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Driving for pleasure—for me that is anytime I’m driving when the
weather is warm and its not raining! Be it driving in a Paso Fino
show, Pleasure Driving show, a Combined Driving Event, an American
Driving Society Annual Weekend of Driving for Pleasure (that lasts 5
days), a local organized drive, or just out on the back roads of my
neighborhood, it’s all pleasure driving to me.
Recently I participated in my first Combined Driving Event. What
fun! It is a show with dressage competition, a timed cones division
and a cross-country marathon. The marathon is set up like a
competitive trail ride with a set
time for each section and penalties if you go over or under the set
time. There are also pre-planned “hazards” near the end that must be
negotiated. These hazards consist of things like bridges, ditches,
water, fence posts, trees and all manner of man made obstacles. What
a challenge it is to negotiate around them especially when you know
you are accruing penalty points for every second spent in the
“hazard”.
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There
are other organized functions for driving that are also pleasurable.
The American Driving Society’s Weekend of Driving for Pleasure
includes workshops, clinics, entertainment and the famous
Sunday afternoon picnic. The latter calling for Victorian attire. As
a person who loves to get dressed up and show off, this is fun. Along
with the planned activities, there also emerges the camaraderie and
socialization that is associated with driving events. More fun!
And
then there is the pleasure of driving in one’s own neighborhood.
Being able to step back in time after a hectic day at the office is
just one more opportunity afforded me when “driving my Paso for
Pleasure.” Someone will pass by on the road and yell out their car
window, “Beautiful” or “That’s the only mode of transportation that
should be allowed out here.” I then realize just how lucky I am to be
able to experience another one of the many pleasures associated with
owning a Paso Fino horse.
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