Wowing at the CCI***

Click here to watch the Pas de Deux at the CCI***

On Saturday, September 9, 2006 my students Ulla Strickland on her Purebred Arabian chestnut gelding CF Chernobyll and Suzanne Lauda on her Purebred Arabian chestnut gelding CF Beau Navar performed a demonstration Pas de Deux as entertainment during an exhibitors party for the Poplar Place Farm CCI***, CCI** 3 Day Horse Trials. Competitors from all over the east coast were in attendance and cheered the girls on!

The performance was not without drama, rain threatened all afternoon, a slight drizzle starting during the warmup. The weather held long enough for our team to ride. And ride they did!

As is usual when riding a choreographed freestyle, one has to think ahead as they ride and be prepared to make impromptu decisions when things just don’t go quite as planned. The footing was a bit deeper than what we had been practicing on, adjustments needed to be made on the fly. Since the girls had really only rode this Pas de Deux once before, I was quite pleased with their ability to recognize they were behind the music slightly and made the needed impromptu adjustments.

Congratulations Ulla and Suzanne! A job well done!