Partner love from Dr. Kim Keeton |
And they are not always the ones holding a ribbon on Day 3.
Greatness I saw included young T3DE rider Laura Duhamel, who walked into the secretary's office at the end of endurance day & withdrew. Although she & Fate's Patriot had only a single refusal on XC, she felt her horse just wasn't quite right & chose to take him home, putting her partner first so they could try again another day.
Lost with a map like this? Surely not! |
But after hanging up her bridle, she stayed to help others with a big smile for the remainder of the competition. It earned her the award that is my favorite to give: the Sportsmanship Award.
Which included an autographed copy of Training of the Three-day Event Horse and Rider, with a handwritten note from author
It’s Never Just A Dressage Show
Just getting there is an accomplishment on its own. Completion of a long format event is yet another. So each & every entry gets my resounding applause.
BN3DE Bonnie Coulter's grin says it all when she & 21-yr-old QH Otto Be Lucky finish Phase D (& place 5th!); thanks, Erica, for the WIN selfie! |
Donkey gets Becky's happy face! |
Donkey Hote (I get to say his name again, yessss!), owned & ridden by Sue Goepfert; they were also a close 2nd both in the N3DE division & for the N3DE TIP award by a mere 2.9 points.
Lowest Scoring Adult Amateur, sponsored by BlackWatch Stables (must be a member of your Area Adult Rider program): Dr. Kim Keeton & Evita-Veron, T3DE division winners.
Effenzauber effen-gallops! |
- Training – Louisa Flaig & Effenzauber
- Novice – Ann Bower & Prosecco
- Beginner Novice – Patricia Thompson & The Dark Knight
Red Fury even pauses winningly |
- Novice 3DE – Paychecker, with Minge Wiseman, who also won the N3DE division on their stunning 28.1 dressage score.
- Beginner Novice 3DE – Red Fury, with our friend Nobie Cannon; they were 2nd in their division as well, behind winner Emma Boswell & Sprite by only 0.3 points!!
- Training HT – Laurelin, with Lisa Borgia, who also won the Open Training HT.
- Novice HT – Action Jackson, with Erin Kimmer, 4th in Open Novice on a lovely 27.3.
Brad's mule is easy to spot |
From the first day I met him, during a long format clinic with Becky Holder, where I
Thank you to Horse Junkies United, The Cheraw Chronicle, & Leslie Threlkeld with Eventing Nation for your articles (including a new one just yesterday), social media sharing, & Leslie's onsite help not only with media, but as Assistant Organizer!
BN3DE Don Warren & Sunny One adorably on their way to 6th |
Sorry, you just got photobombed by a Holder AND a |
JJ makes XC run smooth as silk; N3DE Heather King & CF Baltic Royal Tee |
If this were the Oscars, the band would have begun playing long ago; there are just too many thank you’s to clinicians, farm staff, volunteers, builders, riders & more, but hey, I did write a program for that…
It takes more than a village, really, it takes something akin to a metropolis, but the result…even I don’t have enough words to encompass it. And while I can’t give away any secrets, 2016 is going to be even bigger, with even more features!
Have you started your trot sets yet?
N3DE Samantha Messamer & Finn McCool contemplate next year's plan |
I love being a part of long format events. I've been volunteering at ours in Indiana fir the last 4 years. It really is an experience like none other watching what all goes into completing one. Sounds like you had a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat's always sounded like another great one!! Thanks for helping out, they really are so special.
DeleteSo cool that there were additional awards to be won, because I agree, there are many other ways to "win" a horse show, other than coming home with a ribbon!
ReplyDeleteAGREED! Heck, I have learned & "earned" more 'swag' for lack of a better word, as a volunteer, than in any competitions! I LOVE giving out the special awards, they are hard-won, very competitive & we put serious debate into them (although sometimes a clear winner is...clear!).
DeleteI couldn't agree more with this terrific post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teresa! Sorry I am behind on everything...maybe I should change the title of the blog to that, LOL.
DeleteThis event has been on my "Before I Die" list ever since I heard about it however many years ago. Sadly I had just gone to college and had no horse and it was on the "One Day I Will...." list. Now I have a horse going and doing again and I will make it a priority to be there next year!!!!! (of course the horse has to agree too since after all and well, horses are horses!)
ReplyDeleteBee, just DON'T TELL HIM! I hope, but...dang job keeps getting in the way!!!!
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