We started our show season in April by traveling to the ADS South Carolina Aiken Carriage Classic where we won the SH working and Ladies to Drive classes and were Single Horse Reserve Champions. In May the Boston Charity Show offered 3 dressage tests in addition to a full carriage pleasure division. 70%+ scores in Prelim amd Intermediate dressage earned blues in those classes and a win in the 7 horse working class sealed that SH Championship.  In June we had 3 wins at the IFSHA Region 5 show in OH, and 3 blues along with 7 reds at the USEF KY Lexington Carriage Classic, earning reserve championships in both single horse and wicker divisions. July found us in VA for a MLMDC Combined Test. In August we traveled to Stockbridge, MA, for the Orleton Farm Carriage Show where we won the Intermediate Dressage Test, as well as the SH turnout and reinsmanship classes. September found us making the 2 day trip to WI for the famous Villa Louis Carriage Classic, a show we had been looking at for several years. Sjaantje knocked that show out of the park:  4 1st places in classes of 10 and 14 and first place in the Invitational Con Cours d'Elegance class with a reserve in the SH championship. Bless Barbara Watson for putting us up over night on the way to and from that show! An exciting part of my 2021 show circuit and a totally new experience was entering all 3 and winning 2 of the ADS Intermediate Driven Dressage video classes in their virtual show hosted by Spotlight Horse Shows.
    At the 2021 IFSHA Worlds our 3 Prelim and Intermediate dressage scores ranged from 77-79%, so we won the DCTF Driven Dressage High Point Perpetual Trophy along with both the  Richard Snavely SH Turnout Perpetual Trophy and the Anita Mellott HP Driving Perpetual Trophy. By the end of the Friesian World Show, Sjaantje had earned 8 Campionship and 6 Reserve Championship titles!
    Normally the World show is the end of our show year, but we had decided to winter with Sjaantje in FL for the show season to work on our FEI level dressage tests, so timed our trip to show at the October Ocala International Horse Show held at the new World Equestrian Center. What an incredible show facility! Their carriage pleasure division include a Combined Test and 4 rail classes. That show was an exhibitor's dream come true: 5 classes and 5 wins for Sjaantje! We finished up the show season at Black Prong's November CT #1. Our 71.3% Intermediate test gave us a dressage first, but with losing my way and coming in last in cones, we dropped to third in the CT. Guess who will be focusing on improving their cones score?

IFSHA World & Grand National Championship Horse Show 
(USEF/IFSHA Nationals)

Champions Center, Springfield, OH
September 29 - October 24, 2021

Gail & Sjaantje 1st - Driven Dressage Preliminary Test  2 (79%) 1st - Driven Dressage Intermediate Test  1 (77%) 1st - Driven Dressage Intermediate Test 2 (76%) 1st - Timed Obstacles Amateur 2nd - Timed Obstacles Open 1st - Scurry Obstacles Amateur 2nd - Scurry Obstacles Open 1st - Carriage Pleasure Driving Turnout Single Open 2nd- Carriage Pleasure Driving Working Single Open 1st - Carriage Pleasure Driving Working Single Amateur 2nd- Sport Pleasure Driving Open 1st - Sport Pleasure Driving Amateur 2nd- Carriage Pleasure Driving Reinsmanship Open 1st - Concours d'Elegance Photo Credit: Avalon Photography

Sjaantje and I had the honor of bringing
Nola Miley into the arena on Saturday night
 for her to sing the national anthem

                           

Greater Boston Charity Horse Show