comment and put it in my jacket pocket. <br /><br />Sometimes I just feel very limited by my resources, especially when I look at the cover of Dressage Today and see young riders on Grand Prix horses and training in Europe. I do not know if I would really have wanted that, but now that I must check the "senior" division, I realize that I will never have that kind of experience. I am loving the ones that I am having with Harley, though, and with the flexibility to enjoy other areas of my life. I look forward to many, many more great experiences.<br /><br />smaz- My original dressage instructor told me the same about First Level. I did not appreciate it at the time, because she started me at First Level and since I was riding trained horses and taking weekly lessons, I was very much up to speed. Going out on my own with Harley feels like a completely different experience. Definitely pushing the comfort zone!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-50114701556406685082011-10-25T16:38:11.111-04:002011-10-25T16:38:11.111-04:00Congrats!! That is super cool, especially about th...Congrats!! That is super cool, especially about the judge taking some time for you. :-) I love hearing about how other financially-challenged folks make it happen.SprinklerBandithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02948487857418394022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-21353582775431524712011-10-25T16:24:11.677-04:002011-10-25T16:24:11.677-04:00Thanks, Ruffles! Nice stills with us all dressed ...Thanks, Ruffles! Nice stills with us all dressed up is another positive side effect of showing. :)<br /><br />Albigears- Okay, I hear you! Cool about the Rolex QH. But seriously, so many of the horses were younger than Harley. I do not really think of thirteen as old, but a lot of people seem to show younger horses. Maybe my impression is inaccurate. Anyway, Harley does not know he is thirteen. ;)<br /><br />Kate- I love meeting really helpful, encouraging horse people. I was caught a little off guard by the judge. At first, I thought she was going to tell us that we were way out of our league. Instead, she helped us out.<br /><br />Carol- Thank you. I am very happy with our scores and I feel that they were fair. I do not think that the judge gave anything away and I can see where we could have done better. I think that we could have scored into the mid-60's if our canter circles and left lead had been better. We CAN do better!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-33040485209870283372011-10-25T16:14:53.942-04:002011-10-25T16:14:53.942-04:00Annette- Thank you! It really was a good experien...Annette- Thank you! It really was a good experience. As for the gaits score, I tell myself that I do not care, but seeing 6's and knowing that they mean "satisfactory" is, ironically, very unsatisfying. A judge once explained to me that the gaits scores is an "average" for all three gaits. She implied that she wanted to score him higher for his canter, but had to consider the walk and trot. I am not sure that made me feel better, but at least she cared enough to explain the rating. Sixes or not, I love Harley to an 11!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-66344016491375932252011-10-25T10:03:58.392-04:002011-10-25T10:03:58.392-04:00I've never ridden in a dressage show (I've...I've never ridden in a dressage show (I've only ridden in a show twice in 33 years, we will do a dressage show someday, darn it! Even if my quarter horse is 20 by that time.) so all I know is hearsay, but it seems like an awful lot of people are afraid to take the leap to first level. Congratulations for having the guts to do it, if you don't push the boundaries you can never expand them.<br /><br />Anyway- that judge sounds awesome. I can't wait to read about your lesson.smazourekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029180368325070266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-61371670251323210692011-10-25T08:40:31.504-04:002011-10-25T08:40:31.504-04:00Great job, Val! Please, please, please - don'...Great job, Val! Please, please, please - don't worry what other people think!!!!!!! I have come to realize that everyone else out there, mounted on a traditional warmblood or not, has the same fears and worries as everyone else.<br /><br />Imagine starting dressage at 38 or 39 on an Arabian who was started in endurance! Talk about a crazy notion. Imagine that same rider NEVER having shown at all. Never, not even once! We had been to numerous races of course, but not shows.<br /><br />I love being 40. I thought it sounded very old at 30, but what I've come to understand is that with age does come experience and a healthy dose of "I don't give a $%^& what people think". And I don't! If you want something, make it happen. If you want to ride a 13 year old Quarter horse, do it! Where in the dressage handbook of life does it stipulate what breed we must ride?<br /><br />You enjoy Harley, and he clearly enjoys being your horse. You're working hard, he's working hard - take him to the occasional show (or numerous shows) and be proud of what you're accomplishing WITHOUT a full time trainer and WITH a full time job!<br /><br />I can't wait to hear what the judge thought. I hope you're proud of your effort and that you add it to your pile of good experiences! <br /><br />KarenBakersfield Dressagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05571487914424695283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-20684127928166926822011-10-25T07:54:05.502-04:002011-10-25T07:54:05.502-04:00Oh my heavens, your post really affected me. That ...Oh my heavens, your post really affected me. That is such a great story. Congratulations! So nice of the judge to show you your potential. I'm glad the show had a good variety of breeds and riders. Dressage is for everyone. Good foryou for facing your fears in order to improve your riding. Those are great scores!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17207626703988850059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-2001471662316903192011-10-25T06:50:31.174-04:002011-10-25T06:50:31.174-04:00It sounds stressful and fun at the same time - you...It sounds stressful and fun at the same time - you should be proud of yourself and your horse. And how wonderful that the judge was willing to take the time with you - it's great when you encounter good and helpful horse people like that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-10610424956827107222011-10-25T05:15:47.941-04:002011-10-25T05:15:47.941-04:00Uh, why WOULDN'T you bring your 13-year-old Qu...Uh, why WOULDN'T you bring your 13-year-old Quarter Horse to a dressage show??? Dude, there was a QH at Rolex not too long ago!Albigearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705231641878762167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-91215678164194827022011-10-25T03:32:51.805-04:002011-10-25T03:32:51.805-04:00Love the photos. Harley looks gorgeous.
I;m glad i...Love the photos. Harley looks gorgeous.<br />I;m glad it went well. Congrats. :)Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03285687707142504098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603946585821420123.post-23845839452156709912011-10-24T23:53:51.273-04:002011-10-24T23:53:51.273-04:00Congratulations! What a wonderful show experience...Congratulations! What a wonderful show experience and thank you for sharing your feelings about being on an "average" QH and not a warmblood. I love LOVE my Paint and don't regret one minute having him instead of the Friesian who scored 8s and 9s on his gaits... but those thoughts do creep in when we get a 6 for gaits. I guess its one reason I'm not anxious to show him. I know I shouldn't care, and I don't when I'm at home, but then we go to a show and I see the score and... I care. Argh.Oak Creek Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02875705582058188289noreply@blogger.com