Hazard 5 - Our Nemesis - the Water Hazard

At this point Platinum was just plain worn out. About 200 meters from that hazard we were passed by another competitor - I knew she was catching up, so had pulled over to make it easier (and safer) for her to pass.  Of course - with a horse in front, Platinum was suddenly a spitfire and rearing to go again. (but he really was still tired).

We had to do a 2 minute hold at the outskirts of the hazard while the other competitor finished. As they were leaving the hazard perimeter, Platinum tried to follow them - then was furious because he could not go the way they were going. Being asked to go in the water was the last straw (from his point of view) and he refused.  I chose not to make a  huge issue of it and accepted our elimination (we missed element B of the hazard). We later (after the show was over) came back and waded in the water (see the pictures at the bottom of this column).

    

For those who may be interested - my cart was made by an Amish gentleman in Pennsylvania:

Pequea Carriage Shop - Mr. John M. Stoltzfus - 200 Blank Road - Narvon, PA 17555 - phone (717) 768-7016

This was a custom order - John is very willing to work with you with your special requests.

Schooling after the event was over --

Platinum and I visited the last hazard (#5 Water Hazard) for some schooling - I wanted him to go into the water since he was not willing to step in it during the CDE!

Of course - he walked right in with me at his head rather than in the cart! He is a wonderful mini - has so much heart!

 

Indiana Combined Driving Event - Labor Day weekend 2006

Platinum and I competed in our first official CDE over Labor Day weekend. The event was hosted by the Indiana Whips and Wheels and was held at the Hoosier Horse Park in Edinburgh, Indiana (south of Indianapolis just off of Interstate 65).

This was a wonderful event - a lovely location, great organizers and volunteers and officials - everyone was helpful and friendly. I know I had a great time and the weather was perfect!

Here are a lot (22) of photos all taken by the official photographer, Elaine Wall, Off The Wall Photography, Greenwood, IN (you can reach her at farmingartist1@aol.com) - her website is farmingartist.com  - please note - I have resized and compressed all these photos - and they may not be in the correct, original ratio - so don't blame the photographer! hee hee... there are 6mb of photos on this page - sorry for the slow loading time.

Here is the Results from the VSE Divisions - taken from the IWWI website 2006 Results page.

Training Level Single, VSE

1st Place: Nancy Brandtjen & Honey - 62.85 (clean in cones and marathon)

2nd Place: Ann McCombs & War Chant -  65.13 (clean in cones and marathon)

3rd Place: Margot Ashley & Eve - 72.47 (dressage: 62.46, marathon: 10.1 penalty points, cones: clean)

Also competed:

Marlene Badura with Little Critters Skippie (dressage: 60.18 cones: E and marathon: E)

Karen Wright with Willow Springs Sultan's Samson (dressage: 65.13, cones: E and marathon: E)

Judith Jay with Platinum (dressage: 65.51, cones:11 and marathon: E)

Training Level Pairs VSE:

Nancy Caufield with Gizmo and Devon - 393.21 (dressage: 73.13, marathon: 320.08 and cones: clean)

Preliminary Level Single VSE:

1st Place: Jessica Zabonek with Tobe -133.83 (dressage:60.28, marathon: 73.55 and cones: clean)

Also competed:

Nikki Hines with Dapple Beauty - (dressage: 58.95, marathon: E and cones: 1.73)

I made several new friends - and I am upset with myself that I did not make a written note of their names - because my memory is very very bad --I just don't remember their names.

There were 6 competitors in the Training Level Single VSE - one Training Level Pairs VSE and 2 competitors at Preliminary Level Single VSE. In training level single only 3 competitors completed the CDE the rest of us (including me) were eliminated at one point or the other.

One of the biggest lesson that several of us learned that weekend - is WATCH FOR THE START/END markers for every phase - and every hazard. Make sure you go between them and all the appropriate gates. Also - never get out of your carriage (assuming you are the driver) - and never put down your whip - especially in marathon while in a hazard.

Here are the photos - as you can see, Platinum and I are beginners - not only are we competing in Training Level, this is our very first CDE - we definitely need dressage lessons - but WE HAD A GREAT TIME and look forward to competing again next year.

Dressage:

   

CONES:

   

Day 2 - Marathon - Hazards:

I don't have any pictures of the first hazard - I thought Platinum would be scared of it - there were lots of bright colored tarps strung up like walls - flapping in the wind - they did not bother him at all. To be honest, it was our best hazard - we took a reasonable route and he trotted willingly through the whole thing. I believe we had covered about 2 KM total before we got to that one (1 KM in Phase A and 1 KM so far on the Marathon itself).

Here are some pictures of Hazard #2 - there were streamers and pinwheels and the elements were in a circle shape. He had gone 4KM total to that point and was quite tired. (3km in the marathon) Platinum chose to walk through most of this one - I guided him via a route that was too tight for much trotting, but would save time at the walk.

 

Hazard #3 - this hazard was full of brown tarps and scarecrows. Again he was very tired - so we walked through the hazard - he could care less about all the flapping things.

  

Hazard 4 - no photos for it available

Hazard 5 - see the insert to the top right - the WATER hazard (our nemesis)