Cross Country at Florida Horse Park

[Second Hand Pat]

Some of you may know that my daughter Diana has moved back to Florida. As a mom I couldn't be happier. While Diana lived in Maryland, she and her horse Nautica took up eventing and attended several shows. Eventing is broken into three parts; dressage, stadium jumping and cross country. Cross Country is by far the most dangerous, similar to riding after the hounds chasing a fox; jumping fences etc in an open field.

So Diana invited me to go and I jumped at it. I am sure glad I went as the two ladies who were riding with Diana didn't show. They had a blowout on the turnpike and didn't make it. Now Diana has never been the only rider and this was a little unnerving for her. Of course this is my first eventing show and I had no real clue what to expect. So we took it all in and decided to stay and see how things went.

Saturday was setup as a schooling day and the show Sunday. Basically schooling is walking and schooling the horse for the jump in the cross country field at your level. Diana is a Beginner Novice and the course is laid out and setup based on your level. So Diana tacked up Nautica and I grabbed the camera and some magic happened. Not great shooting conditions so the pics could be better.

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This is the only water obstacle for her level. Note the happy grin.

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Diana wanted a video of the actually cross country event during the show. The course was a mile with 15 jumps and she was quite far away but I captured most of her run. Please forgive how shaky the video is when she was way out there.



She and Nautica ran the course is 3 mins 12 secs and were penalized for being too fast. If she has not been penalized she would have taken fourth in her level.

[brady]

Beautiful horse and your daughter is one hell of a rider. They both looked as one.
Let me get this straight, she was penalized for being too fast? That's a first. What's the reasoning behind
that.
Jay

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Jay, Nautica and Diana have been a team for 17 years. The reason there is a minimum time for the cross country course is so rider do not push their horses pass their physical limit. Diana do not push Nautica, he was pushing himself. He is an off-the-track TB.
Pat

[rickztahone]

Great shots Pat. I love these type of shots because these are the ones you look back on and it brings back a flood of memories

[Second Hand Pat]

Great shots Pat. I love these type of shots because these are the ones you look back on and it brings back a flood of memories

Thanks Ricardo and very true.
Pat