[QUOTE=feisomeday;3088142]
things have changed and it looks as if there is no shadbelly in my future.
Not for not having the horse capable of getting there though. Maybe I should change my name? It’s stupid and no longer applies.[/QUOTE]
Don’t change your name, until you are dead and buried, you still can do a FEI test someday. Most of us here are looking ahead to doing FEI work someday, hopefully for some of us it will come quickly.
I hope you never change your name, feisomeday.
I feel like everyone should always have a destination and if that may not happen, I don’t think that’s as important as having a destination in your mind that is important to you, that you have a feeling about.
Health and money are always things that can change, horses come and go, and you never really completely know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. New medicines come along, new jobs happen…things change. Things that seem to just about end the world tend to just…well…fade away, or we adjust, we find a new way, we go on, often when we can least imagine it would be possible.
You may find that someone just happens to turn up nearby that will help you progress, and that when you’re not really looking at all, a willing horse just happens along who enjoys learning new things with you.
As far as ‘doing fei’, I don’t think that one has to show to enjoy it or to learn something.
I was riding my bike years ago and was near Maryal Barnett’s when I saw a guy trotting around in circles on the grass in a big back yard. Maybe he was a student of Maryal’s (there were many right in her area). It was a great big appaloosa that looked like a warmblood horse, a powerful but well balanced horse. I stopped and just stood there entranced with how focused he and the horse were, they didn’t even seem to see me, they were so focused on what they were doing. It was a beautiful picture with a clear sky and dusk coming and this gorgeous, active, correct horse floating over the grass. The rider was just so into it. He sat well and just moved with the horse so well.
Pleasure, accomplishment, appreciation of beauty, love of the horse and joy of finally being able to do something new and difficult - these moments don’t come according to some structured plan that has to happen a certain way or at a certain place, or on a certain timetable.
Yep! You got a promotion that easily!
At least when I insist my big lug is going to FEI I am joking 
I mean, that would be great and all, but there are many horses on the planet more likely to make it to PSG than he is.
As for me? Doubtful 
“Doing FEI” would imply, to me, that the person is sleeping with someone on the board of FEI.
Can we just clarify …that’s ONE person? is it really necessary to “do” all of them? I mean, obviously, if that’s what it takes i’ll step up but i’d hate to have to “do” more than strictly neccessary.
Feisomeday why not change your name to feisomedaysomehow.
What does FEI level mean, precisely? For example, my horse had a resection of the nerve feeding the upper hind suspensory and thus is no longer eligible for FEI competition.
Just an event rider…but when I say I have a friend who is an FEI level rider or competing at the FEI levels for dressage…I mean that they are competing above PSG and at CDIs. You might be the caliber rider or have the caliber horse to compete at those levels…but until you have competed consistently at that level…I wouldn’t consider them an FEI rider or horse. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider such person/horse a very good rider/horse…just wouldn’t be the way I describe them.
But that is just how I use it.
To me doing FEI means showing at PSG and above.
An FEI level rider is one who is, or has successfully competed at PSG and above.
An FEI horse is one who is or has competed at FEI and above.
An FEI schoolmaster, is so confirmed at the FEI movements. that when ridden correctly he will do only the movement correctly requested, intentionally or not, by the rider.
Successfully competed means, showing and getting a reasonable score, not just touring the arena, attempting the movements. 49% is not a reasonable score. 55% is passable depending on the level.
I honestly fail to see how any of this addresses the OP’s question. What exactly does developing as a dressage rider have to do with “doing FEI” 
??
FEI is the international level of dressage riding/competition. I fail to see how there are any gray areas whatsoever in the definition.
You either compete and ride at the FEI level or you don’t. Pretty cut and dry if you ask me. What does lessons, leases or the type of horse you ride have to do with it??
In other disciplines riders that throw around terms that define their level of competition are expected by their peers to actually be riding/showing at that level. I would expect the same in dressage. An A/O hunter rider that owns a former Reg.Working hunter does not usually go around telling people THEY ride in the Workings.
A high A/O jumper who owns a former GP horse usually does not go around telling people they are a GP jumper rider if they’ve never competed in a GP.
A Prelim level eventer on an ex-Advanced horse does not go around saying they are an Advanced level rider if they’ve schooled a few Adv. XC jumps here and there.
Get my drift? How is dressage any different?
:yes:
Oh I assumed that you were probably joking. That’s why I said I wasn’t singling you out. I mean, you have never showed have you? But I suppose where there’s life, there’s hope! :lol:
You either compete and ride at the FEI level or you don’t. Pretty cut and dry if you ask me.
Exactly.
LOL, he’s not even ready for training level yet. But (she says huffily) I have showed! I got last place in a western pleasure competition as a kid!
I do think it’s nice to have a goal, though. Dressage training is SO expensive. When I first started taking lessons, I was joking about how I was never going to be showing FEI, and my trainer said “never say never!” So that’s where I am I’ll be thrilled with TL, but I will go as far as I can
I had a gelding, in the land before time, who had a 9 canter, a 9 walk, and a 5 trot. On a great day. We focused alot on the canter work, which made the trot better, but never world beating. I never got beat on him through first level-but I knew we were gonna get creamed by a warmblood with a “va-va-VOOM” trot, along about mid second, so we stayed home. And we learned the tricks.
This horse could do canter half pass, and counter changes, and twos, and the occasional sequence of ones. We could pirouette- and did- with Internationally known talent coming in to clinic regularly- but we knew our limits. I don’t need anyone sitting in a judges box to tell me what I already know.
And I still wouldn’t have said he was “doing FEI”!
Good post. To me, doing FEI movements is not doing FEI. There is a degree of self-carriage and collection and impulsion, etc., even on a straight line, that is necessary and required to actually “do” FEI.
That said, I do know a couple of people who don’t show for different reasons but I would consider them to be doing FEI. They train regularly with top people and could competently do the tests in the ring.
That said, I do know a couple of people who don’t show for different reasons but I would consider them to be doing FEI. They train regularly with top people and could competently do the tests in the ring.
Yes I know a woman like this who doesn’t show due to anxiety. I don’t think she has ever shown actually. But she clinics regularly and is an exceptional rider.
I know Grand Prix riders who don’t show and never have. And no, they are not just GP in their own minds, noodling around in their own private arenas.
They are exceptional, correct, hard working, knowledgable, serious riders and trainers who for whatever reason do not feel the need to show. Sometimes they have their own clinician come in to work with them privately. I guess they would give lessons, but most don’t advertise so it’s kind of a word-of-mouth thing. I have always wondered how prevalent this is?
anyone know of ‘secret’ GP or FEI riders in Oregon/WA region?
Fiona, I’m thinking it depends on whether your goal is PSG/I1 or GP. I’d say multiple people might be required for the latter.
I agree. My present horse has not shown FEI. We are however working on tempis, passage, piaffe, and various other movements that are required at FEI levels. I will always refer to him as working on or training within FEI. I will never show him at these levels as I hate showing. I did GP with another horse and simply not interested anymore.
I don’t think ANYONE should call a horse that has not at least competed once at a level like GP or any of the FEI levels as a GP horse or FEI horse.
I’d say multiple people might be required for the latter.
Brace yourselves! I’m gearing up to make a start.
In secret of course. No need to show.
Here is a question if competition is necessary for qualification for “FEI Rider Status”. Where you place riders from the SRS (Spanish Riding School)?
I know that many of them are now branching out to training, teaching, and competing, but if someone dedicates themselves to learning w/out competing. Does that make them less of an FEI rider?
There are lots of people who don’t show due to work constraints or health or finances. Actually SRS riders have competed for a long time. I’m told Karl could ride a pirouette for a ten and was very good. Podhajsky competed in the european dressage championships, olympics and many other major european competitons and did very well so this has gone on for many many years. Before the SRS he competed in show jumping and eventing too i think.
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