Our first Combined Driving Event (CDE)

 Dixie and I were big timing and decided to test our driving skills. We entered a Combined Driving Event which consists of a dressage test, a marathon course and a cones course. 

The definition of driven dressage is:

 Horses and ponies and their drivers drive individually in specified patterns and gaits to demonstrate the skills, obedience and development appropriate to their levels of training before one or more judges.

Dressage develops and displays polish, discipline and athleticism of equine and driver dancing together.

 Dixie and I entered at the training level because, you gotta start somewhere.

The following day was the marathon course. 

The training level was a 6K course with 5 obstacles in various fields. Each obstacle has a set of  3 hazards to maneuver around. This is a timed course.

It's mandatory to have a navigator riding with you for safety reasons. Should anything go wrong such as an accident or carriage trouble you have someone there to help you.

A navigator also assists in guiding the driver through the course. Since I needed one I decided to recruit my husband.

 I told him this is the one time he can give directions without me arguing haha.

Day three was the cones course. 

The course consisted of 20 sets of cones, each set is numbered with a white number on the left and a red number on the right.

As long as you enter the set of cones numerically with the red number  on your right you can choose your own pattern.

To make it even more challenging, each set of cones has orange balls sitting on top of them. The object is to go through each set quickly and smoothly without knocking the balls off.

It's ok to make a mistake as long as you correct yourself before entering the next set of cones.

Otherwise it's game over, the technical delegate will blow his whistle and you must leave the arena immediately and you are automatically eliminated. 

This is also a timed course.

The cones course was the most stressful for me as Dixie had nervous energy durning the warmup. She would rear if she had to stand still and had a rough trot as we were warming up. 

 I just knew we were going to knock over every ball on the course.

Once the 'go' whistle blew and we entered the arena Dixie's whole demeanor changed. She was collected, calm and had her game on.

Everything seemed so quiet and still, and my confidence grew. We sailed through the first set of 13 cones with only one ball down.

After we crossed 15 I thought I heard a whistle blow but was convinced it wasn't directed towards us.

Dixie and I were in the zone. Surely the whistle was for the warmup area so we continued on.

 We crossed the finish with only one ball down! Man I was so proud of my girl.

The technical delegate approached the carriage and explained how I got off course and must not have heard his whistle.

What???? Dang! I couldn't believe it. I had walked that course numerous times prior to the test. I had it memorized and still managed to get off course. 

Cones 14 had more than one set to go through. 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D.

As I went through 14A I immediately  was looking for 15 and totally blew passed the rest of  14B,C and D.

I feel like I failed my horse. She had her act together and I spaced. I am glad we ended up finishing the course even though technically we should have left the arena but hey, we're in training  haha.

It was such a fun three days and an amazing first experience for both of us. 

I know I learned a lot and with so many different sights, sounds and other horses around it was good for Dixie as well.

I'm definitely looking forward to more showing and hopefully to staying on course.