Little Everglades CDE

Our first show of the season is behind us. Little Everglades CDE in Dade City, Florida, was held on a large and beautiful property with a large steeplechase track and the greenest dressage ring I have ever seen. It looked like it had been spray painted hunter green. There was lots of room for stabling and parking and great spectator areas on the steeplechase track itself right next to hazards.

Dressage day went fairly well. We had the best FEI score of the show, and had increased suspension, elevation and collection during the test, but a few mistakes, too, which cost us some points. Overall I was very pleased with the feedback I got from Cooper's performance but have things to work on at home. I like to have a bigger point cushion after dressage :)

On Friday morning, the long listed drivers had cones practice with Michael Freund. The course set up for us had many twists and turns. Michael had useful information for each of us. Cooper was quite good, and our speed was good, too.

The weather stayed pleasant all weekend, but was hotter on marathon and cones day than our South Carolina horses were used to. A frequent breeze helped, but many horses came in a bit hot at the end of the marathon. Thanks to help from Aikenites Dottie Paul and Barb Mettle at the vet check, Cooper started the hazards cool and calm.

The marathon went well, again some small mistakes added points to our score, but most hazards were quite technical, tight and very long and we were pleased with how it all went. Hazard number three had a steep hill in the middle that we had to go up and down three times, pretty tough for single ponies and horses. Cooper was game even as he got tired toward the end of the course and his temperature was very good at the end.

We were a close fifth in the marathon, and ended Saturday in second place. There was less than one point between first, second and third places in our class. Suzy was in first, me, then Randy.

Cones day ran efficiently and our class was held just before noon. Janelle Marshall was first to go (she scratched the marathon on Saturday as her pony had an outbreak of hives and bumps all over his body) and posted a double clear (I think) so it was definitely doable, but the top three of us in the class failed to get it done. I was too slow and had two balls, and fell to third place, a point behind Suzy. Randy ended up in first. Thanks to Dottie for riding with me as groom in cones!

Results will be posted later today on Drivingnews.us.

I think we got the rust off at this first show of our season, most others in our class did Sunshine State a few weeks ago. I am going to try a four wheel carriage for dressage and cones instead of the road cart, thinking that might make Cooper's job easier. We'll experiment with that and see how it goes. Cones practice is surely in our future while we prepare for Live Oak in a month. Live Oak is holding the USEF National Championships for Ponies and Pair Horses this year and I'd really like to keep my title :).


Thank you to the organizers, land owners and volunteers that made this show happen, we will look forward to competing next year. Wildlife sightings: A snake on section E, an alligator in a pond next to the marathon course, and lots of cranes and egrets.

Ranch website: www.littleevergladesranch.com

Salute to Driving

A well deserved pat on the back to the organizers of the Salute to Driving, a fundraiser for the driving programs of the USET.



Held this past weekend in Windsor, South Carolina, the three days were jam packed with all types of things to see and do. Saturday and Sunday were clinic days, with Michael Freund, the new US driving coach, working with the long listed drivers, and Larry Poulin working with developing drivers. Auditing was free and there was a good turnout of people watching and listening to the lessons. Thanks to a good sound system, all could hear the clinicians work with their students. Also during those days were clinics on cones driving, chosing hazard routes, a fun hazard to explore, and a carriage display. On Monday there was a combined test with training, preliminary and advanced levels doing dressage and cones under the watchful eye of Martha Hanks-Nichol, Michael Freund, and Craig Kellogg. Nancy Tomlinson served as judge for the tough cones course.



During the lunch break, Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton riding Isabella and me driving Cooper did a Pas de Deux to Earth, Wind and Fire's I Like The Way You Move. It was the first time I have done a drive to music and it ended up being a lot of fun. Thanks to Phillip to being a good sport, he seemed to enjoy our enthusiatic audience as much as I did.



Saturday evening was a fundraising party hosted by Wendy O'Brien at her beautiful Trout Walk Farm nearby. There was a raffle and live auction with many wonderful donated items.



This event was the brainchild of Lisa Singer and Bev Lesher, and hard work by many hardworking volunteers and sponsors made it a huge success. I can't wait until next year!



On a personal note, I got a lot out of my lessons during the clinic, Michael took both Cooper and me out of our comfort zone and asked for more, which was reflected in moments in my test as well as moments of miscommunication between pony and driver. It will take some practice on my part to make to make things smoother and more flowing, but I loved watching the video and seeing more expression and elevation from Cooper. He worked hard and willingly all weekend and I am proud of him. He got to have some fun in the Pas de Deux, too.



We are on our way to the Little Everglades CDE as I type (Fran is driving). Wish us luck!



Results for the Salute to Driving and for Little Everglades will be posted on www.drivingnews.us.

Sunshine State CDE, the first selection trial

Results at www.drivingnews.us for Sunshine State CDE, the first of five selection trials in North America (some are in Europe) for the Ponies and Pair Horses for their respective World Championships this year.

Driving News has all kinds of interesting links for all types of driving - Thanks, Mike Arnold for keeping everything current!

We sat this one out but will be at the next one, Little Everglades, in a few weeks.