Cartfall
Mar. 21, 2009, 08:05 PM
From one very tired hazard judge, it was a spectacular day. We had lovely 70ish weather light wind and clear blue sky.
The morning was pretty uneventful with the Intermediate levels. Saw some good drivers, met some nice folks (hello Jenny) and just enjoyed watching people drive their horses.
When the Advanced folks came on, they definitely stepped it up a few notches. Lots more speed, more agressive manuvers.
Gate A required all drivers to drive through the bridge, B was down in the water to the west of the bridge, C was on the pond on the east side of the bridge and required the drivers to drop again down into the water. D was out on the opposite side of the west pond--so the drivers had to again drop down into the water. E was on the east side pond--again requiring the drivers to come in to that pond. F was a gate that could be navigated without water at the other end of the bridge.
A lot of drivers took the long way from D to E coming into a tight gate. I was standing on the outside of the hazard on a small ledge/path just out of the pond. A fence seperated me and the horses. Many drivers over shot that gate coming into the water to get to E. I saw a lot of fancy driving of folks getting into that gate at the last minute. teams became almost a unicorn at the left leader would almost drop behind the right leader to squeese through.
Some great driving by a lot of folks. Makes a long day go quickly!!! Sara Schmidt and Keady Caldwell showed what champion drivers they are. I had to laugh at at Keady--she kept saying "Come on Boys" like a lady of the night calling to sailors to her pair. No disrepect intended as she smoked our hazard beating many of the single pony drivers.
Sadly we had one wreck --Leslie Griewe. She came wide into that gate a lot of folks used to get to E as she was coming into C. She went wide and overcorrected--hitting the post and losing her back wheel--sheered off the welds. She and her gator tumbled out and the pony ran towards the gallery and stopped quickly being caught.
Leslie was hurt in her leg--knee joint and was taken away in an ambulance. ACL possibly-- not broken to what I could hear. Her pony was fine --small cut on leg that bled freely led back to the stables by her unhurt gator. Carriage sat sadly over under the tree looking very wrecked.
There was a bad accident on Hazard 1 (we were 2) that involved Bill Long's Gator. I am unclear of how it occured as Bill's team did not wreck. Somehow his gator came off, evidently hitting a fence and was carried off in an ambulance. It was serious enough to shut down the entire event for some 20-25 minutes until the medics could be present again. Screens were set up. Rumor has it that he possibly broke his back. Prayers and jingles to the gator and Bill's team. We never want to see anyone horse or human hurt. Bill had to with draw as the rules do not allow substitution of a groom at this point.
We had some interesting driving at times--GavinRobson from Austrailia who is always a hoot to talk with, lost a little focus and drove crom C to D through B not once but twice Circling. Too bad because he started off very good.
A long walk back to the office to wait to be released--of course a cold beer helped a bunch. And Shopping always helps. I purchased a new whip which I need to keep clean--so it will live in the closest with the fancy leather harness coming out only for BIG events. Also purchased a bright yellow vest that says in very big and very large letters--pass wide and slow. Great for the road driving I must do.
A big part of this Live Oak volunteering is seeing a lot of old friends.
Over all, it was a great day.
The morning was pretty uneventful with the Intermediate levels. Saw some good drivers, met some nice folks (hello Jenny) and just enjoyed watching people drive their horses.
When the Advanced folks came on, they definitely stepped it up a few notches. Lots more speed, more agressive manuvers.
Gate A required all drivers to drive through the bridge, B was down in the water to the west of the bridge, C was on the pond on the east side of the bridge and required the drivers to drop again down into the water. D was out on the opposite side of the west pond--so the drivers had to again drop down into the water. E was on the east side pond--again requiring the drivers to come in to that pond. F was a gate that could be navigated without water at the other end of the bridge.
A lot of drivers took the long way from D to E coming into a tight gate. I was standing on the outside of the hazard on a small ledge/path just out of the pond. A fence seperated me and the horses. Many drivers over shot that gate coming into the water to get to E. I saw a lot of fancy driving of folks getting into that gate at the last minute. teams became almost a unicorn at the left leader would almost drop behind the right leader to squeese through.
Some great driving by a lot of folks. Makes a long day go quickly!!! Sara Schmidt and Keady Caldwell showed what champion drivers they are. I had to laugh at at Keady--she kept saying "Come on Boys" like a lady of the night calling to sailors to her pair. No disrepect intended as she smoked our hazard beating many of the single pony drivers.
Sadly we had one wreck --Leslie Griewe. She came wide into that gate a lot of folks used to get to E as she was coming into C. She went wide and overcorrected--hitting the post and losing her back wheel--sheered off the welds. She and her gator tumbled out and the pony ran towards the gallery and stopped quickly being caught.
Leslie was hurt in her leg--knee joint and was taken away in an ambulance. ACL possibly-- not broken to what I could hear. Her pony was fine --small cut on leg that bled freely led back to the stables by her unhurt gator. Carriage sat sadly over under the tree looking very wrecked.
There was a bad accident on Hazard 1 (we were 2) that involved Bill Long's Gator. I am unclear of how it occured as Bill's team did not wreck. Somehow his gator came off, evidently hitting a fence and was carried off in an ambulance. It was serious enough to shut down the entire event for some 20-25 minutes until the medics could be present again. Screens were set up. Rumor has it that he possibly broke his back. Prayers and jingles to the gator and Bill's team. We never want to see anyone horse or human hurt. Bill had to with draw as the rules do not allow substitution of a groom at this point.
We had some interesting driving at times--GavinRobson from Austrailia who is always a hoot to talk with, lost a little focus and drove crom C to D through B not once but twice Circling. Too bad because he started off very good.
A long walk back to the office to wait to be released--of course a cold beer helped a bunch. And Shopping always helps. I purchased a new whip which I need to keep clean--so it will live in the closest with the fancy leather harness coming out only for BIG events. Also purchased a bright yellow vest that says in very big and very large letters--pass wide and slow. Great for the road driving I must do.
A big part of this Live Oak volunteering is seeing a lot of old friends.
Over all, it was a great day.