Forever an amatuer

[Silver_Image_Farm]

Adding a personal note to this thread…

I have a mare that I purchased at about 4 days old…because of my own limitations, lack of talent, experience we have not “accomplished” at this point perhaps as much “competitively” as I would like or as she could have/would have if a professional had done all her work.

During the almost 10 years I have owned her I have sought and rec’d very competent, skilled professional assistance to bring her along…and we have proceeded ever so slowly because of ME and also her high intelligence, atheleticism and alpha mareness:lol:…

Others will/would brag they have “accomplished” more and/or are “farther along”…some are, some aren’t (and their own internet posting history will verify that they did NOT “do it all themselves”;))…

What I have that NOBODY can take away is PRICELESS…almost 10 year of shared learning experiences with a mare that (despite all the ups/downs and struggles…mostly for ME:yes:) is now hitting her “stride” and is a JOY to learn and grow WITH…we have a bond and trust that I can’t imagine would be the same if someone else had put it in all the “sweat equity”…

We aren’t goin to the “Olympics” but we ARE progressing and we ARE havin a BLAST together…I’m proud to note that even strugglin to improve our training and NOT having it all “be where I want it yet” she STILL earned a local Reserve Championship at 1st Level 3/4 …I only started showing her as a 7yr. old because I was NOT yet comfortable with my ability/skill to ride her…and most of the past 2 years has been just building my own confidence while trying to also improve my skill set…My POINT in sharing this is that I hope I inspire others to KEEP WORKIN your OWN GOALS…and don’t forget to step back and pat yourself on the back (and THEN get back to work!)…

GOOD LUCK my fellow ammies!

[Boomer]

[QUOTE=Silver~Image~Farm;4699551]
I have a mare that I purchased at about 4 days old…because of my own limitations, lack of talent, experience we have not “accomplished” at this point perhaps as much “competitively” as I would like or as she could have/would have if a professional had done all her work.

During the almost 10 years I have owned her I have sought and rec’d very competent, skilled professional assistance to bring her along…and we have proceeded ever so slowly because of ME and also her high intelligence, atheleticism and alpha mareness:lol:…

What I have that NOBODY can take away is PRICELESS…almost 10 year of shared learning experiences with a mare that (despite all the ups/downs and struggles…mostly for ME:yes:) is now hitting her “stride” and is a JOY to learn and grow WITH…we have a bond and trust that I can’t imagine would be the same if someone else had put it in all the “sweat equity”…

We aren’t goin to the “Olympics” but we ARE progressing and we ARE havin a BLAST together…I’m proud to note that even strugglin to improve our training and NOT having it all “be where I want it yet” she STILL earned a local Reserve Championship at 1st Level 3/4 …I only started showing her as a 7yr. old because I was NOT yet comfortable with my ability/skill to ride her…and most of the past 2 years has been just building my own confidence while trying to also improve my skill set…My POINT in sharing this is that I hope I inspire others to KEEP WORKIN your OWN GOALS…and don’t forget to step back and pat yourself on the back (and THEN get back to work!)…

GOOD LUCK my fellow ammies![/QUOTE]

Good post. Same here with my homebred boy. He’s 9 and we’re just getting to 2nd level. But the journey has been tremendous and rewarding.

I’ve had wonderful help along the way - from the guy who started him to the wonderful trainer I haul to for lessons.

Ammies ROCK!!

[goodpony]

Oh wow–raises hand—me too! Last season I took my homebred down that center line for the first time—was there the to welcome him into this world and god willing will be there to see him out. Our achievements might be small by some standards----but they are “our” achievements!

[Boomer]

[QUOTE=goodpony;4700724]
Oh wow–raises hand—me too! Last season I took my homebred down that center line for the first time—was there the to welcome him into this world and god willing will be there to see him out. Our achievements might be small by some standards----but they are “our” achievements![/QUOTE]

Go ammies! Go ammies! (dancing around in weekender LQ’s)

[papony]

Ammies rock!

I love how this thread has evolved from someone whining about being “forever an amateur” to a celebration of ammie achievements.

keep those success stories coming. It inspires all of us!

[cyndi]

The biggest problem with dressage is that it takes us ‘mere mortals’ several lifetimes to learn, and we only have one. I was talking to a friend just today about this. We both agreed it was way easier (and faster) to earn our college degrees than to gain any real proficiency in dressage.

And yes, all things being equal, money makes the difference. You can’t really learn dressage from a book, video, etc. and it takes countless lessons - and lessons from good people are not cheap. Money will also buy a schoolmaster, which can also speed up the learning process

I, too, am showing much less and investing that money in dressage education. I also am gone 11 hours a day, have my own place, ride every single day and the three horses I own I either bred or bought as a weanling. I have never purchased a trained horse. But being a bit (ok, a lot) stubborn I have always enjoyed making them myself. So I can accept it’s going to take me longer.

But yes, it can be very frustrating when one’s progress seems to be measured in glacial terms. But when I am riding, I can usually forget that aspect of it. And, hopefully this year I will get my Bronze on a horse that I bred, midwifed and trained.

I would also urge all amateurs to apply for the Gifted Scholarship through the Dressage Foundation. It’s a $900 training grant and was set up to honor Carol Lavell’s great Olympic horse, Gifted. One grant is given to an amateur in each region, each year. I am our region’s recipient for this year, and TOMORROW I am heading, along with two of my horses, to my trainers for a WEEK of training!!

You know, there is a reason most people do not advance beyond training level…and it’s not because they’re all quitters !!

[Molly_Micvee]

[QUOTE=papony;4702632]
I love how this thread has evolved from someone whining about being “forever an amateur” to a celebration of ammie achievements.

keep those success stories coming. It inspires all of us![/QUOTE]

                   Thanks Aimmie,   I wasnt whinning I was just being real. I was only describing a feeling I get from time to time and from what Ive read here most everyone can relate to this. As a matter of fact, I think every single person on this planet can relate to the problems that come up in anything we do. This thread never would have evolved if it hadnt been for me started it and I certainly didnt start it with the intention of it becoming some kind of negative sob story. Just the opposite,  but I guess you missed that part of it. Putting people down has never inspired me one bit, but I guess it does you.                                            Molly

[Molly_Micvee]

[QUOTE=JRG;4695247]
I am with Dressage Art on this, it can be done.

I feel the goals are important. Going to regional events does take more money but you can do your research and feel what is going to be best for you. Doing one every month might break the bank but doing a couple in a season may work.

Also, along the lines of goals…do you want to win or do the scores count? I feel you will have an easier time with a better moving horse…but it still won’t be easy. A middle of the road type horse you have to alter the plan a little. I myself know that I can not “give points away” by not being precise. Oval circles, not at the letters, or simply loosing pace will make all the difference in the world.

Which comes back to having that capable person on the ground watching and giving guidance. If you have a choice this is where I would spend my money.

New and fancy rigs, only takes you to the venue. When you are in the ring…clean, neat and correct, no one knows how you showed up to the party…they just know you showed up.[/QUOTE]

---

Excellent JRG!!! Thank You!!

[Dressage_Art]

Molly, USDF offers various ways to set and reach goals in dressage. You don’t have to have mega money and go to many or to regional shows.

You can try to limit yourself to the local shows and do only 2-3 shows per year. You can set the goal for qualifying for the USDF Championships = it takes 2 scores from 2 shows and at the end you can get a USDF certificate that you qualified for the championships. You don’t have to go to the championships themselves. You can just be satisfied with the USDF Certificate and make a new goal for the next year. The same 2 scores will go towards your Bronze Medal as well. And before your Bronze Medal, you can earn USDF Patches and certificates for the USDF Rider Performance Awards on Training, 1st and 2nd level.

You don’t have to try to keep up with DQs and have a fancy rig and fancy horse and etc (it’s not High School anymore) to be happy with dressage and your horse. There are actually more non-DQ dressage riders just like you out there. Change your goals and expectation to fit your budget and your needs.

[Silver_Image_Farm]

More inspiration (?) for Molly and all …

That mare of mine that I mentioned above has a brother (in fact thats’ why/how I wound up with her!)…

Long story a bit shorter, I had a TB that was my first “dressage horse” after eventing for years…we worked really hard and had just qualified for regional championships in 1999 (only TR level) …sadly he was nqr and after much heartbreak and vet workups (incl. 2x at New Bolten and even successful exploratory surgery) I wound up opting to put him down before he went down (cancer) in 2000.

I had bought another gelding as my first WBx and was slowly bringing him along with 2-3 lessons/month. THis gelding was a very green 4yr. old when I bought him and I later learned that he was a $500 stud fee that had as a 2yr. old WON his colts/geldings class at DAD!! The mare that produced him (and my mare!) was a very attractive but not head spinning mare with a ton of personality (thankfully my mare is JUST like her that way!) and consistent in producing whatever the stallion was…

Anyhoo, I was understandabley upset about losing my beloved TB but also commited and dedicated to qualifying this gelding for regionals and hopefully competing to honor the memory of all he had been teaching me…

I was very fortunate and THRILLED when we were lucky enough to not only qualify but finish on top of BOTH regional championships that year…my gelding deserves all the credit because he IS a super horse from humble beginnings…the icing on the cake was when I got home and hubby told me that “The Chronicle” had called and wanted to interview me…:yes:…at first I thought he was joking:lol:…but then I realized he didn’t know most horse folks just call it “THE chronicle”…It was truly an honor to be interviewed and have our pic/interview appear (and it wasn’t just a paragraph!!!) in The Chronicle with the dedication to my Moosie (Sergeant Getrear) the subject of the article…it was entitled something like “One for the Sergeant, one for the Favorite Son”…

Ohhhhhhh, and btw, about the beat up/used trailers/equipment…a humourous note…I used a 20+ year old bridle that didn’t even have a “proper” leather throatlatch keeper on it (RUBBER BANDS!!!) in our championship classes!!!:yes:…and YES, I did buy him a “new” snaffle bridle after that BLM win!!!

Some day I hope to be fortunate enough to achieve some of the goals I’m shootin for with my mare…but whatever does happen…it’s a thrill to be ridin/trainin/showin this mare that I’ve raised/bonded with and (ok honestly) LOVED since she was a teeney baby filly…PRICELESS is her!:yes:

GO AMMIES!!!