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15th Annual Pleasure Days Show - 2008
I5th Annual Pleasure Days Carriage Driving Show
By Sonja Zinke and Marc DiLeo
What a wonderful driving show we attended the weekend of June 1st, 2008, the 5th Annual Pleasure Days Carriage Driving Show. The show was held at the historical Tejon Ranch in Lebec, CA. If it wasn't for Marc DiLeo gathering all the information and providing updates, we probably would have missed out big time on a great driving show. With Marc contacting the show officials for details and sharing his excitement with us, we just had to participate and MAN were we SO happy we did!
Lora Martin and her family as well as Erin and Marc Dileo arrived with their RV's at the show grounds. Marc's niece Alissa hauled the 3 horses, Ozzabella (Otte375), Gerke-Ster (Ulbert390) and Inga-Ster (Anton343). Tony and I arrived with the three carriages. We all received a very warm welcome and were directed to a spot where we could all have our rigs and equipment parked together which was a wonderful accomodation.
On Saturday Marc and Gerke were first up in the Turnout Marathon Vehicle-Open. What an amazing job they did, it's not easy to go in first and open the show, especially having only competed a few times in novice classes. He did a great job and received a ribbon for 5th.
Next class for Marc and Gerke was Reinsmanship Marathon Vehicle-Open and Erin was his groom. The three of them were a great looking team. The judge told the competitors that during the Drive-Off to yell and scream as if they were in a Combined Driving Event as they came around the judge's booth. It was a marathon vehicle class after all! Gerke was pushbutton all day and felt the excitement. Well, as they came around the judge's booth with Marc hootin and hollerin, Gerke broke into a canter just like he should. You could hear the crowd go "Oooohh" Marc was knocked down a few pegs for this rookie move but laughed and said it was still a blast. On their exit from the arena the judge told him "sorry about the canter, you had 2nd place till then!" They still received a 4th place ribbon. It was a very enjoyable class.
The first class for the pair of horses was Turnout Pair-Horse or Pony. The pair was made up of Lora Martin's Ozzabella and Erin and Marc DiLeo's Inga, driven by Antonio Aldana. This was the first competition for this pair and they did a terrific job receiving first place. Next class for this team was the Reinsmanship Pair- Horse or Pony. This was a very exciting and dramatic class, the judge asked the drivers to perform a 20m circle with a stop and reinback, one-handed! Not an easy feat with a pair! Antonio and the girls did a fantastic job and the judge must have thought so as they were awarded a first place.
Marc then went into the Pick Your Route Marathon Vehicle class which is a fun class involving picking a route through a cone pattern. Marc and Gerke finished nicely although unfortunately missed a set of cones causing an elimination. The pair of Ozzabella and Inga also went through the obstacles with Tony, a neat thing to watch. This class got this impressive pair their 3rd blue ribbon of the day. Last class of the day was the Pleasure Marathon-Turnout Marathon Vehicle, a 3 1/2 mile course through rough terrain and steep hills, past a lake and wildlife. This was a blast to watch and participate, they even served Champagne at the mid-point! At the end of the day we were all very tired, getting three horses in tip-top grooming condition, three carriages spotless and 5 different harnesses cleaned and changed after each entry is a lot of work. We were also very excited and thankful on how the show turned out. The officials and participants of the Pleasure Days Driving Show were so hospitable, helpful, and patient. So that's from me, Sonja, Marc and Erin will give you their view and experience from Sunday.
Marc here now. My gelding Gerke was so good on Saturday. After the three classes in the morning we left him hooked up and drove everyone back and forth from the trailers to the show arena. He was hooked up for about 3 hours while serving as the "Gerke-Bus". It was a lot of fun and he was such a good boy all day.
On Sunday Tony and I with Gerke entered the Working Marathon Vehicle and Gerke was full of himself. Even though Gerke was all fired up I was able to channel that energy somehow and pulled off a 2nd place out of 6. Tony drove Inga in the Reinsmanship-Single Horse and took 1st place in a large class. Tony then drove Ozzabella in the Working Single Horse and earned another 1st place amongst another large class.
Ozzabella and Inga were then hooked up for one final class, the Championship-Drive Off and Awards. All of the Champions from each of the 7 divisions were invited to compete for the Grand Championship title. Our hearts were pounding as it was a tough competition, but in the end the judge awarded Tony, Ozzabella and Inga Grand Champions of the Show!
We had a wonderful time and all of the show staff and participants were very laid back and relaxed. It was a really nice relaxing weekend. FUN FUN FUN!!!
Tony and Lora Martin's Ozabella
Tony Driving Marathon
Tony, Ozabella and Inga - the CHAMPS
Marc Dileo driving their gelding Gerke
Think this man has a reason to be proud?!
