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Little Everglades Steeplechase

March 11, 2007
Dade City, Florida

TUESDAY - JANUARY 26 2010

It's breezy, 68 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky! Excitement builds as trailer after trailer pulls into the wonderful show grounds. Teams, pairs, and singles are harnessed, hitched, and head out for the ample schooling areas. Drivers of Warmbloods, Morgans, Dutch Harness Horses and ponies are all working on getting their horses and ponies supple, bending, and in round acceptance of the contact. All thinking, no doubt, about their dressage tests on Thursday and Friday.

Overheard from one of the judges: "This may be the best turf Dressage arena in the world" Wow, off to the arena to see this wonder! Under the clear blue sky the Dressage arena is a magnificent emerald green. Dan Millstead the Track and Arena Manager for Little Everglades started work on this masterpiece on July 10, 2010. He started with bare ground that had been laser leveled. He then sprigged 419 Bermuda. Huge sprinklers from Italy were installed with special fittings to withstand the pressure and distance the water traveled. In December Dan overseeded the Bermuda with perennial rye grass. He then carefully aerated and fed the grass. On this Tuesday afternoon before the Driving Event, Dan is using a big mower that is commonly used on golf courses to mow diagonal lines in the grass making this arena looks like a piece of art carefully sculpted with hours of hard work. The grass feels wonderful underfoot, but, will it drive as nice as it looks? Thursday will tell the tell.

          Wednesday January 27, 2010

        • Another gorgeous day at Little Everglades. Sunny, breezy, highs in the low 70's. All the teams have arrived and are busy training. Most of the non-FEI competitors have also arrived. At 3:00pm the FEI competitors start their jogs. South Carolina's Jennifer Matheson had her ponies beautifully turned out. Joshua Rector's horses were well prepared and Kudos to Canadian Darryl Billing for running all five of his big horses without breaking a sweat. As the jog ended late in the afternoon the nearly full moon was rising as the sun was setting on this most satisfactory day. Most of the horses and ponies were accepted and the drivers are looking forward to the dressage competition on Thursday and Friday.

            • THURSDAY STARTING ORDER DRESSAGE

            FEI Test 9
          1. 30 Trentelman, Charlotte FL FEI Single Pony 09:00
          2. 32 Creigh, Vivian VT FEI Single Pony 09:10
          3. 31 Keathing, Marilea "Pixie" SC FEI Single Pony 09:20
          4. 38 Groves, Robin VT FEI Single Horse 09:30
          5. 33 Crookston, Donna PA FEI Single Horse 09:40
          6. 34 Stover, Kimberly DE FEI Single Horse 09:50
          7. 35 Koopman, Bob MA FEIsingle Horse 10:00
          8. 37 Groves, G Wilson VT FEI Single Horse 10:10
          9. 36 Peacock, Bill TX FEI Single Horse 10:20
            FEI Test 10
          10. 39 Matheson, Jennifer SC FEI Pair Pony 10:35
          11. 41 Keathley, Elizabeth TN FEI Pony Team 10:45
            FEI Test 8B
          12. 40 Wrigley-Miller, Misdee KY FEI Pair Horse 11:00
            13. LUNCH BREAK
            FEI Test 8A
          13. 43 Billing, Darryl CAN FEI Horse Team 12:30
          14. 53 Freund, Michael GER FEI Horse Team 12:40
          15. 46 Saunders, David FL FEI Horse Team 12:50
          16. 55 Rector, Joshua AZ FEI Horse Team 13:00
          17. 44 Zubek, Casey IL FEI Horse Team 13:10
          18. 47 Fairclough, James NJ FEI Horse Team 13:20
          19. 49 Stover, Gary NC FEI Horse Team 13:30
          20. 50 McClennan, Mike TX FEI Horse Team 13:40
          21. 54 Robson, Gavin IL FEI Horse Team 13:50
          22. 48 Yoder, Joe MT FEI Horse Team 14:00
          23. 45 Laderoute, Deb CAN FEI Horse Team 14:10
          24. 52 Long, Bill MC FEI Horse Team 14:20
            25. Int Test 3
          25. 29 Schineider, Heather FL Inter Pony Team 14:40
            26. Pre Test 2
          26. 10 Schisler, Joanie SC Prelim Tandem Horse 14:50

            27. Thursday FEI Dressage Results

            Click here for FEI Dressage Results
          27. Pony Team Results
          28. Tandem Results

            29. Friday Dressage Results

            All Friday Dressage Results

            Saturday Marathon Results

            Marathon
          29. Dressage + Marathon
          30. Today was an exciting day of Marathon! Starting off with the Prelim Single Pony division Amy Cross won the Marathon phase but it wasn't enough to move her past Laura Sandiego and Muffy Seaton who maintained their standings at first and second respectively. In the Prelim Single Horse division Bob Giles won the Marathon which closed up the spread between him and Cheryl Rivers who still stands in first. The Prelim Pair Horse division is still the same with Jimmy Chancellor leading Steve Gilman. The lone Prelim Tandem Horse team did a great job in the water hazard overcoming some initial reluctance and a good save in Hazard number six. Inter. Single Pony's placing have changed with Dona Love winning the hazard with enough to bring her from fifth after dressage to first. In the FEI Team division, Germany's Michael Freund maintained his lead and a great run by Joshua Rector moved him up to second.

            31. Sunday Cones and Final Results

          31. Cones
          32. Final Results
          33. Sunday's Cones course was tough! But that was fitting considering that this event was a qualifying event for the 2010 Winter Equestrian Games. None of the FEI Four-In-Hand teams had a clear round with out a ball down. Most also had time penalties as well. Now that's a tough course! According to USA Team Coach Peter Tischer this technical cones course was just what the team hopefuls need to practice what they may be up against in the Equestrian Games. The course was a bit kinder to the horse and pony singles where some double clear rounds were completed. Click on the Cones and Final Results for a complete list of placings.
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