In the books

Another CDE is in the books, over and done. Although I sat this one out again like last year, the girls and I did get to go watch at least a few drivers whip through the cones course. We also got to watch the awards after the cones and speak to several people we always enjoy seeing. Even though the sun was out, the wind was blowing and it was dusty. but for some reason, when you were inside the main tent, the air was still and calm.

It seems a lot of the people I know, won their classes and were happy with not only the results, but more so how the horse performed. I didn't hear of anyone E'ing out so that was good! and another lady I met at Dale Creek last fall, had her first CDE with her pony and they did really well. Well enough in fact that she didn't realize how well she had actually done. While she not only won her class, she thought she had the best dressage & cones for her class. She actually had the best overall dressage score for her level and the best overall cones score for her level respectively. Not a bad haul for the first big show with a new pony. Her husband is a good man and has a wicked sense of humor. When I asked him to extend my congratulations to her, he responded that "There will be no living with her after this"

Another competitor was in third place going into cones, but when it was all done, she had won her class as well. She was happy as well as surprised and said, "It just goes to show, it's not over until it's over." No, it's not. Which is why you always compete right up to the end and give it everything you've got. You just never know.

One thing I didn't see there was the big orange semi belonging to Gerard Paagman of Ideal Harness. Trust me, you can't miss it and he has a LOT of stuff inside, begging to be purchased and taken home... He's also a really nice guy to deal with and takes the time to speak to his customers to make sure you get what you need, it will fit properly and everything will work like it should.

Of course I had to hunt down Gary and speak to him... He did well and won his class too, driving a pair of black Morgans. It as good seeing him and then we had lunch with Jim the cones course designer & JoAnn another competitor with minis. She won her class too, so that was cool. The girls got a ton of compliments for their hair and we heard a lot of "Oh my gosh. They're really growing up." As it is, they may be 'gators in training, until they are old enough to take the reins and compete on their own... Scary thought, I know. But when the day comes, if driving is what they choose to do, I may be the one taking the back seat on the cart and being their 'gator. That would be all kinds of awesome!