Do I have a right to brag? :mrgreen:

For8tune · 11-05-2009, 09:50 PM

At the beginning of the year my horse and I or more like I decided to take on the Dressage world. I can say Fortune wasn't so excited about this new way of riding as I was since for the past year I had him back it had been nothing but trails and shooting the breeze. Me on the other hand I wanted to take it full force and start doing cute little dances with my horse!

Yeah for the Dressage people laugh

! If I only knew what I was getting myself into. Fortune went into training for 2 months and I was in lessons once a week. Talk about wake up call

! It was more like lesson once a week and gym 7 days a week. I honestly never realized the work involved in such a graceful looking sport. I wish I could say I looked graceful. Forget the Passage, just getting my horse to free walk was a chore. Dressage people make it look so easy. The first show Fortune and went to we placed 2nd out of 6 entries. I was so proud! I felt like Fortune and I had finally found something we both enjoyed. It was bitter sweet though. My Dressage Instructor ended up leaving the farm and dropped me without even one phone call. I tried continue alone but felt I was doing everything wrong with my poor horse. He was doing so well and seemed to be enjoying the idea of full contact and seat only. I had never ridden him so comfortable in my life! I tried so hard to find someone else to help in my journey of this hard working sport that I was so addicted to now but came up with nothing. Three months passed when I pretty much abandoned my poor boy and he was lucky if he saw me once a month. My though process was why bother. I even gave up working out and started gaining my weight back that I had worked so hard to loss. Then I got the call......

Last month a friend of mine whom I had talked her into doing Dressage told me she was taking Dressage lessons. Then the spark fired up again. I found out that her Instructor was very good, very nice, reasonable and within reasonable distance. I started my first lesson the following week. I can't say enough about Barbara. Very nice and so knowledgeable of the world of Dressage. Not only Dressage in itself but the comfort of the horse and the effect a rider has on their horse when not riding properly. Everything she teaches makes more sense then any other Instructor I have ever had. And what happened with Fortune...well....he has his spark back! With everything that Barbara has tought me, I apply to Fortune. Its almost like we never stopped. He took back to work like it was nothing. He is living proof that he enjoys the work or at least the treats afterwards

. The biggest setback we had in the beginning was backing up off my seat. Finally was accomplished Monday and even with a loose rein and in frame. We have even been practicing some lateral movements which he so fussed the whole time with the other Instructor. Now it is nothing to him. He seems to enjoy the challenge and differant routine as much as I do when done properly. Yes and we still enjoy the trails once a week. Our break. His spooking and antics seemed to have disappeared. Things that bothered him no long do. Have we finally found that connection between each other? I believe so. Olympics bound?

. Hey a person can dream big right! Even as hard as a journey as it has been it has been well worth it. What next for us? Hopefully next year Training Level Test. We are on our way

.

merleliz · 11-05-2009, 10:02 PM

Well, good for you and Fortune! I've never aspired to Dressage (I'm still working on not falling off at the canter, LOL...I know my limitations!), but I love watching it! The video of Blue Hors Matine brings tears to my eyes every time...it's just so beautiful!

Congratulations on your acheivements, and best of luck on your plans!

singing tree · 11-05-2009, 10:14 PM

That was so inspirational I may have to try it myself! Seriously!! Thanks for sharing.

For8tune · 11-05-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merleliz

Well, good for you and Fortune! I've never aspired to Dressage (I'm still working on not falling off at the canter, LOL...I know my limitations!), but I love watching it! The video of Blue Hors Matine brings tears to my eyes every time...it's just so beautiful!

Congratulations on your acheivements, and best of luck on your plans!

That is one of my favorite videos!

Oran'sMom · 11-05-2009, 11:34 PM

I have always thought about doing dressage, my horse has competed at third level and i dont know anything

Congrats on the new found fun

Horselady44 · 11-05-2009, 11:36 PM

Congrats on your acheivements

petesmum · 11-11-2009, 09:08 PM

i just watched that blue hors martine and wow, i want to do that too. im glad to hear you love it soo much, i think when i get my boy we may have to try dressage out too

Jade · 11-16-2009, 07:30 PM

Congrats on finding something you love! I started dressage about a year ago and I tell you its the hardest thing I've ever done. Some lessons I feel like we make great strides and other times I feel like we took 5 steps backwards. I love it though! I was so inspired when I went to a show this summer when a woman was presented with the centurion award. It is given to riders who age plus thier horses age = 100. I cried it was so amazing. She was an amazing rider. I can only hope I can make it that long.

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11-05-2009, 09:50 PM
For8tune Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Monroe, GA Posts: 553	Do I have a right to brag? :mrgreen: At the beginning of the year my horse and I or more like I decided to take on the Dressage world. I can say Fortune wasn't so excited about this new way of riding as I was since for the past year I had him back it had been nothing but trails and shooting the breeze. Me on the other hand I wanted to take it full force and start doing cute little dances with my horse! Yeah for the Dressage people laugh! If I only knew what I was getting myself into. Fortune went into training for 2 months and I was in lessons once a week. Talk about wake up call! It was more like lesson once a week and gym 7 days a week. I honestly never realized the work involved in such a graceful looking sport. I wish I could say I looked graceful. Forget the Passage, just getting my horse to free walk was a chore. Dressage people make it look so easy. The first show Fortune and went to we placed 2nd out of 6 entries. I was so proud! I felt like Fortune and I had finally found something we both enjoyed. It was bitter sweet though. My Dressage Instructor ended up leaving the farm and dropped me without even one phone call. I tried continue alone but felt I was doing everything wrong with my poor horse. He was doing so well and seemed to be enjoying the idea of full contact and seat only. I had never ridden him so comfortable in my life! I tried so hard to find someone else to help in my journey of this hard working sport that I was so addicted to now but came up with nothing. Three months passed when I pretty much abandoned my poor boy and he was lucky if he saw me once a month. My though process was why bother. I even gave up working out and started gaining my weight back that I had worked so hard to loss. Then I got the call...... Last month a friend of mine whom I had talked her into doing Dressage told me she was taking Dressage lessons. Then the spark fired up again. I found out that her Instructor was very good, very nice, reasonable and within reasonable distance. I started my first lesson the following week. I can't say enough about Barbara. Very nice and so knowledgeable of the world of Dressage. Not only Dressage in itself but the comfort of the horse and the effect a rider has on their horse when not riding properly. Everything she teaches makes more sense then any other Instructor I have ever had. And what happened with Fortune...well....he has his spark back! With everything that Barbara has tought me, I apply to Fortune. Its almost like we never stopped. He took back to work like it was nothing. He is living proof that he enjoys the work or at least the treats afterwards. The biggest setback we had in the beginning was backing up off my seat. Finally was accomplished Monday and even with a loose rein and in frame. We have even been practicing some lateral movements which he so fussed the whole time with the other Instructor. Now it is nothing to him. He seems to enjoy the challenge and differant routine as much as I do when done properly. Yes and we still enjoy the trails once a week. Our break. His spooking and antics seemed to have disappeared. Things that bothered him no long do. Have we finally found that connection between each other? I believe so. Olympics bound? . Hey a person can dream big right! Even as hard as a journey as it has been it has been well worth it. What next for us? Hopefully next year Training Level Test. We are on our way. __________________ Proud Mom to a Spoiled Rotten Arabian Gelding ~Fame Fortune~ http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/fame+fortune

11-05-2009, 10:02 PM
merleliz Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 4,467	Well, good for you and Fortune! I've never aspired to Dressage (I'm still working on not falling off at the canter, LOL...I know my limitations!), but I love watching it! The video of Blue Hors Matine brings tears to my eyes every time...it's just so beautiful! Congratulations on your acheivements, and best of luck on your plans! __________________ VOTE FOR "DUSTY TRAILS HORSE RESCUE" DAILY IN THE PETFINDER SHELTER CHALLENGE! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

11-05-2009, 10:14 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,025	That was so inspirational I may have to try it myself! Seriously!! Thanks for sharing.

11-05-2009, 11:34 PM
Oran'sMom Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 817	I have always thought about doing dressage, my horse has competed at third level and i dont know anything Congrats on the new found fun __________________ Oran

11-05-2009, 11:36 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,395	Congrats on your acheivements __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

11-11-2009, 09:08 PM
petesmum Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 32	i just watched that blue hors martine and wow, i want to do that too. im glad to hear you love it soo much, i think when i get my boy we may have to try dressage out too __________________ it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of fight in the dog

11-16-2009, 07:30 PM
Jade Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,159	Congrats on finding something you love! I started dressage about a year ago and I tell you its the hardest thing I've ever done. Some lessons I feel like we make great strides and other times I feel like we took 5 steps backwards. I love it though! I was so inspired when I went to a show this summer when a woman was presented with the centurion award. It is given to riders who age plus thier horses age = 100. I cried it was so amazing. She was an amazing rider. I can only hope I can make it that long.