The Green Horseman

Over the past four years I have had the pleasure of watching the partnership between Suzanne and Tiger (R TomCat) blossom. From their first shows together in 2022 to tackling their first three phase event later that fall. In 2023 they began competing in recognized competition. Last year we traveled to Kentucky to compete in the American Eventing Championships (Ammies at AECs…Part 1, Ammies at AECs…Part 2, Ammies at AECs…Part 3). This year we had our sights on Waredaca.

**NOTE** In this special edition I cannot possibly talk about everything in one day. In order to break this up into smaller pieces and keep the information coming this post will be out of the normal Posting Schedule:

Day 1: Friday

Day 2: Saturday

Day 3: Sunday

Day 4: Monday

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Waredaca is a classic style three day competition. It is one of only SIX left in the entire nation at the beginner novice level (8 at Novice, 7 at training, and it is the ONLY classic for modified and preliminary levels).

A classic three day event begins with an initial horse inspection by the vets following by dressage the following morning. The second day of competition is known as “Endurance Day.” It’s not just cross country. Endurance day consists of 4 phases. Phase A: Roads and Tracks….a 15 minute “hack” along a prescribed route. You are expected to be to the finish ON TIME and pass through all “gates” which are marked along the route. Phase A is the warmup. In Phase B you complete the steeplechase; in this phase the horse and ride gallop (yes gallop) at a faster pace than cross country, jumping hedges along the way. This phase is 2 minutes long. Immediately at the completion of the steeplechase the pair begin Phase C….another roads and tracks. Horse and rider get 15 minutes to once again follow a prescribed route and pass through all the gates…making it back within the allowed time. Once the team is finished with Phase C the rider dismounts and presents to the vet for a jog and evaluation. Then it’s off to the 10 minute box. After 10 minutes of rest the team is called to the start box to begin Phase D…the actual cross country course. Finally, at the end the team once again presents to the vet and once cleared returns to the stable to appropriate care. The following morning is a final horse inspection and jog to evaluation the horse’s soundness and preparation for stadium jumping. If accepted, the pair concludes the event with stadium jumping.

Waredaca is a seven hour drive from home, and it’s in Maryland. We love Maryland in fall it seems since we’ve been there the past four years in a row for one reason or another! (Purchasing Stanley in 2022, Maryland 5* in 2023 and 2024, and now Waredaca).

Qualifying for Waredaca was relatively simple. In the past 24 months the horse must have a show in which the dressage score is no more than 45 penalty points, no cross-country jump faults and no more than 30-time penalties, and in stadium no more than 16 jump penalties.

In the months and days leading up to the competition Suzanne and Tiger focused on their work. At adult camp and other clinics throughout the summer, they practiced their pacing. They attended numerous cross-country lessons and clinics. They did their homework.

We had a relatively smooth 7-hour drive to Laytonsville, Maryland on Wednesday October 22nd. We arrived in decent time despite passing through New Jersey and the outskirts of NYC. We pulled the trailer up, found our stall, threw down some shavings, and unloaded the very patient Tiger-man. He took everything in stride calmy. The stalls were all on pasture so we really appreciated the extra comfort (the asphalt/concrete floors are easier to clean but still very hard even with ample shavings).

With Tiger settled in we made room for other incoming trailers by dropped ours off in the large pasture down the road. The gentleman was surprised, impressed, and delighted by Suzanne’s parking skills.

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All jokes aside we had a very lovely first day. It was well organized and we walked over to the Waredaca brewery for the welcome meeting. I enjoyed a beverage while we waited, the patio is phenomenal. The entire yard of the brewery overlooks parts of the Waredaca cross country course. When not in competition, the course is a pasture for large herds of horses who are lucky to call this place their home. They served us Dominos pizza and began the briefing.

We had no idea what we were getting into.

More on that in my next post…coming tomorrow at 9AM EST!!