Thursday, December 3, 2015

Dressage Goals: Enter Sandman. Or Dancing Queen?

Our first dressage test of this year. Warm up.
So, as I am sure you have noticed, Bacon and I aren't so great at dressage. We can blame this on a few things (mostly me). My lack of dressage knowledge, no lessons, no arena large enough to work in, lack of fancy movement/position, etc. I would really like to remedy this. And that is hard, because dressage is boring to both me and the pony.

This fall, playing at Prisoner's house
It is also hard. Really hard. And it is hard for us to be motivated to do it and to do it properly (or what I think might be proper when there is no one watching us from the ground). It would help if our riding space were larger than a 50ft square. I am hoping that Bacon's feet will be tough enough next year so we can ride in the lumpy pasture. But dressage is beneficial for all the things, so we need to get better. Not only that but we need to improve our scores to be more competitive. But the biggest motivator I have found?

Freestyle dressage.

If I have to do this dressage business, I have to make it fun. Freestyle dressage looks fun. I love music. My dad let us listen to Beartooth and In This Moment at the dinner table for Thanksgiving. I learned my love of music from almost all family members. I was trained by my grandpa at the earliest of ages to know the difference between Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. The first song I boogied to was Aerosmith's Walk This Way. And then I got the nickname Boogs. I haven't heard that nickname said since my grandpa Bob left us 7 years ago, but I need to uphold it.
Shirt did not stay white. Boogs and Bacon.
In order to do freestyle dressage, you must follow these rules: USEF Rules, DR 129.9: “Except for USEF/USDF Championship classes and for FEI Pony Riders, FEI Junior and Young Rider Freestyles, in order to enter a freestyle class at any level, a horse/rider combination must have received a minimum score of 60% in the highest test of the declared freestyle level or any test of a higher level at a Federation Licensed or FEI recognized Dressage Competition or “open” Dressage class (i.e. open to all breeds) at a Federation Licensed Competition held prior to the competition where the horse/rider combination is entered to ride a freestyle class.
Just add music. And fix lots of things.
So basically, Bacon and I need to score higher than a 60% at a recognized show. Preferably at first level for us. You know what else is cool? The rules say any music is accepted. You know what that means. METAL (That spider dressage saddle would really help with that). Sooooo, the goal for next year is to make it to a real dressage show and get through some training level tests. If those go well, we will work our way towards first level and hopefully be that much closer to our goal of ROCKING THE SHIT OUT OF DRESSAGE. With metal.
Slipknot? Avatar? Cradle of Filth? Volbeat? INSTRUMENTAL VERSIONS?
Yeah, I don't think the judges will be too fond of lyrical versions.
Do you think we can do it?  Do you dream of doing a freestyle to a certail set of songs? Do you have any song suggestions? I have so many ideas, but I have a hard time corralling them. Though I do think we need to include this folk metal song.

Maybe they would appreciate a German pagan folk song


Maybe a little Korn and Skrillex to tickle their senses and get those stiff asses grooving


Or should we go with something creepy? (Don't worry, not creepy at all)



So many options. How am I suppose to choose?

27 comments:

  1. BEST IDEA EVER!!!! I want to see you do a metal freestyle!

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  2. I LOVE IN THIS MOMENT!!!! Like, a lot a lot.

    I think Rammstein. So even if the lyrics were capable of offending, they probably wouldn't know them. Or maybe Black Widow, because I like the old-timey introduction.

    This is awesome.

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    1. Maria Brink is kind of awesome. And oooo Rammstein, also a great idea! TOO MANY IDEAS.

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  3. At a dressage show I was at a couple years ago, a girl did a First freestyle to Papa Roach. Every time I hear an awesome beat to a song, I immediately want to make a freestlye out of it!

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    1. Well hop to it woman. Bobby wants to rock out, but preferably not with his ,ahem, pickle out.

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  4. I definitely look forward to this. :-)

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    1. You need to do it too! Everyone needs metal in their dressage!

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  5. Freestyles are definitely on my list of things to do- but probably not for several years. I wanted to do a 3rd level one with Mikey (I had a wicked freestyle already written, just needed music) but I was lacking the 60% in 3-3 to do it. I'd stick to music without lyrics though!

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  6. ha omg you absolutely need to make this happen!!

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  7. I would just like to point out that "Closer" by NIN is excellent trot music, depending on your horse's tempo. Uh... without the lyrics, of course! ;)

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    1. Ah crap. Another good idea. Not the biggest NIN fan, but that one would work!

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  8. Too funny, JenJ, I had that on my playlist last night and got a most excellent trot.
    Love your taste in music. Last night (again on my playlist) I was pondering whether Kashmir might work (I know, I know, not heavy metal per say, but Led Zep...)

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    1. Well Led Zeppelin is my favorite band of all time, so that works in my book! Also contemplated a Led Zeppelin theme too. It is so hard!

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  9. Iron Maiden for me, no question. You're so not the only one wanting to do a metal freestyle! I've considered my all-time favorites, too, the Dropkick Murphys. :)

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  10. Tristania would be a nifty choice :)

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    1. You guys are all so cool. Another good choice!

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  11. Awesome!!! I have always thought that Bohemian Rhapsody would the most amazing song for a freestyle ever. :)

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  12. Hilarious! I kind of like the thought of Aerosmith, but maybe that's too tame?

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  13. Hilarious! I kind of like the thought of Aerosmith, but maybe that's too tame?

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  14. I cannot wait to watch you kick ass at this amazingly awesome idea!

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  15. Do iiiit! I have always thought freestyle music was so freaking BORING.

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    1. Here was a cool freestyle doing the rounds on the Internet a while ago of a dressage dude who did an awesome freestyle to an LMFAO track complete with an afro - it was ace!

      I've also seen a cool one done live at a Kur held at our yard a few years ago where a rider rode to a Disney medley which included under the sea from the little mermaid ☺

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