Scott and I took our litte miniature horse Cocoa to the Waldingfield horse driving trial in Ipswich. The weather was a tad warm but we made it through the day. The thunderstorms managed to hold off which was wonderful!

We bought Cocoa this past April as a little 3 year old black mini registered mare. Some of our friends wanted to experience a mini so we decided to buy one. We also say that we sell equines as well as harness and carts/carriages from mini to draft and we wanted to live up to what we say. She just turned 4 a few days ago. She is very bright and was able to cope with the demands of her training in order to get ready for this event.

The venue is to die for! I have ridden it since 1974 but never drove all the area of it. The venue is steeped in history and as I drove it, I thought of the people who have enjoyed it since the 1800's. With such a stunning venue, it was hard not to smile the whole way and have a positive attitude while trying to make the correct time and get through the hazzards clean.

The dressage judge was a perfect gentleman with a fabulous sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed him! The minis had to use the regulation dressage arena so I felt like it must have been like watching paint dry as it seemed to take forever to drive down the long sides and drive those huge circles that seemed to go on and on and on! At the end I congratulated the judge for staying awake and joked about having enough real estate! He really laughed and said she was the cutest thing he had ever seen! He gave us a TEN on our turnout! I was SO elated over that. Scott said my dressage test flowed beautifully and looked elegant. I thought he was just grooming my ego but we did recieve a fabulous score of 46.46 putting us in first place in our division.

Marc Johnson designed a fabulously brain teasing cones course. It had so many twists and turns and numbers you could not even see or find that I thought I would NEVER remember it! I was a bit nervous about it but decided to just embrace the challenge and break it down in sections in order to remember it. Unlike a hunter/jumper course, all the cones look exactly the same! We made it through clean not knocking any balls off and made the time keeping our first place position.

With that, the pressure was clearly on so I made sure I walked one of the hazzards I was not sure I remembered. The problem with the mini division is that you do not have the usual navigator helping you remember the course, help with the time and help to remember the hazzards. I was all on my own with my little equine.

Driving the cross country course was a dream! The start was Don Curiale's driveway which is a beautiful white pea stone lined with old trees. We went down the driveway and by his stunning estate home and down the side alley lined again with beautiful trees. I have had the honor and pleasure of riding it for opening meet and one time sidesaddle and it was just as much of an honor to drive it. Then we crossed the rode into Appletons and that venue is so picturesque. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Then back accross the street and the end was a beautiful drive along the river in the shade. We were ahead of our time so I let Cocoa walk for a bit there to catch her breath. Then back out onto the polo field and back to the finish and off to the vet check. She passed the vet check with flying colors. My time matched their time and I knew I went clean so realized that we kept our first place position with a total score of 46.46! What an amazing day!

Holly awarded me with a little mini anti-sweet sheet she found at Martins Auction. What fun she had finding the right awards for each division!

The volunteers were all amazing and kept the event running like a top. Everyone was SO generous, patient and nice in spite of the heat and my many questions. I learned SO much at my first driving trial! Cocoa was a trooper and I think she really enjoyed it. She got a lot of attention and lots of pats and kisses. This was the first year they allowed VSE's (very small equines) and we are invited back next year.

With this under my belt I have the confidence to drive one of my sport horses next year or our beautiful pair of Percheron Molly Mules. Scott will be able to be my navigator which will be so much fun! He taught me all I know so I have to thank my fabulous husband for getting me to where I am in the driving world today!

Cocoa is for sale and anyone can drive her. I will be hooking her double with her little mate Alex this week. We are also available to meet all your driving needs through lessons (our equines or yours, single, pairs) and all the driving equipment you can think of! Foxmere Farm is growing in its reputation and driving items. Please come and visit us.