Riding, dressage, and horses

To the left you see me, circa 1978, on a sturdy show horse/foxhunter I leased, Foxfire. I rode hunters throughout my childhood and into college, but drifted out of the horse world after that. In 1998, I returned to the riding life at age 38(ish). I got my first horse, Harvey, on an impulse, while accompanying my sister on a horse buying trip. I started taking dressage lessons in 2000, and Harvey and I have competed in dressage through first level.

That's three years to move up two levels (counting only competition years), so I'm not exactly catapulting into the upper levels. An acquaintance once he was "a grand prix rider trapped in the body of an intro level rider." That dilemma is loosely the subject of this posting, and maybe of this blog -- the experiences of an average rider with an extraordinary love of horses and equestrian disciplines.

Just to give you some background, I have two horses: a 20 year old off the track thoroughbred (21 in March), and an 18 month old hanoverian. The groundwork is laid so that Harvey (the TB) will ease into retirement in a couple of years, and with any luck this timing will coincide with Riley coming under saddle. What's that old proverb? If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.

Well, welcome to my blog!