On the road again!!.. KATYDID PICTURES!

[horseyfolks]

Yup, no doubt about it, we are ready :yes:! Haven’t had a road trip since the Laurels about 7 weeks ago :no:. When we got home from there we thought it would be great to be home for a while… well, it was :yes:… now it will be great to be GONE :lol: ! We have done 4 or 5 local Florida shows since Laurels but that is just not the same.

We are leaving at 0 dark 30 for Katydid in Aiken, South Carolina. OK, OK, so its only about 1100 miles round trip, it still qualifies as a road trip ;).

Still hoping we might run into somebody up there… it’s not that far from North Carolina! heheheheheeeee…

I’ll try to post reports on the show from the motel…

Don

[pricestory]

You guys have a great show.
After last year, I decided to vote with my money and not attend this year.
There are a lot of new folks attending from what I heard at Pine Tree and a lot of folks moving up for the first time. I wish everyone a fun and safe event. I know I’ll miss it once it is in full swing. Keep us in touch.

[Happy_Feet]

Good Luck and have a blast. Be safe too!!!
Can’t wait for the reports!

[horseyfolks]

Price, I understand completely. I was one of those arguing about what they pulled on you and Poppins (and other things). I was not even considering going back until I saw different folks putting it together.

I also really don’t have a lot of choice now that Sam needs Advanced Classes… we need to go where they are.

[horseyfolks]

Today was a beautiful, clear, cold day at Katydid Farm. OH… and did I mention COLD! :eek: :yes: :winkgrin: It was in the low 50’s with a stiff breeze blowing all day. Cold and dry… in an hour you had chapped lips.

OK, so those of you who live in God forsaken deep freeze, USA think anything above 0 degrees is cause to open the swimming pool :eek: :lol:. We live in a more civilized, gentile, part of the map where cold is definetly the exception and not the rule!

They are expecting 32 DEGREES here tonight! Poor AJ begged for his slinky and his mane tamer under his turnout sheet under his quilted winter blanket with his full hood and his muckluck boots! He would have looked like a stuffed cabbage wrapped in a blue napkin :eek::D:lol:! He wanted to use my cell phone to call TUSSTPCTCP! Thats “The United States Society To Prevent Cruelty To Cute Ponies” to those unfamiliar with pony salvation ;). He saved their number from the back of a feed bag… He actually thought I was gullible enough to lend him my phone! Second thought… I should have given him the phone and then made fun of him trying to push those little buttons with his shoes on!

There are a lot of people here already. The Preliminary division is huge. I don’t know the exact number but Prelim open single pony has probably 12 to 15 entries and prelim pony limit is also large. Horse is the same way.

They have included Intermediate division with Advanced to do driven dressage tomorrow. All day Friday is prelim dressage. Marathon is Saturday with Cones on Sunday. Sam has vet check and then jog tomorrow before dressage.

Actually, AJ is enjoying the colder weather. He is really forward, his transitions are snappy and right now, and he seems to be really enjoying his work.

There are a lot of big name drivers here with new ponies and horses. Sam’s class (advanced single pony) is small with, I think, only 6 drivers… Jennifer Matheson, Dale Govus, Megan Benje, Pixie Keating, and I can’t remember who else. It’s going to be a pretty good class with pretty tight scores. It definetly won’t be over 'til it’s over, thats for sure.

As usual, Katydid Farm is a nice venue. Interesting hazards, great dressage arena, beautiful grounds, and a 1st class food concession. Aiken offers nice motels and some very nice restaurants.

Sam’s 'gator/groom arrived this afternoon from Florida. She is now called on to do not only gatoring, but also groom duties for dressage and cones so she will be here until Sunday evening.

I will try to get dressage scores to y’all tomorrow. If there is anyone in particular any of y’all may be following let me know and I’ll put up scores…

Don

[hobbyhorse23]

[QUOTE=horseyfolks;2788720]
OK, so those of you who live in God forsaken deep freeze, USA think anything above 0 degrees is cause to open the swimming pool :eek: :lol:. We live in a more civilized, gentile, part of the map where cold is definetly the exception and not the rule! [/QUOTE]

Ha! Don’t give me that “We live where weather isn’t an issue” thing. I’m hearing from an awful lot of Floridian friends who are celebrating the fact it is finally cool enough to drive for the first time all summer! LOL

Still, 50 is pretty cool. We haven’t been above it for weeks now but the horses do seem to like it and give some very energetic drives with their ears cheerfully forward.

I hope the show goes well for you! Keep us up to date.

Leia

[horseyfolks]

how soon we forget Leia… it was not that long ago (maybe 2 months?) that some on this list were complaining they hadn’t driven in days because it was too hot. Everywhere from New Jersey through the Carolinas, up into Michigan, and all the way out to your coast. We kept right on driving and showing! We might have done it in the morning and late afternoon, but we did it. Maybe its just a case of priorities ;).

This morning in beautiful down town Aiken, SC it is 26 degrees! 26 DEGREES! I sure hope nobody with a phone got near AJ :winkgrin::D:lol: …

Don

[MySparrow]

Well, it’s 36 here this morning, and the roofs are all frosty. Horses are snorting and bucking. Even my geriatric, crippled Impressive son got airborne before breakfast this morning. And it got pretty nippy last night, as I taught until 7.

Hope you have a great day today, Don, Sami and AJ!

Dale

[goodhors]

I think AJ is doing the Pony Pity Party, going for the sympathy, trying to get out of work. He is an Alps MOUNTAIN pony breed, out with those Austrian folks wearing leather SHORTS in the snow!! He has you guys really fooled, probably snickering as you shiver. He should be glad he is still in the South, warmer most of the time than here. We had SNOW showers today, first of the season.

We are hoping for 50F this weekend, to finish the outside jobs that still need doing. Have to net my fishpond, to keep leaves from filling it. Water tanks had ice yesterday, just a skim. Horses are REALLY feeling good, racing from the back fields to the gate and back again, on the chance of an apple core when I go by. The young horse ALWAYS runs up to check any thing we do. He is pretty tired now, about 20 trips at a gallop, checking on us filling gate puddles, spreading sand in the lane and arena. No mud wading this winter!!

Conditioning in the heat, conditioning in the very cold, regularly, who is the toughest? Hard to decide. You are most used to your own conditioning extremes. Would you swap with the other folk, take on their conditions as well? I guess it depends on how badly you want to play, so you continue to get prepared or not. We had nothing to get fit for, so were able to just whine about August heat and humidity, leave the horses alone for a time. They DO LIKE the cold of Fall, very animated now.

Don and company, hope the sun keeps shining, makes the frost sparkle! Tell AJ to drink with his teeth shut, strains the ice off the bucket. Ha Ha.

Best wishes on your competition, all sections. That sure is fast company to play with.

[horseyfolks]

Here is the report on dressage day at Katydid CDE. Thanks to all of y’all for your Good Luck wishes. As I said before, both Intermediate and Advanced Dressage went today due to the large amount of Prelim entries.

It only started to warm up about 11 or 12 o’clock. I would guess it got up to maybe 60 degrees but there was a breeze that kept it nippy. The advanced jog test was at noon. AJ had no problem, went right through it. All the horses and ponies were pretty much pumped up in the cool weather.

Sam and AJ had a good test. He moved his feet just a little upon entering at X but the test was solid. No one could say he wasn’t forward :winkgrin: :lol:…

When the class was over Sam and AJ had placed in second, behind Jennifer Matheson. That lady sure has a gorgeous pony and they really perform a brilliant test :yes:. Sam is in pretty good position though going into the marathon. Time will tell.

Tomorrow we have the day off. Just be playing with AJ, going over gear, walking hazards, and hanging out. Both of Sam’s trainers (Sterling Graburn and Charlotte Trentleman) are showing prelim (Sterling with a tandem of Morgans and Charlotte in single pony with her Haflinger) tomorrow so Sam will be busy helping out. We heard about a good steak and seafood restaurant on Route 1 just outside of Aiken. Sam, Mom, Joanne (Sam’s 'gator), and a couple of other friends have all decided that I should take them all there for dinner tomorrow night. I was absent when they made the decision so I didn’t get a vote.

There are also a few folks we show with from Florida as well as 3 or 4 Florida Whips members and a couple of Drivers from Stride in Ocala. I guess Florida is well represented…

Marathon is Saturday. Sam and AJ don’t go until like 2 in the afternoon. Sam will be climbing the walls waiting for that…

I’ll give y’all another report tomorrow night if I can.

A Coth driving board member PM’ed me today and called AJ the “Popsicle Pony” after my story about the cold weather. I thought that was cute so until tomorrow… Don, Sam, and AJ, the Popsicle Pony!

[pricestory]

Good job, Sam and AJ.
Was Jennifer’s pony the one she took to the World’s last time? I think he was German, a champion there when she bought him. But he must be getting older so this could be a new pony.
How did Dale do?

[Ashemont]

Congrats to Sami and AJ. Second place after dressage? Heck… that’s no pressure at all for Sami Wish we could be there to cheer them on but you know we are always rooting for her :yes:

Would appreciate results of any NC folks that you have. I know a lot of our MCDC club members are there and I’ve got fingers and toes crossed for Cindy O’Reilly. She’s a gutsy lady to drive those 4 big girls!

[Happy_Feet]

Congrats Sam! Well, I would imagine it must be cold up there, it is down in the 50’s at night down here!!! The ponies are all fresh and full of themselfs!
Good luck and be safe!

[Jetiki]

wish I could

run down and see ya’ll but I have to hold down the fort by myself. I’m up to 9 ponies/minis now and with the kids and all its just not happening. Good luck and we’ll try to get down to the next event ya’ll do thats close to us. My half arab that was given to me this summer wants to join AJ in his phone call. It was 23-24 here yesterday morning and her blankie hasn’t come in the mail yet. She saids its too cold and she asks for someone to turn the heat back on. She’s lived all her life in the Tampa area and at the tender age of 6 she says NO to cold. LOL.

Karen

[mares_tails]

[QUOTE=horseyfolks;2788720]

We live in a more civilized, gentile, part of the map where cold is definetly the exception and not the rule! …
Don[/QUOTE]

genteel / gentile
tomayto / tomahto :lol:

?

[horseyfolks]

Price, yes, Jennifer’s pony is the one that went to/came from Worlds. He may be getting older but he is still an outstanding, beautiful, incredibly trained pony. Jennifer is more than able to drive a flawless test. Between the two of them they make a team that is top of the rock. Sam and AJ have yet to beat them or, to be honest, even get within 5 or 6 points of them in Dressage. This is Sam’s second Advanced CDE and she has been second to Jennifer in both shows.

Sam can beat Jennifer in the marathon… In cones you can pretty much bet on Jennifer to go double clean. Like I said, she drives a brilliant test and takes no prisoners. Sam is also very good in cones… I don’t know if Sam and that “built downhill, heavy on the forehand Hayflinger” AJ CAN beat them in Dressage. I know Sam is working double overtime trying though. I will say this… Brondo is doing great and consistantly getting better dressage scores than AJ. Time will tell :yes:.

Dale Govus says to tell you “Hey”. She is in 3rd place going into the marathon about 4 points behind Sam. Dale is a very nice lady and we enjoy showing with her!

Ashemont, Cindy looked great with her turnout but she was not happy with her score. With her colors (black and red) and the 4 dark bays she always looks great!

Jetiki, its good hearing from you! Our next show near you will probably be Southern Pines CDE sometime in May I would guess. I don’t know if they will have advanced or not but we could do the CDE in Intermediate with Brondo. You ought to come down for Tampa Trials…

Today was very laid back. It warmed up (60 drgrees) and the day was spent watching the Prelim division and walking hazards. There were close to 50 drivers in Prelim so the dressage took all day.

I don’t know everyones score… there were just to many. To be honest, Mama and I left about 4:30 PM. We were hungry and wanted something that we didn’t have to wait in line for and wasn’t wrapped in aluminum foil. The food at the concession is very good but it was time for a break…

Scott Parkman (from Florida) is second in Prelim single pony open but he is only 3 or 4 tenths of a point out of 1st. Charlotte Trentleman (one of Sam’s trainers and another Floridian) was showing Prelim single pony open with her Hayflinger mare. It is the ponies first show and she is in 4th place. Sherrie Lower (Florida), who owns Hats Off Boutique, is showing in Intermediate single horse open. She won her dressage and is leading her class going into marathon. We left before Sterling or Wendy went with their tandems so I don’t know their results yet.

Tomorrow is marathon. 1st out at 9 AM. Sam doesn’t go 'til 2:27 PM so it’s going to be a long morning.

Mom and I ended up at an Oriental steak, seafood, and sushi restaurant. The food was excellent. They had a seafood buffet with a wide assortment of items. A few of my favorites were cream vanilla shrimp, black pepper/garlic shrimp, tempura frog legs, and garlic steamed blue claw crabs. They also had fillet that was so tender you could cut it with a fork. The sushi was very good but I thought the sashimi was better. Especially the Yellowfin Tuna (ahi) and Salmon.

It’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow. I hope it stays at least cool. I will post a marathon report tomorrow evening if I can…

Don

[Cartfall]

Hey, well done, Team AJ aka Popsicle Pony!!! Give Sami a high 5, AJ a carrot and buy Joanne a brew at dinner for the great job. Glad to head Joanne made it safely.

Will be thinking about you all as I drive a 25 mile CTD on Sunday. I do miss not being there–but with no training for Zanzer, the CTD won!!!

Don–I did get a reply from S.G on the HDT next weekend–my entry has been accepted. But the event secretary does not have any information on me. Check has been cashed just this week. So we will see you there.

Good luck tomorrow on your marathon–we know that Sami will kick some serious butt.

I will not be back on line until after your event is over. So keep on posting!!!

[Jetiki]

I’m not going to get down that way until closer to Christmas, I’ll be down for a week or so. Its just so hard to get away for any length of time. Let me know when the Southern Pines CDE is and we’ll work on getting there. I am hoping to get to some events next year.

Karen

[horseyfolks]

OK guys… today was the marathon :yes:! The weather was beautiful. Temperature was warmer (65 degrees) but still cool enough for the horses to feel good. There were 2 mishaps but no one (equine or human) was injured. Cindy O’Reilly, driving her 4 in Intermediate, ran her leaders up on part of the water hazard (in the water). The off leader got turned sidewise in the harness and everything came to an abrupt halt. Cindy did a really nice job of driving them out of trouble. Once she got all of their attention she BACKED (remember this was a 4 in hand of big horses) the whole rig to get them off the hazard, got the leader straightened out, and moved out at a walk. They exited the hazard, she put a 'gator down to make some harness repairs, and they were on their way again in no time. She made it look SOOOO easy! It was a nail biter for a couple minutes but Cindy did a fine job.

The other mishap was Fred Mirriam who turned over at hazard 7. No damage, no problem. Straightened up the carriage and went back to work.

I’ll tell y’all about it but first let me say that Sam won the marathon in the advanced single pony class. She, Joanne, and AJ won 3 hazards and were 2nd in the other 4 (Advanced did 7 hazards with 6 gates in each one). Jennifer Matheson won 4 hazards but was only 3rd in another one and 4th in the last two for a second place in the marathon. Sam is still in second place overall but she lengthened her lead over 3rd place and got closer to Jennifer in 1st place.

AJ had a little problem right at the start in #1 hazard. It is called the spider web. It is a pole and board hazard but they take a whole bunch of the white cotton spiderweb and cover each section of post and board with it. They also added 2 giant (maybe 4 feet wide) 3 dimensional black spiders with long hairy legs for effect.

The other drivers were taking a line way out and around the spiders but when Sam walked it she found that if she took the narrow opening right under the spider it was a good bit shorter. So guess which way she decided to go? Yup, you guessed it. She pointed AJ right at the shorter gap and pulled the trigger. AJ comes around the turn, takes one look at this big, black, hairy spider :eek: with his big, long, black, hairy legs hanging down :eek: :eek: and moving around in the wind and decided he and Sam needed to have a serious talk about just where they were going or not :D:lol::winkgrin::yes:!! Don’t ever let anyone tell you Hayflingers can’t be reining horses! In full harness, pulling a carriage, he did the most amazing sliding stop anyone ever saw :yes:;)! Sam very quickly convinced him that what lay behind him was way more scary than that spider ever was and drove him through it and he went. The problem was he went very quickly (everybody knows if the spider can’t catch you he can’t eat you) and right on the other side was a very quick almost 180 degree button hook turn. They made the turn but Sam’s concentration stayed back there with the spider and her timing was way off. They finished hazard #1 slower than they expected. By the time they went through hazard #2 she was back on her game but it cost her the win in the first 2 hazards.

Tomorrow is cones. If Jennifer were to drop a couple balls or get a few time penalties or a combination of both and Sam goes double clean she could possibly move into 1st place. Of course the chances of a driver of Jennifer’s caliber making those mistakes are about the same as my chances of winning the Florida Lotto twice, back to back :no:. Then again… it’s not over 'til it’s over…

There was a videographer there taking videos. I ordered a video of 4 hazards and the cones course. As soon as I get the video I’ll post some of it.

I’ll talk to y’all again tomorrow evening with a report on cones and the final results…

Don

[hobbyhorse23]

Hot dang!

That is so cool. I giggled my way through your recounting of the spiders, absolutely loved that. Poor Sam though! Stuck with an arachnophobic popsicle Hayflinger pony…

Keep it up! I’ve got my fingers crossed for tomorrow. Do me a favor and get her dressage video too, will you? I swear SOMEDAY I will see her go in person but for now a video is the next best thing.

Leia