Lodi, CA – October 16, 2015 – Para-Equestrian Driver Stefanie Putnam and her horse Bethesda After Dark (Shadow), brought home a big win from Shady Oaks Combined Driving Event (CDE) in Lodi, California. This prestigious three day CDE took place September 18- 20, 2015. Putnam drove over three days competing in the driven dressage test, a marathon, and the cones course On the final day Putnam drove an almost flawless cones round with preeminent grace and style to finish an epic and consistent summer with supreme honors. Putnam earned accolades including: Charles Kellogg ADS North American Preliminary Horse Champion; West Coast Triple Crown Preliminary Single Horse co-Champion; Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Horse Champion; and Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Horse Cones Winner.
Putnam acknowledged, “I feel very grateful and honored to be in the company of some pretty fantastic co-competitors. They have all been an incredible inspiration and ongoing, steadfast source of encouragement and sustenance to me and my very soul. I am truly blessed.”
CDE’s are the carriage driving equivalent of Three Day Eventing in the riding world. They are tremendous tests of horsemanship and performance over three days which include a driven dressage test, a marathon over miles of countryside with complicated obstacles to negotiate at high velocity, and a cones course where speed, stamina, and accuracy are paramount. In the United States all drivers compete equally whether amateur, professional, male, female, youth, or disabled. With no concessions made on the playing field, Putnam, with a Grade 1 disability took everyone’s breath away with her phenomenal and consistent achievements this summer culminating in one big moment at Shady Oaks.
Putnam competed in the preliminary division and earned the Charles Kellogg ADS North American Preliminary Horse Champion; Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Horse Champion; and Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Horse Cone. The preliminary division is the most hotly contested and competitive division with a field of around fifteen entries in Single Horse and over thirty entries in the overall division. To add fuel to the fire, the West Coast sponsored a highly sought after Triple Crown award combining scores at the Summer Festival CDE (Clay Station) in June, the Sargent Equestrian Center CDE in August, and Shady Oaks CDE in September. A few points separated each competitor coming into the final event. Putnam took home the West Coast Triple Crown Preliminary Single Horse co-Champion as well topping off one successful summer.
By: Lindsay Y. McCall
