Minden

After a week of radio silence :) I have internet access again! Sorry not to keep you better updated, though it sounds like the scores were available online quickly.

We arrived in Minden on Tuesday afternoon. The organizing committee of the show sent the vans of their sponsored drivers, Daniel Schneiders and Dennis Schneiders (brothers) to pick us up. Eight ponies left the farm, along with all their equipment.

A quick stop on the way for some American food.....

Fran and I, along with Suzy camped at the show in one of the trailers (like a Toy Hauler) which was set up with beds and cabinets. Jennifer and Wendy brought their trucks and cargo trailers so they used those to get their equipment to the show. Their grooms, Amy, Andy, Brenda and Dirk also camped out.


The show was held on the grounds next to the Grewe Company, a large company that makes ‘Wintergardens’ or sunrooms, windows, and solar energy panels. The company takes up a few blocks and their employees seemed totally committed to producing a top show. We arrived and set up our American camp in an area just outside the tent stabling. Although there were many horses in the barns, as many or more used their vans and portable stabling instead. There were all types of vans and campers, some pretty opulent and some very basic, but all workable for people and their ponies.


It was very cool to be at a show with just FEI Ponies. Entries were 33 single ponies, 45 pairs of ponies and 19 four in hands. Eight countries were represented and it was the German National Pony Championship as well as the German team selection trial and last chance to qualify ponies for the World Championship. Apparently the German qualification criteria for the World’s is more strict than that of the FEI!


We settled in and found a grocery store just around the corner with quite a good bakery. Chocolate croissants soon became the favorite breakfast of some of the American camp – not naming any names here :)


There was a large grass warmup area just across the street from the nicely appointed dressage area, a bit bumpy but plenty of room for everyone. Farm fields surround the area, and a crop of oats had just been harvested. We walked down a grid of roads to get everywhere on the grounds. It was a busy place, with people from the show coming and going with ponies, bicycles and cars, mixed in with people from the surrounding area just going for a walk or bike ride, or taking their baby carriage out. It was congested and close quarters, which just seemed the norm. I'm finding that we are used to more 'personal space' in American than seems to be way here in Germany.


The weather was quite warm the first few days, hitting the low nineties. We worked our ponies under the watchful eye of Fred Freund. Michael was coaching the US Team at the World Pairs Championship held the same weekend as Minden.

Wednesday was the vet check.



Suzy and Josie waiting for their turn



Laurie with one of her ponies



Randy and Kabam



Fran and Cooper, two good looking guys :)



Luc jogging under the watchful eye of the ground jury

 On Thursday the pair ponies did dressage, followed by half the four in hands. Jennifer and Wendy placed well, as did Laurie who did the last test of the day. It's probably easiest to go to DrivingNews.us and see the scores there than for me to try to remember them all.


Thursday night there was a Nation’s Night party in a decorated warehouse on the grounds. Each country brought some food and drink to share. The US had S’mores along with Jack Daniel shots. The ceiling of the building was decorated in a very unique way, with hundreds of umbrellas.

Friday, our dressage day, rain was forecast but it was bright and sunny for our go. We had a good consistent test to score 43.39. We took the lead and maintained it. Suzy and Randy both had good tests and our placings were me first, Suzy second and Randy seventh. Pretty good for us to all be in the top ten in such good company!


A course walk was held in two shifts. A farm tractor pulled several hay wagons along with straw bales for us to sit on. There was a case of beer to share, and we toured the nearby countryside. Some roads and some farm paths took us through some lush farmland.

Friday afternoon while the four in hands were doing dressage, a storm came up with lightning, rain and hail. I was out walking hazards and didn't mind getting soaked by the rain (it was hot ) but had to duck for cover as the hail stung! I felt sorry for the drivers getting ready for their tests.



Hail

Friday evening the prize giving was held aboard a ship that toured the canals and nearby river. We went through a lock to go down to river level. No food (we were warned beforehand and got a quick dinner) but drinks were served. Single pony awards were given first, and I was the first name called. I went to get my ribbon (first place is gold here) and was awarded a nice cordless drill as a prize. I went to sit down but was motioned over to stay up there. As each prize was awarded, hands were shaken all around, and then when everyone was given their ribbon, we were to take a ‘Victory Gallop’ on foot around the floor among the competitors. With sandals on I lead the tour, at a pace described by Suzy as a working walk :) Lots of clapping, and then the pairs were awarded, another lap around, and then the fours. It was a nice evening but we were ready for a good night’s sleep before the marathon.



The night sky before the rain started



It rained all night Friday night and was still raining Saturday morning. The weather turned much colder the rest of the weekend.

We spent every available moment walking the hazards. Eight long hazards, fairly technical, well decorated and all in close proximately for easy viewing. Suzy and Randy went early. By the time we went it was still raining and a bit slippery. We had planned to take it easy in the hazards and not take any risks. The hazards were torn up quite a bit but not very deep. No mistakes in routes but we did have a ball down on a hard turn in Hazard 3. Cooper finished up the 17K plus course without breaking a sweat. At the end of the course we were greeted with a glass of champagne, a nice touch. We were chilled to the bone afterwards and very happy to get warm and dry.

As the day went on the rain stopped except for some brief exceptions. A steady wind helped to dry out the course for the pairs and four in hands. The pairs were FAST! The four in hands were, too, but some hazard damage in that class which was very quickly fixed by the grounds crew.

One of Jennifer's ponies banged his leg and he was unable to do the marathon. She started with her other two ponies but did not do Section E or the hazards. He is fine now. FEI rules say that you must start each competition (dressage, marathon) in order to do the next competition, thus she was able to do cones on Sunday.

There was another party and award ceremony on Saturday night. Each party started late by our standards at 8 PM. We ate and waited until 9:30 but still no awards. We asked Suzy to forgive us for leaving and getting some sleep. Per Suzy the awards went much the same as dressage awards, with both Randy and Suzy taking part. Their victory gallop really was a gallop, Suzy said they ran flat out around the building!

Cones day the course was ready for walking at 7 AM with a start time of 8 AM. Singles went first. I got up early and braided Cooper, and left to walk, while Fran put his studs in and got him clean and shiny. The course was measured quite short (we estimated the distance at 100 meters longer than the advertised distance) and included a trip down a rather steep hill and up again, and through the saloon hazard right next to two large fiberglass horses and several times around a herder and his sheep (not real but scary).

I went first of the Americans as I was standing in 12th at that point. Cooper was really sharp and our focus was good, and we came double clear. I was happy to have Fran on the back around some of the tight turns and up and down the hill.

Randay was next and was clear with some time penalties. Suzy had some bad luck and had a number of balls knocking her down from 2nd place to 11th. Randy moved up to 2nd and we moved up to 5th place.

There was a nice ceremony just following our class, first for cones placing (we placed second). A nice tradition was that each competitor touched whips with those of either side and said 'Congratulations'. We did our cones victory gallop (trot, really) several times, and then the overall placing were presented in the same way. Then we were asked to step back and the German National Championships were presented, then we all did our victory trot together.

Next the pairs and then four in hands did cones. I snapped a few photos so you could see the course (and the Saloon hazard in the background.

I was very pleased with Cooper all weekend. Minden was a very well run and impressive show, and we were made to feel very welcome there. I really appreciate being invited to compete there and it was a great warmup for the Worlds.