This competition was a true three-day event with dressage on the first day, marathon on the second and the cones on the third day. Since the National Single Horse Champion would be pinned at this event and several four-in-hands were competing, the courses were especially challenging and well designed. Many of the officials were from Europe. We were thrilled that VSEs were included.
Four VSE entries competed; one single, Martha Duchnowski and Painted Angel from Virginia and three pairs, Lori Horner driving Sweetie Pie and Maisie from New York, Linda Willis driving Commander and Gwen from Oley, PA and Jaye Ventresca driving Socks and Margaret Henry’s Steele from Warrington, PA.
The boys from Regency Performance Miniatures, Socks and Steele had been driving together for two months. They competed together at the Shoulderbone CDE in August finishing 2nd in the Training Division. This was their first try at the Preliminary level.
We all finished dressage on Friday with Martha in the lead followed by Jaye, Lori and Linda though only a few points separated us.
The marathon included two water hazards, a movable hazard with a bridge located in the main ring and two hazards built of heavy poles with tight openings to go through. After driving Socks and Steele through what I thought was a very tight turn, it was quite humbling to watch the four-in-hand drivers put their rigs through the same turn.
All our VSE entries finished the marathon in good shape and passed the vet for the cones competition. We stayed in the same order of placing after the marathon.
The cones course filled the main ring flowing from one end to the other and back again. It included two zigzags, a bridge and a serpentine. We had to drive in the reverse order of placing. Linda Willis drove first. Lori Horner drove second. Both had time penalties. I knew we would have to go much faster to make the time allowed. Socks and Steele both rose to the challenge, cantering the long open stretches and trotting evenly through the pairs of cones. We galloped over the bridge and cantered the final obstacle, the serpentine, for a double clear round – no time faults and no cones down! Then Martha and Angel galloped the whole course for another double clear round.
We finished as we started, Martha and Angel – first, Jaye with Socks and Steele – second, Lori with Sweetie Pie and Maisie – third and Linda with Commander and Gwen – fourth. |
