Well, Little Dude’s show season is officially on summer vacation. His last show was Port Mayaka May Day HDT in Okeechobee, FL. Little Dude did his best dressage test ever (once the judge and the show program actually agreed with one another- but that is a different story). He then did wonderfully in cones on Saturday. He ended up doing really well in the marathon as well. His total score for the weekend was under 100 (to be precise – 97.82 penalties). He won not only his class, but the whole VSE division. There were 4 other VSEs this time & he had 5th lowest scores of the entire show out of 30 entries (horses, ponies, pairs, and teams). It is simply amazing to think how many full size horses & ponies he beat, especially for only being 37″ tall.

He personality is really starting to shine thru as well. We had some weather move in on Saturday & LD showed everyone that he was a ham. He was taking things from people who were standing nearby. He was making sure everyone saw him and petted him as they past. He is such the social butterfly now a days. It has been amazing the changes in him over the last year. He went from being scared of his own shadow, to the strong, confident horse that he is today.

We actually took all 3 driving horses over to this show. It was the first show for Buddy & he definitely made an impression with everyone who saw him. I actually rode on the back of bud’s carriage all weekend. We hitched far away from everyone, just to be safe. But over all, he was very well behaved for his 1st show. LD still takes the cake on the most exciting 1st show ever. We did figure out that Bud seems to be more afraid of people then objects. Paul had a little bit of an issue getting Bud into the dressage ring. He decided to, at first bulk, at the person & the flower boxes, so Paul circled him. Then Bud launched himself to go between the flower boxes and the person standing to the side. He then proceeded to do the rest of the dressage test without issue. After test was over, Bud decided he was not going to exit the ring, with the same things happening to get out. It was funny, in my opinion anyways.  Bud is only 6 years old and he still has a lot of the world to see.

Sunday was even funnier with him. Now, we had taken bud over to Cypress Keep for the lesson with Fred, so that we could see how Bud would react in the hazards. Mainly to make sure he would be safe to take in them & he did great over there. Over at the show, there were people at the start/finish lines of all the hazards. Buddy just didn’t know what to think. The official start/finish line of the marathon, Bud was a little nervous but he was okay. We headed out and the 1st compulsory turn flag (CTF) that we turned at, Bud got worried about going thru it. A little spook, nothing big. The 2nd CTF, on the other hand, Bud decided he was going to head back home. We went thru it & then promptly turned 180 degrees and headed back the other way.  Paul, of course, talked Buddy into going onto hazard 1. Buddy, by this time, had been seeing all the cars, umbrellas & people standing right were he was heading. So, when we got to the start/finish gate of hazard 1, Bud went “NOPE, I going home” and turned a 180 then Paul turned him back to the hazard. This scene was repeated a couple more times, until bud charged thru the gate. The hazard gates were gone thru without issue, then bud had to leave. Repeat above steps regarding circles and charging. I was doing my best not to laugh. Poor Buddy!

The 2nd Hazard came up on the marathon, and caught Bud off guard. It was located around a bend & there were cars on the right. The water hazard (which Bud’s level didn’t do) was on the left. So, we repeated the circling at start/finish for a little while, then Paul got Bud to charge thru the Start/Finish gate. He went thru all the gates without issue and then this time went right out the start/finish gate without much of discussion. By hazard 3, he went thru the start/finish gates and did his job, then came back out. No discussion about the start/finish gates. But the funniest thing was yet to come.

Hazard 6 was the last hazard on course. It’s called the may pole for a reason. It has colorful streamers going off of a center pole and those streamers go to other poles attached to the hazard. The wind was blowing pretty good & the streamers were really flapping in the wind. Bud went thru the start/finish gate without issue only to stop at entrance to hazard. He flatly refused to enter it. Paul tried every opening he could for bud, but he just would not go in. I think we circled the hazard 10 times before Paul told me to get off the carriage and lead Buddy thru. So, that is what I did. I had the reassure this 900 lb, 14.2 h pony, that the steamers & their shadows were not going to get him. I was laughing by this time. But as soon as he could see me, he went with me. I didn’t have to touch him, he just followed. We went thru gates A & B together and then he went thru C all by himself (Paul was still in the carriage), I just got back in the carriage. So, he is not the bravest soul, but he did make it all the way thru his first marathon & his first show.

He has one more show before his summer vacation is here. we are going to take him the Cypress Keep HDT, June 4-5, 2011.  That’s the 1st show LD did and it is a good show for the green ones, as it seems to be a little quieter then the big shows.

LD is not going because he has been doing so well at the other shows. He has earned his rest. He not totally off for the summer, he is still walking 6 days a week for now. I am even walking him in the carriage now. I did it this weekend for the first time. I hadn’t driven him since February. Paul is hoping that LD and I can gained confidence in one another enough to show next season. I am hoping too. Time will tell. For now, I am content to have LD relax with me in the carriage.

Well, our final driving show of the season is almost here. Port Mayaka is less then a week away. This week starts the preparations for Buddy’s first show, LD’s last show of the season & a ramping down of all things showing for the summer. Buddy might have one more show in June, but overall the season is over for us after this show.

Everyone went over to the Fred Merriam Clinic a couple weekends ago. LD showed a lot of improvement in his dressage work + Fred actually drove him a bit as well. I have a little bit of hope that I might one day be able to drive him short term anyways.

Buddy saw a hazard for the first time there as well & I was in the back of his carriage for it. I learned a couple things. One, Paul doesn’t listen & two, bud seems to have enjoyed the challenge. I am actually looking forward to this event. I finally get to so something!

Keep you posted!

So, I think I might of found a new job with driving. I haven’t had the nerve to drive Little dude alone since we wrecked. Paul did put me in the cart once, but I was very nervous and LD got nervous too. I don’t think I will be driving him anytime soon.

Well, as for the job. I am going to give navigating a try. “gatoring” is the person who is on the back of the marathon carriage. Paul has been driving another pony named “buddy” & he has a marathon carriage. His official first show will be the Port Mayaka May Day HDT. So, we will how he does.

Little dude has done very well this past show. Paul and Little Dude did a very good dressage & cones. But was really cool was LD was very social & calm all weekend. He didn’t even want to be turned out. He was very happy just to hang out in his stall and the people that walked by. I will have some pictures soon of the water hazard at Little Everglades HDT. I think everybody will like the shots.

I couldn’t take any pictures because I got to navigate for a another driver. It was a blast! It was her first HDT & she needed a “gator”. I hope she will continue to do it, even when she get home to Michigan.

Write again soon!

I guess it’s about time I updated everyone on Little Dude and I. I am not driving LD at the Black Prong HDT March 12-3, 2011. I can’t keep my hands or my nerves quiet enough to be able to drive him. Paul will be taking over ALL LD’s driving. He will keep the same schedule that we originally laid out for him for the show season. I just am going to be his groom.  I just don’t have the talent or the confidence any more to do anything more with horses. I am just going to have to come to terms with it.

In other news, Paul’s other driving horse in training, Buddy, is coming along well. he’s getting his own 4-wheel CDE carriage at the end of the month. Buddy is a 14.2 hand Welch/TB cross gelding. He is as cute as a button. I hope to get some decent pictures of him and Paul at the clinic this weekend.

Paul’s Dressage Horse, Ben, did well at his last schooling show. he got a 62.400%. He’ll be heading to the 2 shows in Venice, FL on April 9-10, 2011.

Our current schedule is going to keep Paul hopping. Between Driving and Dressage, Paul wont have a break until the 3rd weekend in April. I will try to keep everyone updated as the event proceed.