National Drive, KY3DE XC, and Icelandic Horses

Let's play a bit of catch-up on the last month or so. 

First up, a big ol' photo drop from my trip to Indiana and Kentucky at the end of April. I opted to make the most of this trip to the Midwest by first joining Leah at the Spring National Drive on Friday. I wanted to get some first hand experience with various types of driving. I've been fascinated with it for years and am interested in making it a more regular part of my future, but first I've got lots to learn!

On Saturday, I joined Jen and her mom to head south for XC day at KY3DE. It has been a few years since I went to this event, and it was high time I head back - especially since Jen would be tailgating on XC day again. She spoiled us rotten with bougie grilled cheeses and bevvies and provided a "homebase" for me as I flitted around the entire venue photographing horse and rider pairs.

I opted to take Gidget with me so she could experience All The Things and enable me to finally be That Horse Girl With A Corgi. Taiga chilled at home, where I know she was ultimately much happier. 

It was a horse-filled, whirlwind weekend. All of the go-go-go reminded me that I'm definitely not in my 20s anymore! I'm glad I lived so hard and busy for that decade, but I'm equally happy that my 30s have been far more relaxed in comparison!

Leah and Missy off to warm up for their lesson

Mini and hyper bike finishing their lesson. These carts looked SO FUN. Definitely a goal to hold onto for me for retirement years

Amidst all the activity Missy powered onward through a very spicy warmup.

The sweetest little sidekick all weekend. You'd never know it was her first time at horse events or in a big crowd at KY3DE.

This Fjord was lovely. 

Joanna even gave me a headset for Leah's lesson and went above and beyond to make me feel "included" in the lesson by posing some questions about general horse stuff for me. I was so impressed with not only the lesson material she gave Leah, but how she was so welcoming and able to include someone else. 

Kathy! From my other life in endurance.

And Lani! Another face from endurance. It was WILD to see them at this event. They don't know me from Adam, but I sure know them. I rode 30-40 miles of my 100 mile OD ride with Lani. 

Hyperbike fun!

Almost jarring to see a "big" horse and cart after all the hyper bike photo spam.

Lani!

And now for a completely different horse sport!

I just love capturing the atmosphere of this event. Horse and rider pairs doing epic things amidst so many people in such a lively environment. 

Like, seriously. Pop up tents, people, cars, etc. and these folks are just out there competing at the highest level amidst it all.

Next year we have to have dog bingo. The sheer number of breeds represented at this event is incredible. I even saw a clumber spaniel! I've never seen one of those in person before. 

Gidget has doggles, but I hadn't seen the horse version before this day!

Whoa now, Corvett, the jump isn't that huge. 

Before we headed out, I zipped over to the final Icelandic Horse demo of the weekend. I've chatted with the folks from Taktur and Salmur - who were putting on the demo - online a fair bit since returning from Iceland last autumn. It is very much my intention to bring one of these horses into my life in the future. I've got a lot of learning to do between now and when that happens, and I suspect these folks will be pivotal to facilitating my education in all things Icelandic horse. 

This was my first time around Icelandics since returning from Iceland (other than saying hi to Nykur in his stall at Jen's barn). I was happy that the same giddy feeling I developed for the breed in Iceland was very much present upon seeing them again stateside. 

All of the horses in this demo have been imported. The two pintos had only been stateside for about a month as of this demo. If you've ever been to the KY Horse Park for KY3DE, you know how chaotic and busy of a venue it is for those days. That these two horses represented their breed there after such a short time in a new country with things they have little to no experience with (e.g., trees, heat, an entirely different way of life), speaks volumes about their temperament. It's a big reason I am so smitten with the breed.

The demo consisted of an intro with drill team moves and then transitioned into an exhibition of all of the breed's gaits. 

I just cannot say enough for how chill these two were in such a novel environment with so much stimuli!

The pinto on the left did spook once, but it was a very honest spook due to being RIGHT in front of one of the loud speakers while someone was talking. 

Trot

Trot

Canter

Canter

Canter

Tolt

Tolt

Tolt

Tolt

I look forward to attending clinics and workshops with these folks at Taktur in the coming year!

Tolt

One blast of flying pace to end the demo!