The FEI World Pony Driving Championships will be held in Lipica, Slovenia in September. Here is a link to Lipica's website: http://www.lipica.org/en/
From all I hear, the area is beautiful and full of history. Trieste, Italy is nearby and has much to offer as well. I hope you will consider a vacation to come and watch the Championships to cheer on the US Team!
photo by Diana Rowland
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Selection Process
The Selection Criteria was finally posted on the USEF site last week. http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldrivng/hpDriving.aspx
The criteria and related forms and information can be accessed there. They are interesting reading! I think you may be surprised by some of things team members must agree to in order to represent our country.
I'm told the Short List for the Pony Team will be out soon, maybe as early as this week. Those on the Short List are being encouraged to go to Germany in August, in order to train with Michael Freund, our US Team coach, and to attend some competitions in Europe in preparation for the Championships in Slovenia in the third week of September. Since most of the cost of attending the Championships is travel related - the shipping of ponies, people and equipment (carriages, harness), it makes sense to make the most of the opportunity. The USEF funds a small portion of the travel expenses, but the rest is on us. It's quite a daunting task to raise the money needed in order to go. Early estimates are roughly $50,000 for us to make the trip!
We are working on fundraising plans now. It's hard to ask people for money, but if we want to go, we need to raise it. We hope you will support us!
The criteria and related forms and information can be accessed there. They are interesting reading! I think you may be surprised by some of things team members must agree to in order to represent our country.
I'm told the Short List for the Pony Team will be out soon, maybe as early as this week. Those on the Short List are being encouraged to go to Germany in August, in order to train with Michael Freund, our US Team coach, and to attend some competitions in Europe in preparation for the Championships in Slovenia in the third week of September. Since most of the cost of attending the Championships is travel related - the shipping of ponies, people and equipment (carriages, harness), it makes sense to make the most of the opportunity. The USEF funds a small portion of the travel expenses, but the rest is on us. It's quite a daunting task to raise the money needed in order to go. Early estimates are roughly $50,000 for us to make the trip!
We are working on fundraising plans now. It's hard to ask people for money, but if we want to go, we need to raise it. We hope you will support us!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Southern Pines Last Day
We watched the news on Saturday night and it was evident how lucky we were to avoid the severe weather that hit the area hard. All around the area numerous tornados touched down and caused major damage, injuries and fatalities. It makes a horse show seem very insignificant when you realize so many lost so much. Our thoughts are with those hit by the storms.
Cones day was sunny and bright. The course was spread through both dressage arenas and the area between them. The sponsor's tent was set in just the right spot to see everything, and there were bleachers for spectators. I think they had many more spectators the previous years but I am sure the weather deterred many.
The course was measured tight and the time was hard to make for all levels, with two zig zag elements back to back. The show had an electronic timer for the first time, and it's large display made it interesting to compare the rounds.
We didn't go until almost 2 PM, and I found it very difficult to get up and psyched for my round. Cooper warmed up well, but he was equally unmotivated and we had balls and time penalties. Fran thinks it's just the let down after our spring goal of winning Live Oak, and he may be right. I'm sure the adrenaline of the marathon and the pressure of competing would have helped. Anyway, it was a good school and showed me what to work on. Many thanks to Dottie Paul for all her help and Irene Gillis for taking care of us from her live in accomodations next door. She kept us all warm, dry and fed when the monsoon came through on Saturday. She also won her class with a double clear in cones! Arnie Brooks also had a good showing in the class with his new horse. Congrats to Janelle Marshall for winning our class. Must have been the great navigator :)
Cooper is going to relax for a few days then I am going to start riding him a bit for some cross training. We are awaiting more info about training and team selection for the World Championships so we can make some plans for the fall season.
Cones day was sunny and bright. The course was spread through both dressage arenas and the area between them. The sponsor's tent was set in just the right spot to see everything, and there were bleachers for spectators. I think they had many more spectators the previous years but I am sure the weather deterred many.
The course was measured tight and the time was hard to make for all levels, with two zig zag elements back to back. The show had an electronic timer for the first time, and it's large display made it interesting to compare the rounds.
We didn't go until almost 2 PM, and I found it very difficult to get up and psyched for my round. Cooper warmed up well, but he was equally unmotivated and we had balls and time penalties. Fran thinks it's just the let down after our spring goal of winning Live Oak, and he may be right. I'm sure the adrenaline of the marathon and the pressure of competing would have helped. Anyway, it was a good school and showed me what to work on. Many thanks to Dottie Paul for all her help and Irene Gillis for taking care of us from her live in accomodations next door. She kept us all warm, dry and fed when the monsoon came through on Saturday. She also won her class with a double clear in cones! Arnie Brooks also had a good showing in the class with his new horse. Congrats to Janelle Marshall for winning our class. Must have been the great navigator :)
Cooper is going to relax for a few days then I am going to start riding him a bit for some cross training. We are awaiting more info about training and team selection for the World Championships so we can make some plans for the fall season.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Southern Pines CDE
The Carolina Horse Park looks better each year I come to this show. The stabling is first rate and well laid out, with rubber mats in each stall and good secure metal doors. The area steeplechase was held on the grounds last weekend with thousands of spectators but you wouldn't know it from looking at the grounds. The grass is green and lush with rolling hills. Many areas have been cleared recently adding to the useful space for riding/driving and competing. There are two dressage rings here allowing for all levels to do dressage on Friday. It's so nice to be able to come a bit later and spend less time away from home.
The hazards are well constructed and challenging, with two water obstacles (one for advanced only). This year was a selection trial for ponies and pair horses, the last one in the US. One more in Canada at Bromont and then some in Europe remain during the summer.
We had a good go in dressage, with a more accurate test than at Live Oak, but a little less spark. My goal is the accuracy with the spark, too, a tough balance to find. We scored a 44.37 for first place. US Team coach Michael Freund suggested that we not do the marathon to save wear and tear on Cooper, so we started Section A and then retired so we can do the cones course tomorrow (a rule states that competitors must start each competition to compete in the next one). We will do cones on Sunday for practice. Suzy and Randy elected not to do the marathon as well.
Fran got to navigate on the marathon with Janelle Marshall, who did a great job and is currently in first place in our division. Kudos to Irene Gillis, who is in first place in Preliminary Single Pony going into cones. There was one accident in the first hazard that I saw, which was well handled and horse, driver and navigator seemed to be ok.
The show management did a wonderful job working with the weather forecast and competitors. They changed the marathon schedule during the day on Friday when it was clear that a huge storm would be hitting the area Saturday afternoon. They gave regular reports over the PA system about where and when the storm would hit. A tornado came through about five miles away but the hard rain/lightning/hail held off until everyone was finished and horses and equipment was put away. We all settled somewhere dry and rode out the storm for about 45 minutes, then the sun came out and it was a beautiful day again.
There are big puddles everywhere but with the sandy soil, it should be all gone by the morning. Cones were ready for walking at 4:30. Sunday is supposed to be sunny and warm, a perfect day for cones.
The hazards are well constructed and challenging, with two water obstacles (one for advanced only). This year was a selection trial for ponies and pair horses, the last one in the US. One more in Canada at Bromont and then some in Europe remain during the summer.
We had a good go in dressage, with a more accurate test than at Live Oak, but a little less spark. My goal is the accuracy with the spark, too, a tough balance to find. We scored a 44.37 for first place. US Team coach Michael Freund suggested that we not do the marathon to save wear and tear on Cooper, so we started Section A and then retired so we can do the cones course tomorrow (a rule states that competitors must start each competition to compete in the next one). We will do cones on Sunday for practice. Suzy and Randy elected not to do the marathon as well.
Fran got to navigate on the marathon with Janelle Marshall, who did a great job and is currently in first place in our division. Kudos to Irene Gillis, who is in first place in Preliminary Single Pony going into cones. There was one accident in the first hazard that I saw, which was well handled and horse, driver and navigator seemed to be ok.
The show management did a wonderful job working with the weather forecast and competitors. They changed the marathon schedule during the day on Friday when it was clear that a huge storm would be hitting the area Saturday afternoon. They gave regular reports over the PA system about where and when the storm would hit. A tornado came through about five miles away but the hard rain/lightning/hail held off until everyone was finished and horses and equipment was put away. We all settled somewhere dry and rode out the storm for about 45 minutes, then the sun came out and it was a beautiful day again.
There are big puddles everywhere but with the sandy soil, it should be all gone by the morning. Cones were ready for walking at 4:30. Sunday is supposed to be sunny and warm, a perfect day for cones.
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