Discovering CDE… WOW!

By Nancy Stimach 

I have loved horses my whole life.

I started riding at a very young age, and have nearly done it all, from Dressage, 3-Day Eventing, cutting/reining, working cow horse, team penning, and competitive trail riding, to putting the first 90 days of galloping time on 2 year old race horses.  Eleven years ago, due to medical reasons, I was forced off horseback and sadly retired my beautiful big boy to pasture.  To keep him company, I purchased a 3 year old miniature horse from a woman who did AMHR breed ring showing. It was through her that I discovered what miniature horses could do, which opened up the magical world of carriage driving.

Imagine my joy when I discovered CDE…WOW!!!  CDE and open trail/obstacle driving is my passion.  There is nothing like blasting through a cones course and kicking up the dirt out on the marathon.  When not competing, I love to do conditioning trail driving with other fellow mini drivers.

The pictures here are “Stinky” (Pinto), and my ‘baby’ horse (just broke to harness), “Dakota” (Palomino).

This one is kind of a funny picture of me but a great shot of Dakota.  He had only been in harness about a week when that shot was taken.  He also had his full winter coat at the time.  He is white in the winter and then a golden palomino in the summer.

Both wear the black/tan Chimacum harness.  Dusty is my accomplished CDE competitor, with whom I will be moving to Preliminary Level next year.  Dakota will be doing his first competition in 2 weeks!