Back to Florida

It has been a long time since I have written to Dawna Lisa’s blog.  Bad ME!  Dawna Lisa will be leaving tomorrow (Dec. 26th) with Larry Poulin for FL.  Dawna Lisa has come a long way from the pony she was last year at this time for reasons that I will try to explain.  
The time she spent with Larry while we were in China really paid off.  I think that having her sister, Maggie with her was a huge help.  Maggie and DL are best buddies in the most positive way possible.  They give each other a sense of security being together yet are not crazy fools when they are not together.  Maggie did a marvelous job of learning to be a driving pony.  DL was there to support her.  DL got to relax because her best buddy was there.  It was a win/win experience.  
I know it seems to be foolish to say the Dawna Lisa has finally grown up as nine year old pony but she has.  After more than two years of driving, DL has become confident in her role as a driving pony.  While she always has loved driving, she has been a hot rocket for the first five minutes of driving.  SHE wanted to go.  No, she wasn’t dangerous or anything but just hot coming off the stand from hitching.  Now she has learned to be patient about it all.  SHE has grown up!
I had hoped to compete at both Nature Coast and Black Prong with Dawna Lisa this year.  Larry had done such a tremendous job with DL last year at Nature Coast.  I knew that DL was ready to do it again this year.  BUT was Claudia ready to do it?  
NO, plain and simple.  I haven’t competed in a CDE in years and years.  When I did do CDE’s, they were greatly different from the CDE’s of today.  IF I flew down for Nature Coast, it would be flying in late (difficult to getting time off from work), rushing around and being stressed about EVERYTHING.  This is not a smart way to do things.
Because of the new date for Black Prong, I can fly down on a Friday night and spend a whole week (school vacation) working with Larry and Dawna Lisa.  I have a great deal to learn/relearn about competing in this venue.  I am sure the butterflies in my stomach will be no less on the days of competition but I will be much better prepared.  For both Dawna Lisa and I, this will make a huge difference.  
To me, this sounds like a sensible plan.  I may try to fly down sometime before Black Prong and just enjoy the experience of driving.  Guess I better go and cruise the Internet for a cheap direct flight or two to Tampa.  Don’t worry, I will be doing a better job of keeping this blog up to date.  Yours, Claudia