The Slower Road

October 7, 2011

Kentucky Classic CDE, day one

Posted by Jennifer under Kentucky Classic CDE, Lexington & KHP
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The first session of dressage & cones is now complete. Today, we saw the advanced-level drivers (one single pony, three single horses, and one horse pair), the intermediate-level horse pairs and pony four-in-hand teams, and the lone preliminary-level four-in-hand team.

Tomorrow, we’ll have intermediate single ponies, single horses and pony pairs; and all the rest of the preliminary drivers (single horses, horse pairs, single ponies, and pony pairs).

The setup for these combined dressage / cones days is a huge grass field at the back of the Horse Park. The dressage arena is at one end, the cones course is at the other, and there’s a lovely shady tent in the middle.

the lovely, shady tent, which everyone is welcome to enjoy

if you want to join us at the KHP to watch the dressage and cones on Saturday, these flowers mark the entrance to the shade of the tent

Donna Crookston during the canter portion of her advanced-single-horse dressage test

Mary Ruth Marks on the cones course

Misdee Wrigley Miller during her dressage test

Sterling Graburn’s team of Hackney ponies, all in perfect step, on the cones course

You can get results here throughout the weekend.

October 7, 2011

a quick jog

Posted by Jennifer under Kentucky Classic CDE, Lexington & KHP | Tags: postaday2011 |
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The horse inspection for the advanced-level competitors in the KY Classic CDE was this morning. It didn’t, in fact, take very long, as there are only five going advanced — one single pony, three single horses, and a pair of horses. The lone pony and all six horses passed.

Here are a few scenes from the inspection:

Jada Neubauer is driving the only advanced-level single pony in the competition

Mary Ruth Marks (shown here), Donna Crookston, and Bill Peacock are all driving single horses in the advanced division

Todd Draheim jogged three of Misdee Miller’s horses for her pair entry

another of Misdee’s pair

October 6, 2011

dogs and a donkey’s ear

Posted by Jennifer under Kentucky Classic CDE, the National Drive | Tags: postaday2011 |
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There wasn’t much going on in the CDE barn when I wandered over this afternoon. A few people were organizing things. Horses and ponies were hanging out in their stalls. One couple was giving their horse a bath.

it was a pretty quiet afternoon in the CDE barns

So I kept going, over to the National Drive barns, where I saw more dogs out in the aisles than horses / ponies / minis / donkeys. Here, too, some equines were hanging out in their stalls, and a few people were hanging out at the trade fair or relaxing by their horses’ stalls, or unhitching or putting to. But this is such a gorgeous day that I would venture a guess that most folks were out driving.

this dalmatian was hanging out with his people

the big curly-haired dog standing on the back step of this carriage, with his (her?) paws on the seat, just might be bigger than the pair of miniature horses

And, I have to admit, I sought out Bond (the miniature donkey from yesterday’s post) and his brothers. They are stabled two to a stall, they’re so little (and so darned cute). They were all moving around too much to get any good overall photos, but here’s an ear:

October 5, 2011

Bond and his new hat

Posted by Jennifer under the National Drive | Tags: postaday2011 |
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As you’ve no doubt gathered by now, the Kentucky Classic CDE is here at the KY Horse Park this weekend. I’ll be blogging about it throughout the event (probably tomorrow through Sunday afternoon; with any luck, more than once a day).

Also here at the KHP this week is the National Drive.

I went over to their barn area this afternoon to look for the miniature donkeys that Sally Armstrong (from Texas) drives three-abreast. I happened to find little Mr. Bond and his “mom,” Sally, both wearing new hats:

he doesn't seem to know quite what to do with his ears & his new hat, but he's so adorable

October 4, 2011

the October issue is on its way!

Posted by Jennifer under Carriage Journal magazine | Tags: postaday2011 |
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The October issue of our CAA magazine, The Carriage Journal, was mailed yesterday to all current association members.

In this issue are the usual departments (“In the Carriage House,” “In the Stable,” “Nuts and Bolts,” “The Road Behind,” and more), plus feature articles on an early-nineteenth-century coach owned by James DeWolf of Rhode Island; “reining” a six-horse team of horses the Western way; and the Private Driving Club’s “Route de Lorraine” drive earlier this year.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Carriage Association of America and our publications (including The Carriage Journal), please visit our website: www.caaonline.com.