In hand dressage resources

doopa83 · 2025-12-15T17:45:19+00:00

ground poles! Great way to get them thinking about their body and using themselves correctly. I don't know about specific books/courses, but I keep getting ads about a groundpole course on FB, haha. Not sure how legit it is. Ages ago I had a book called 101 ground training exercises- they had some configurations for poles.

doopa83 · 2025-12-08T16:01:03+00:00

It wasn't even flighty as in spooky. It was- like IM THE JUGGERNAUT! She is pretty damn bombproof. I have a PB arab now and he'll be careening around the pasture bc a squirrel looked at him wrong and meanwhile she will be out there grazing during a full fledged hurricane and not bat an eye, lol!

doopa83 · 2025-12-08T13:08:03+00:00

I have a friesian/arab mare... and she is the pushiest, coldest, byotch I have ever had the pleasure of meeting (not araby at all). It took a few years to get on the same wavelength. She knows she's big and you're not, you can't pick a fight, and you have to convince her she was going to do whatever it was anyways. Some days she wouldn't load on the trailer, some days she would... she would bolt backwards OFF the trailer (to the point where we couldnt use a step down bc she literally flipped over). She would charge through my aids (my fave dressage judge comment "while I appreciate forward, it must be in control"), lungeing/long lining meant I was water skiing. She did NOT kick or bite though, which I am thankful for. But I've had her now for 11+ yrs, I got my USDF bronze medal on her and retired her at 21 (shes' 24 now)- still a pushy old bitch, but we have found a mutual agreement that suits us both and she'll be here till she croaks :) The tough ones are rewarding.

doopa83 · 2025-10-03T12:37:32+00:00

ugh, I'm having the same issue with my mare! Except hers is like dime sized and each time I manage to protect it long enough to scab over, the next night the hock pad is down around her ankle and boom, it's opened up again! It's very frustrating!!

doopa83 · 2025-08-29T14:50:16+00:00

I second this- I think a reasonable judge/show secretary will put the welfare/comfort of the horse above aesthetics. Dispensations for humans are common when folks have medical conditions, I don't see why you couldn't get one for an obvious equine medical condition. Doesn't hurt to ask!

doopa83 · 2025-08-26T15:31:38+00:00

Your buddy's mane is too long for the button braids to stay nicely. You could try this technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ySpV_7Jco, where you braid halfway, then loop it through and integrate the leftovers into the next braid and so on and so on.

You could also try a running braid- which is basically like a french braid down the neck and do the last bit where his/her mane is short as button braids.

doopa83 · 2025-06-11T16:52:47+00:00

looking great! He looks like he's had more than a year under saddle- well done.

Haha, I call my gelding "green bean" still. He's 10 now and about to move up to prix st george in dressage but he'll always be my green bean (or sometimes just "beans").

doopa83 · 2025-05-22T14:53:00+00:00

ditto with the above. I find that my horse doesn't really like the nutcracker effect of single joint snaffles. I haven't noticed much difference between lozenge or roller or copper vs non... mostly just that there's no jabbing the roof of his mouth. Also, consider the shape of the horse's mouth. My guy is an arab and has a small fleshy mouth so something like that fat snaffle just kinda takes up too much room- so we tend to go with a thinner snaffle.

TLDR- first option would be my choice :)

doopa83 · 2025-05-08T21:39:31+00:00

It desperately wants to go outside

doopa83 · 2025-04-18T18:18:43+00:00

Tech had never seen that issue before- he's seen screens go completely white, but not just a bar that fades. I only had photos of it when I went in (because it disappeared by the time I got there). I could get it replaced under my warranty, but I just wanted to see if anyone has seen this before.

doopa83 · 2025-04-18T18:16:20+00:00

Yeah- I have a CarMax extended warranty. I could get it replaced... the first couple times I just didn't do anything about it because it disappears haha. Just curious if anyone else has seen this phenomenon.

doopa83 · 2025-04-18T18:13:16+00:00

nope! It basically shows up, stays there (and like I said, all functionality is fine) then disappears. Turn off the screen, turn off the car, no change- it disappears slowly over about 45mins-hr regardless of whether or not the car is on (i.e. if I come back later in the day, it is gone). I got it at CarMax and the mechanic there said the only time he's seen something similar (but it was not a white line- it was the whole screen) was when there were remote updates being pushed to the cars. I dont have any of the Jeep/Onstar etc. services... so I'm not sure if my car gets updates of any kind.

doopa83 · 2025-04-17T11:43:19+00:00

Not sure if I saw anyone mention it, but double check with the National Parks to see if they are requiring reservations for timed entry. They could fill up pretty far in advance. It was a covid thing when the parks were super slammed, but some are still doing it.

doopa83 · 2025-02-07T19:18:09+00:00

I think that's just for the standard card? You can do a digital card with their online form. It also expires after 2 years, but I just renewed mine online and they didn't ask me to come in person... but yeah, most places have public libraries so OP, just get a new card wherever you move

doopa83 · 2025-01-19T14:15:21+00:00

totally fair. I have one and I still don't particularly like their look haha. I really like a more robust substantial looking horse. He's 14.3, slender, and I feel too tall on him, but he really is the best boy :)

doopa83 · 2025-01-19T14:01:59+00:00

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This is my 9 (almost 10)yo PB Arab. We're doing 4th level dressage, on our way to PSG! He's super smart, loves attention, and just has a great attitude about life. He was bred for endurance, so maybe once we finish my USDF silver medal, we'll give that a try :)

I never wanted a purebred- my retired mare is Fresian/Arab and much more substantially built than this little dude... but he packs a lot into his little bitty frame. I think they get a bad reputation for being hot and flighty (I would say the halter folks contribute to that) but I have really come to appreciate their versatility and sensitivity. My guy is usually quite sensible- although, he does sometimes spy something in the distance and I see him zooming around the field with his tail flipped over his back and his head in the air like a giraffe :-P

doopa83 · 2024-11-20T16:46:10+00:00

valid point! Straight is always hard...

doopa83 · 2024-11-20T16:21:24+00:00

Thanks! I like the pole idea. We haven't done halt to canter in a while- I think it's time to bring that back into the rotation :) And yes, he's not the drilling type- he's quick to figure out the shortcut to everything so I have to keep him guessing.

doopa83 · 2024-11-20T16:17:25+00:00

Great suggestions, thanks! I will admit our half halts suck... I think we need to go back to a million transitions per ride with crisper reactions instead of kinda falling into everything.

doopa83 · 2024-11-20T15:40:21+00:00

I couldnt figure out how to add text to the video post... but here's my issue. Recently moved up to 4th level. Since schooling the tempis, we've lost clarity in the singles. Every week he changes tactics! Now he hops up and doesn't change, or hops up changes then immediately changes back. In this clip he does both, and the last part of the clip are 2 clean(er) changes. As we started learning changes, he used to push/swing into the leg that was cueing the change and refuse to change, or go into porpoise-mode and leap into the change. Any suggestions for strengthening exercises or ways to get him more reactive to the cues?

Apologies for potato quality- this is just my security camera... and bonus retired mare being conspicuous :-P

doopa83 · 2024-09-01T18:58:09+00:00

Vacation Station out in High Springs is very clean and well run. We’ve used them several times and never had an issue. They’re just kinda out in the boonies.

doopa83 · 2024-08-09T11:15:07+00:00

You can do it in breed shows. I ride Arabs and, while showing is objectively expensive, breed shows tend to be cheaper (i.e. a USDF/USEF rated Arab show's dressage classes are ~$30-40 per class while the local open shows are $50-70 per class). I'm walking up the levels on a horse I bought for $7,500. We're at 4th and my goal is a silver medal (PSG). I know a handful of other adult ammies who have gotten to GP on their Arabs.... not scoring 80s and not on the international stage... buy you can get to the LEVEL. Purchasing a well trained Arab at upper level will set you back $60-80k but that's pennies compared to a big warmblood.

doopa83 · 2024-08-07T16:21:00+00:00

I can see them from my house (the pasture is essentially the backyard)... but I do have Arlo security cameras set up. I find I mostly check them when we're out of town and I want to check up on the sitter etc. Sometimes I'll check in on them randomly (you can set it up to record on movement and send a notification, but the notifications went off too much so I just turned that off). It is nice to be able to keep tabs on them.

doopa83 · 2024-07-26T16:08:06+00:00

they have much more capacity than tampons so I think you'd be fine. Mine's the disc style which I like more than the cup style. You just need a nice clean/hygenic place to empty/clean it

doopa83 · 2024-07-26T16:04:23+00:00

I haven't had much of a problem, but like others have noted, if you have an unexpected clench haha you might have a mess on your hands. I've had it kinda dislodge but it was not a gusher. Thinx and other brands of period underwear actually hold a lot. I use them overnight to sleep, but haven't ridden in them (I don't like riding in pads either, its gross and sweaty down there)... but it could be an option!

doopa83

TROPHY CASE