Karen Walsh and Danni Toscano stepped in to organize our stalls prior to the horses moving in and we thank them for doing a great job!  We sent 3 training level teams, 2 first level teams, 1 second level team, 1 fourth level team and the “only” 2 FEI teams.  We also want to extend a special thanks to Alison Head for rounding out our Fourth Level team after one team member’s horse colicked the day before the competition.  She went back to get her horse so that we did not have to forfeit! 
Move-in day on Friday, Oct. 29 was bustling with organized chaos as we all schlepped bag after bag of shavings , feed, tack, horses, accessories, etc. from trailers and set up our barns and tack rooms.  I was feeling reminiscent of my pony club rally days…thank goodness there were not any formal inspections, stable management judges and tack room checks to stress over!!!  Many of us hopped on our horses for a tour of the grounds and light exercise to stretch our horses legs.  As the afternoon passed into evening we were finally settled, our horses fed, banners set up, coffee ready for the next morning and a tote-full of goodies to look through! 

Our sponsors provided team members with wonderful navy blue quarter sheets from Dover Saddlery, Dansko bags full of Dansko socks, pen & a baseball cap, Iron Spring Farm Stallion DVD, Lexol Leather wipes, Quik-Braid, Quik-Silver Shampoo, water bottle from Gentry Tack, Cosequin baseball cap & pen, samples for aching joints & muscles and nice white saddle pads sporting “DVCTA” embroidered on the side.  Due to the generosity of our sponsors ALL riders who applied for the teams were accepted.  We graciously thank those supporters:  DVCTA, DAD, Iron Spring Farm, Cherry Knoll Farm, Dansko, Gentry Tack & Apparel, Dover Saddlery, Unionville Saddle Shop and the Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital.
Saturday morning we woke to drizzly, but warm weather and it continued to improve as the day progressed.   We readied our horses for the day of competition ahead of us…grooming, washing legs, braiding, washing legs, cleaning tack, & washing legs (that clay in Virginia is something else).  Our grooms, hubbies, boyfriends and one equine massage therapist did a great job and their patience with us horse-crazed ladies should never go over-looked.  As the weather improved, so did our riding!  Deb Tsang provided excellent coaching services and a lot of us benefited from working with her over the last few months.  We were a club to reckon with and it showed in our standings.
Wrapping up the evening with the sold-out competitor’s party we enjoyed the company of our comrades, took our chances on the wonderful selection of raffle items and chuckled at the judges many funny awards.  Such as:  shiniest boots (won by Karen Karkow), best tail, noisiest ride, best suited horse & rider, and many others.

 First Level Team '04

Doreen Guthrie and "Daisy"

Sunday was a glorious sunny day as we were all happy to get an extra hour of sleep with daylight savings time in our favor.  Many DVCTA riders qualified to compete the second day in the Championship round (top six rides from each division).  DVCTA riders also performed 5 musical freestyle rides and the only Pas de Deux rides. 
On my drive home I reflected on the weekend and really enjoyed the company of all my fellow riders that I met and shared some time with.  Once the rides are over, everything packed away and ribbons hanging all around us the one thing that stands out most is the incredible sense of pride belonging to an organization that puts great efforts into providing excellent shows, clinics and education for all of it’s members.  I’m certainly looking forward to next year‘s adult team competition!
Second Level Team '04