As many of you know, my life outside of real estate (I DO try to maintain some normalcy and balance!), beyond family, is horses; and carriage driving in particular!
I just returned from the 2008 Gayla Bluegrass Combined Driving Event where I've now been an obstacle judge for 18 straight years!
Basically, a CDE is a 3 phase test for carriage horses and their drivers, known as "whips." Phase 1 is called Dressage, a test of compulsary figures in a closed arena.
Phase 2 is "Cones", consisting of a course of 20 or so pairs of traffic cones with tennis balls balanced on the tops and spaced but a few inches wider than the carriage track width. This course is then driven at speed and time and "faults" (ball knock downs) are the judging criteria.
Phase 3 is "Marathon" Generally a 5 to 7 kilometer cross country drive with 6 or 7 obstacles that again must be negotiated accurately at speed. The final score is then calculated by penalty points, the lowest accrued penalty points being the winner of each division.
There are serveral divisions at a CDE for levels of competency, number of horses (single, pairs, multiples) and horse and pony divisions.
It is a wonderful sport and "driving people" are the best. Thru carriage driving and real estate, I have made incredible, life long friends from all over the country!
Here is a short video of Lindsey Nevitt and her Appaloosa horse, Dragon, Intermediate Level single horse Champion at Gayla 2008 CDE
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