Just when things are going swimmingly, one can encounter bumps in the road. This is exactly how I would describe Piper's second show of the season. BUMP!
At the June dressage show at the University of New Hampshire a couple weeks ago, Jeddien completed her qualification for the USDF Region 8 Championships for the Freestyles to Music, 3rd Level. The fairly good sized audience appreciated her work and enjoyed the German folk music to which we rode.
(Super moment of trot suspension captured by Mystical Photography in Springfield Mass.)
Piper's ride, however, was not nearly as successful. We did not complete our qualification for the USDF Regionals. In fact, we did not get beyond movement 5 of Training Level Test 4.....
After performing a nice 20 metre circle in canter, movement 5 has the horse & rider canter to C for a transition to trot in front of the judge. As we finished the circle and headed towards the judge, Piper spied the huge beautiful hanging flower basket quietly swinging from the corner of the judge's hut. And STOPPED.
Like a showjumper putting in a sudden stop right in front of a fence, he slid and then bounced on his front legs, jolting me clean out of the saddle, after which I continued to canter... right onto the floor.
Bump! My first fall at a dressage competition! Embarrassing and no fun at all.
And so, now we are once again preparing for the next competition, continuing our training at home... and considering growing gorgeous flowers just for the boy.
To qualify for the USDF Regional Championships in the Open / Professional Division at Training Level, two scores of 68% or more must be earned in Training Level Test 4, each at a different show.
This weekend, in his first show of 2009 and his first ever trip to Vermont, Piper earned his first 68% at GMHA. He also earned a bonus 69.3% in the same test on the second day, but was eliminated due to me using equipment which must be preapproved by the judge.... Ear covers to protect from flies.
These same ear covers were allowed at NEDA Spring and at GMHA but I later learned it was only for specific Young Horse classes. Oh well. A lesson for all! Do not make any assumptions when using marginally legal equipment. Check on a daily basis what is being allowed.
Overall, Piper was really good and I am very happy with how he went. A wee bit of spooking, but nothing major or traumatic as in the past. He even marched across the famous stream next to "the dust bown" several times.
Next week, we compete at the University of New Hampshire for the first time. There, we will try to get the final qualifying score at the University of New Hampshire!
After a long lazy winter vacation, it is now time for Piper Warrior to compete again. Entries have now been accepted at 3 different USDF Recognised shows. Before the 2009 qualification season closes in August, a couple more entries may be sent in for other shows as well.
The 2009 Plan
Piper's training at home as progressed to the point where he is much more likely to cope well away from his home environment, ride happily past the judges booths, and be able to settle into good work in the warmup arenas.
His first show will be in mid June, at the Green Mountain Horse Association's venue in South Woodstock, Vermont. We will ride a few Training Level tests over two days.
Piper returns to GMHA in late July to again do the qualifier tests at Training Level and First Level.
The 2010 Plan
Piper's training is now working towards collection. With his lateral progressing well, nice steady shoulder-in's, light travers, and acceptance of the aids for the half pass in trot, one can easily envision him progressing this summer towards Second Level.
The Dressage Queen of the barn, Jeddien, will soon be retiring. However, the throne will not remain empty for long. Piper is coming into his own this year with a great attitude towards the work and learning. It is very exciting to see, and feel!
A week ago, New England Dressage Association (NEDA) members were treated to a 3 day clinic with Herr Christoph Hess of Germany. Christoph worked with 7 very talented horse-rider combinations while also entertaining questions from the audience.
When I lived in the United Kingdom, I became aware of the very high regard in which Hess is held worldwide. Even my UK trainer said, "If you ever get the chance to watch or ride with Hess, use it!" So it was great to have the opportunity to see Hess a mere 113 miles away in Massachusetts.
I was one of (no doubt) many dressage riders to put their name into the hat for consideration as a demo rider for this clinic. And, accordingly, I was disappointed not to be accepted. However, after watching the first day, I can honestly say I was GLAD they chose the riders and horses they did. They were absolutely fabulous!
The clinic was a week ago, but my own work is just beginning. In a strange twist of fate, I was asked by NEDA to write a review of the clinic for an upcoming newsletter. So, with my pad chock full of notes, and with inputs from the riders themselves, my work for the next few days is clearly laid out in front of me.
This should be as fun to write as the clinic was to watch!
We are back from the NEDA Spring Dressage Show. As a key season opening event for 2009, this show attracts both the top professional riders of the area as well as amateurs and grassroots riders. And, as long as Mother Nature cooperates, it is a very good show.
Jeddien and I only contested two classes. We won one with a score of 63.75%, and came second in another with a score of 60.9%.
Reflecting on this, one might think I must be most pleased about the win with 63.75%. However, this is dressage....
Measuring Progress
When a rider competes in a dressage test, the scores they earn are an assessment of the work they presented to a judge on that day. When the rider competes over and over within the same level, over time they will soon have a collection of judged dressage test sheets. Spreading these out on the kitchen table, a rider will most likely notice a pattern in the feedback and be able to identify their dressage training strengths and weaknesses. Looking at the tests as a history of the horse's progress, the rider will hopefully also notice that skill areas which were once weaker improved with time and training.
From this perspective, when competing in a dressage show, it is the score that will make the rider smile, not the ribbon. For example, after consistently receiving scores in the 50's, the first 60% score is a milestone worth celebrating... Even without placing in the class.
There will always be better riders with nicer horses. When they show up, oh well. When that happens, the smart competitor rides with the goal of improving upon their own scores and gracefully accepts whether a ribbon comes with it or not.
Qualification as the Goal
However, dressage is also a competitive sport with Championships, trophies, cash awards, and or course, recognition.
Under the rules of British Dressage, a horse & rider need to WIN a class AND get a certain score to qualify for the Regional Championships. In the USA, it is only the score that matters. For each level in the USA, and depending on the rider's status (Open/Professional, Amateur, Junior Rider/Young Rider), there are various minimum qualifying scores.
For me (Open/Professional) riding Piper Warrior at Training Level, we need to earn hefty 68% scores to qualify. At 1st Level, our target is 66%. 2nd Level, 64%.
The placing doesn't matter. So, if the better rider with the nicer horse does end up in the same class, a competitor can still qualify as long as they get their score.
Ribbons vs Scores
Yesterday, Jeddien won the USDF Freestyle Class, earned a nice blue ribbon and a trophy, but we went home with a non qualifying score. This was a huge disappointment, especially after earning the first half of the qualification with a lovely 70% a few weeks ago.
Jeddien came 2nd in the Fourth Level Test 1 class (3rd overall) with a score of 60.9%. Quite a few 7's and 8's graced the test sheet as well as a couple 4's. The collective marks of 6656 pulled her score down a bit. But overall, considering it was the first ride of the day after a 4am start and a 2.5 hour road trip, and considering that both horse and rider were not yet energized and in sync, THAT is the score I'm smiling about today.
It's about the scores. Sure, the ribbons are nice, too. :-)
It is early May. The 2009 show season ends mid August. So, we are now in full swing sending in dressage show entries and competing....
Jeddien is qualified for 3rd Level Open (Professional) Regional Championships. Tomorrow, we contest the Freestyles to see if we can finish qualifications for that as well.
Meanwhile, Piper Warrior's show entries have been sent in. Training Level and First Level. GMHA in Vermont will be his first show of 2009. The June show at the University of New Hampshire will be the second.
And so, with winter only a few weeks behind us, and summer a few weeks ahead, the dressage activity suddenly kicks into full fear.
Jeddien's 2006 filly foal by DaVinci is already showing signs of being a future Dressage Queen. Oh my she is fun to watch playing in the pasture!
Like Jeddien at this age, the chestnut filly is sharp, energetic, and a cute mover. UNLIKE Jeddien, she's a bit of a snuggle bunny who loves attention from people and other horses. Like Jeddien, she can already open and close her stall door, and is happy to stomp on dogs, chickens, and turkeys that get within reach. She is a keeper and destined to be a super dressage horse.
My first ever "Kur" aka "Musical Freestyle", has now been done. This past weekend, Jeddien and I performed a 3rd Level Freestyle at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Connecticut.
We rode to German folk music, using three different songs for walk, trot, and canter. Using "Audacity", I edited the songs, modified the tempo, and put together 5 minutes of music to which I then choreographed a riding pattern. In all, the effort to do this took many, many hours. But in the end, it was well worth it!
We earned a full 70% score, with an "8" for the music and both written and verbal comments from the judge that she really liked the music.
I have to give Isabell Werth some of the credit on this great debut! While I would love to report that I regularly train with Isabell and that she helped in this production, that's simply not the case. However, she is the rider who provides the dressage world with the "Musik zum Reiten" series of music CDs. High quality instrumental music selected, performed, and designed specifically for editing for use in freestyles. My music originated from one of my "Isabell" CDs.
Ingredients used in the creation of our first Kur include:
Competition size arena
Metronome (Little Seiko DM-50 clip on model)
iPod Shuffle (So rider can listen to music)
Full sound system (So horse can hear music)
Computer (with CD burning capability)
Audacity (Excellent music editing software)
Blank CDs
"Dressage Divas" (Optional software to help design kur)
A lot of stress & creativity :-)
One clever husband / partner / friend to help provide input
So, our debut is behind us and now we are getting ready for the next performance which is in a few weeks. Until then, a big THANK YOU to Georg for all his help, and to Isabell, too!
While Dressage Divas is the tool I am using to choreograph and "test" my Kur design via the software program's Virtual Dressage Horse, it is Audacity that I have found to be most useful for the detailed editing of my freestyle music.
With only 10 days to go (Eeeeeck!) I'm finally starting to feel Jeddien and I may pull off a good Kur after all.
Many equestrians are waking up to the news that Sally Swift, the wonderful woman who shared with the horse world the concept of Centered Riding, passed away yesterday, April 2nd, at an impressive age just 3 weeks shy of her 96th birthday.
I never had the opportunity to see Sally in person, but she's been a major influence on my riding since the 80's. To this day, I still use her imagery when riding. And in lessons with students, I apply and share many of the ideas I learned from Sally's book, "Centered Riding".
No amount of recognition & awards will ever match the contributions Sally Swift made to the equestrian world. She will indeed be greatly missed. However, through her books and students, she will continue to positively influence riding for a very long time to come.
My heart felt sympathy goes out to all who had the honor and pleasure of knowing Sally.
1) The Dressage Diva software package arrived and has been really fun to experiment with and explore. At this point, I would recommend it to those who want to plan their kurs or just practice dressage riding on their laptop!
2) Today was the first day that all of my 20x60 metre outdoor arena was usable. The snow has finally melted.
And 3) should read: "My Kur is ready for the April dressage competition I entered!"
Hardly. Not even close!
OMG I have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time! My music, which I quite like, now needs 3rd Level / Advanced Medium choreography that flows with it. Or I need new music. Anyway, now the hard fun really begins in earnest.
Choreographing a Kur. The whole thing feels a bit daunting. But, nothing like a challenge & looming deadline to get the adrenaline pumping again! Eeeck! :-)
In October 2003, I submitted to British Dressage the details of my first Dressage Kur or Musical Freestyle. The music selected was from a collection of German folk songs and fit Jeddien quite nicely. However, I never actually rode the Kur in a competition.
Five and a half years later, I'm now FINALLY planning to ride my first Kur. Ever. (Not counting Quadrilles.) But imagine my surprise when during a practice run I found Jeddien's gaits and paces no longer match the music! Her tempo has slowed just a tad with time & dressage training. So now I need to "stretch" her music or redo it all together. Hmmmphf!
While browsing the web, I discovered that Equitech Software in the UK has provided the dressage world with a great little software package called "Dressage Divas".
I purchased the package from the USDF (click on the image to go straight to the USDF store!) and am now playing with it. Looks like a good software package. So, we are back in business and looking forward to our Kur debut in 2009!
There's no business like show business, like no business I know....
A critical part of the preparation for competition involves Spring Vaccinations & Coggins Tests.
Today, all of the horses in our barn were vaccinated. Each of the owners at our barn are completely & proactively supportive of regular vaccinations. And those planning on competing also had blood drawn for testing for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) aka the Coggins Test.
All of the horses are generally good for their jabs. Even the younger ones. Our vet knows each horse, goes through the barn efficiently and compassionately. And she's happy to give each horse a mint and a scratch after everyone is done.
Comically, Jeddien voices her dislike of cold wet cotton balls with mareish squeals and insertion of needles with very unique grunts, but stands for the medical attention. It's hard not to laugh as she vocalises her opinion. Piper, however, makes the experience more unpleasant than any of us like. He suddenly becomes quite the drama queen! However, he survived yet again.
Vaccination Day behind us, now we await our Coggins results. Once in, we are ready to rock and roll!
What does the USDF "L" Education Program got to do with getting to the USDF Regional Championships? Directly, not much. However, indirectly, TONS!
I am one of the dressage riders currently in the USDF judge training program known as the L Education Program. The specific session in which I'm enrolled is very kindly being hosted by the Central Vermont Dressage Association. (Thank you, CVDA!)
In the "L" program, we learn how to evaluate the performance of horse and rider in dressage tests, how to score the movements, and how to provide constructive feedback to encourage training progress along the correct lines.
However, as a competitor, it also provides me with a more indepth understanding of what judges are looking for when I ride in front of them. It helps me to understand how to better interpret my own test results and the feedback provided on each test sheet.
Will the "L" Education Program get me to the USDF Championships? No, of course not. But armed with a better understanding of the sport of dressage, it certainly improves the odds a wee bit. :-)
Entrance into the "L" program as a participant includes meeting criteria (including proven success at 2nd Level) and fairly hefty fees. However, auditors are accepted, get the same information and training as the participants, are often allowed to ask questions, and all for much less money. So it comes as no surprise that our sessions have had a lot of auditors from all over New England. It's really cool!
While Dressage Divas is the tool I am using to choreograph and "test" my Kur design via the software program's Virtual Dressage Horse, it is 
