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. 

Fast forward, February through July

FEBRUARY

 Cold and cozy but always offers winter activities.

The husband and I took advantage of the snow and did a lot of snowshoeing.

MARCH:

 Can never resist a quick day trip to see my favorite baby girl. Her smile melts my heart.

My mom mis stepped and fell down some stairs which left her bruised and sore so I spent some time on Whidbey Island helping her. She's a tough woman and tried to keep going but I'm just as stubborn and made sure she kept still.

I absolutely love doting on my father and picked up where my mom left off. He's such a kind soul with a generous heart.

After saying goodbye to my parents I was home a week before leaving for Idaho. I got to hang with the boys while their folks played in Hawaii. 

I'm pretty sure we had more fun. I can guarantee they didn't have a dance party every night with glow sticks.

We played, bowled, did the limbo on the trampoline, hiked, made crafts, stayed up way too late, laughed, biked and packed in as many activities as we could in the 8 days we were together.

I missed Elsie's first birthday in march but was able to FaceTime her from the airport between flights to Idaho.

APRIL: 

Thankfully Elsie and her parents came for a few days and I was able to gush over and play with her. Having a granddaughter is a whole different ball game. 

I took full advantage of our three days together and pulled out all my toys, can you tell which were her favorite? Rocks never disappoint.

I gotta say, playing dress up was pretty fun too.

MAY:

Attended my first schooling show with Miss Dixie. We have   been working and learning together driving a carriage.

The show involved three different events. First dressage, second a cones course where you drive between sets of cones with tennis balls on them. The object is to go through the cones without knocking the tennis balls off and third, a marathon course where you go to multiple fields and in each field there are obstacles to drive through and around.

It was challenging, thrilling and so exciting. I can't wait for our first CDE (Combined Driving Event) coming up this month on the 13-15. It's the real deal!

JUNE:

Our family gathered together on Whidbey Island to celebrate our dads 90th birthday. All four of my siblings and their families attended. It was a fun filled day full of activities, food and laughter.

With my own family in town we continued our annual family vacation and stayed in Anacortes WA. 

We hiked, played games, had insane ping pong tournaments and even hosted a murder mystery party, 'Murder at the Mardi Gras'

It was a night of mystery for sure and we even found out who dunnit.

After our time together was over, all the family left but me and the boys. We stayed behind and went back to my parents house where my sister and I had a mini grandma vacation. Her with her two grandsons and me with mine.

We played on the beaches, rode the ferry to Friday Harbor,

and did all things boys like to do. The fun continued when I brought them home to Yakima for their annual two weeks with grandma and grandpa.

 Our weather was blistering hot with temperatures in the mid 100's. The only thing we could do was swim, so for two weeks that's exactly what we did.

We even rallied our old neighbors and had them join us everyday.

We also met Elsie and her parents at a waterpark and spent the day splashing around with them.

We also had some farm fun where Dixie gave them a carriage ride and grandpa taught them how to drive a tractor.

JULY:

July rolled around and the husband not only got himself one new puppy but two. Let's just say, I knew about the first one 

But he surprised me with another a week later. 

Meet Finn and Rhys both Airedale Terriers. We now have twin toddlers haha. Brothers from different mothers.

My heart broke when we had to say goodbye to my best girl Jaycee. She had suffered from laminitis on and off for years and it finally got the better of her. I couldn't see her in pain any more and had to make the difficult decision to let her go.

She took me on miles of trail rides, loved my grandkids and has been Baileys mate for 13 years. She had the sweetest disposition, kind and gentle to every child, tough as nails and had the smoothest Tennessee walk when she was feeling good. 

She was loved by our family and will forever be missed.