So, every show is a learning experience and the Katydid CDE was no exception.

I learned that O. likes to trailer forwards and not backwards, I learned how to braid, I learned what not to do and what to do in the vet box, I learned how fast O. really can move out and what a willing heart she has, and most of all we learned we shouldn't make excuses for what we aren't and to just keep working toward making things what they can be and to not take it all so seriously and just have fun.

more Katydid CDE photos...

We had a big weekend at the National Drive with dressing and driving tips from Sherri and Bill Lower, champagne and hors d'oeuvres served carriage side, a lot of shopping opportunites and miles of wonderful of driving.

more National Drive photos

While out feeding on my birthday, I heard a cow bawling.  I decided to see what was going on and found her staring past the fence down into the woods.  Her calf must have tried to get up and rolled under the fence, and down into the woods.

The weekend was an incredible experience both for Odessa and me.  We competed in the Prelim Single Horse division and while we didn't win, we learned a lot, made improvements, and had a great time.  Coming from behind after a less than great dressage performance, we finished in 5th place just .33 points behind 4th.

As I am fairly new to driving and haven't experienced all of the transitions that the sport has gone through since it's inception,  I have often wondered how the walk section came about and why it has such a significant impact on a horse's success in CDEs.  In my experience as both a navigator and driver at all levels of competition, very few competitors seem to breeze through the walk section.