Wyndover Farm

30/06/2025

You win some, you lose some.

Captain and I were disqualified in the marathon course. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it until we finished AND made time.

In the 4th obstacle, remember the one he was all tense about? After his first gate, which we walked because he was so hyped and tense, he blew past gate B but I thought we'd gone through it. You can see the green line is how we started and the gate we SHOULD have gone through. The red line shows where we deviated. Missing a gate in an obstacle or going off course both are ways to be DQ'd.

That said, I'm super proud of him! His foundation is solid but just like me, he gets in his own head and gets overwhelmed. Competition is stressful and staying relaxed is the biggest challenge for both of us.

This was a new experience for him and only my second driving trial. We did it for the experience not the win (though winning is always fun).

There were only 2 of us in the Small pony training division (levels are by pony/horse size and skill level). Lautrec is Pony division (not Small Pony). And Brody, last year, was VSE (very small equine aka minis).

Congrats to Annie Childress for kicking my butt! Lol. We were close in scores after dressage and cones (my dressage was better, she only knocked 1 ball (I knocked 2) in cones, but I was on time and she was slow.... So neck and neck..... But then the DQ. So back to my original thought....

You win some, you lose some. 🤷😎

Will have GoPro video of my marathon course once I edit it. The marathon was over 20 minutes so I'll speed some of it up for time.

29/06/2025

EI Driving Everything but the Kitchen Sink Rainbow Meadow Farm

Cones event. 20 Gates with balls atop. At training level I have 3:31 to clear the course. I knocked 2 balls down but went clear on time. The photographer on the hill spooked him so we missed our hairpin turn but rather than yank on his face I drove him straight then circled around to reapproach the gate straight. Even with the unplanned loop we made time.

He was lovely! Just lovely to drive. Nice and forward. Excellent extended trot between long areas. He broke into the canter a few times but only a step or two each time, he's very responsive and light...... Yay dressage!

Like my mentor Joshua Allison says, cones is just dressage with obstacles. This is where the bending pays off.

This is gonna be super fun when we can canter😁😎.

My wheel base is wide at 131cm but it is so sturdy and solid. I love my Modern Carriage Company marathon cart!! So well balanced it doesn't even look like he's pulling anything.

29/06/2025

EI Driving Everything But The Kitchen Sink Driving Trial at Rainbow Meadow Farm in Rochester, WA.

Dressage is the first of 3 events. I'm each event (dressage, cones, marathon) we incur penalty points. The team (whip, navigator, and horse) with the fewest penalty points wins.

This is Captain and my Training Level test B. He was a bit counter bent (penalty points) and our circles were s**t (penalty points) and he was squirmy at our halt at G (penalty points).

But he was relaxed, forward, sometimes reaching for the bit. He did well and I'm proud of him. 🥰

29/06/2025

Un-amused 😜🤷😎

29/06/2025

Dressage scores available!

We placed 9 of 18 for training level and 14 of 23 for prelim.

Notes from the 2 judges were similar. We need to work on our bending and circles, and need to work on lengthening our walk. When Captain is nervous he tenses up and doesn't want to reach or bend.

29/06/2025

Stall duty.

29/06/2025

The boys taking us for a walk. I like to be able to walk my horses from wherever. You never know when you have more than 1 horse and a single file situation (I've been on trails like that). I want to be able to send them in front of me, if needs be.

I love this 'river walk' at Rainbow Meadow Farm. The obstacles are wonderful fun, but this section of the facility is my fave!

I can't believe we've been here a week. Cap and I are so tired. I told him he could have a week off after a week of 2 a day drives.

28/06/2025

EI Driving Dressage Festival.

Captain and I driving Preliminary test B. He did better in this test then this morning's training level test. I went off course so will lose points there but the quality of our bend was better. My 1 handed diagonal went a little wonky after X and he took 2 extra walking steps after our reinback at G. His extended trot was lovely. And both halts were relatively square.

Will report both scores once I have them.

28/06/2025

EI Driving Dressage Festival at Rainbow Meadow Farm

Captain and I driving training level test B. He was stiff, counter bent at times and lost propulsion but overall did well.

28/06/2025

This is our practice Preliminary dressage test B.

We drive this before a judge this afternoon. I hope we look this good today.

You can hear my coach's instruction. Thanks Amber Curran for the video!

We drove Training test B, earlier (separate video).

28/06/2025

Here's my POV on our 3rd driving derby run. We came in 3rd out of 14 runs!

Well done, Captain!!!

28/06/2025