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Percherons to Ponies “Let’s Hook-em & See if they Drive”

Really?

RECREATIONAL DRIVING

Driving Survey Results

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

Traveling Tips

Horse and Driver Magazine

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by Jane Meggitt Photos & Cover Image by Anne Corder

When it comes to driving, Deena Kirby’s equines run the gamut from ponies to Percherons. The owner of All Seasons Carriage Company in California’s Central Valley, Kirby bred and showed Arabians before developing an interest in driving 12 years ago. “It all started very innocently. I wanted a big old draft horse that I could learn to drive,” Kirby recalls. That first draft was an old, retired Belgian from Oregon. She then went on to a team of black Percherons, then a pair of whites. Her third Percheron team, Winston and Rocket, are beautiful grays. She’s now discovered that driving ponies is almost as much fun as driving the gentle giants. Kirby laughs and admits her driving passion is “pretty much out of control.” Last year she acquired Shadow, a dependable little cart pony she purchased at a drivHorse and Driver Magazine

Percherons

to Ponies

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Elegant and Exciting Complement to Your Special Day Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Uniquely Memorable Reliable and Professional ing horse sale. Kirby later realized he had major fear and trust issues. “It’s quite apparent that he has been ‘crowded’ into doing things, and he has probably been beaten about the head, likely from the front and the right sides,” said Kirby. She explained that the pony used major avoidance tactics when approached from those angles. Kirby and her friend, Denice Barton, did a lot of ground work with the little guy. As a result, Shadow is about 85 percent conditioned out of his defensive fearfulness, and is becoming more relaxed and trusting. “It’s been a valuable experience for me, as I have never had to rehab a horse with these issues before. We are going to start attending a few low-key shows with him soon,” she said. Kirby thinks he’ll eventually make a good Combined Driving pony because he’s “smart and very handy.” When it comes to the commercial work, Kirby’s pair of Percherons are the stars. You might see them hitched to any one of her numerous vehicles. The first acquisition was a hearse because the funeral homes were among her initial clients when she started her business. “Then came the weddings, birthday parties, marriage proposals, corporate events, and on and on,” Kirby recalls. “With that came the vehicles. I swear I would close the carriage house door at night and they would multiply. Where did all these carriages come from? Did I really buy them? I don’t remember doing all this.” Kirby grew up on her farm, inheriting the property from her parents, and learned to drive from many of the elderly teamsters in the area. As the old-timers died off, Kirby realized that driving big drafts could become a lost art. She notes that her part of the San Joaquin Valley is a wonderful place to drive with mild weather that allows for year-round activity. She recalls snowfall just twice in her life. It’s also home to an active driving community, including a local driving center that holds monthly scurries where Shadow will soon be joining in the fun. § Horse and Driver Magazine

Parties & Corporate Weddings Funerals Special Events Carriage Events Movies & Films

Call us: 209-986-3096 allseasons@softcom.net All Seasons Carriage Company, Inc. For the Seasons of your life www.allseasonscarriage.com horseanddriver.com

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Single and Pair, Front and Rear Brakes, Moveable Wedge, Stainless Steel Trim, Stainless Steel Spokes, Odometer, 1 Set of 4 Pneumatic Wheels & One Set of 4 Marathon Wheels We started with 7 of these. Only 4 Carriages Left... $10,200.00 each. Photo example of the M-200, contact Bob on availability and color of remaining M-200’s.

Contact Bob or Cindy for the Availability NORTH AMERICA Cindy Cook O’Reilly - WCC 832 Cranes Creek Rd. • Cameron, NC 901-315-3227 (any time cell) FoxPlayTerriers@aol.com www.horsecarriages.com

CALIFORNIA & WEST COAST Harry Councell • California Draft Horses 10300 New Avenue • Gilroy, CA 408-847-8396 harry@claymoreclydesdales.com www.claymoreclydesdales.com

ONTARIO & EASTERN CANADA NEWEST WWC CARRIAGE DEALER! Randy Bird • Willow Wood Stables Tom Warriner • The Grand Oaks 5200 White Rd. • Harwood, ON Canada Weirsdale, FL 905-342-3053 Toll-Free - 866-500-2237 rbird@eagle.caa tomw@thegrandoaks.com www.randybird.ca www.thegrandoaks.com Horse and Driver Magazine

NORTH AMERICA Robert Cook • Hunters Creek Farm, Inc. PO Box 370 • 347 Old Dewberry Lane Southern Pines, MC 910-693-1121 (home/office) 910-391-5598 (cell) hunterscreek@embarqmail.com www.horsecarriages.com

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word from the publisher I love horses and I love the drivers almost as much. I am always inspired by something I witness. I believe I have met an angel. I met Janie Amdall over the phone when I started making sales calls for the magazine. When I found out she was in Texas, I told her I would stop by. I finally made it a few months later and she did not remember our talk. It was no surprise because as it turns out, she is a very busy lady. She thought I was one of her new volunteers to help sort food at the food bank in Crowley, Texas. I played along. I love to help, but I also saw a warm intro to a possible client. I showed up and she put me to work. It was a couple of hours before she figured out who I was. There was enough food to feed 200+ families for a week that needed to be sorted so she was on a mission. We went to lunch and I convinced her to donate a set of harness to our “Best Driving Prize Ever.” A few weeks later, she shared a story about a man who had called her about a harness for his father. He was giving shipping arrangements and discussing payment when she realized that the man had bought his father a driving horse that he could see from his bedroom window. His father was sick and the horse gave him joy and hope. When Janie realized the man’s father would pass away before he was ever able to put the harness on the horse, she gave him the harness to be returned when no longer needed. Most of us go through the day doing our business thinking we do not have enough time to really get to know our customers. I’m Denice Barton and I am so glad to be here,

Denic e

Horse and Driver Magazine

Training

10 HorseShow.com. . . . . . . . . 22 How Do you Get There. . . . . 23 Harnessing 101 . . . . . . . . .

Clubs Why Join. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

40 Driving Proficiency . . . . . . . 45 Mentor Program. . . . . . . . . 49 UC Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 US Driving for the Disabled. .

Breeds Dartmoors. . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Noriker Horse . . . . . . . . . . 42

Events/Venues CanDrive.me. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fabulous 4 in Cali. . . . . . . . 28 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Every Issue My First Drive. . . . . . . . . . 12

21 Horse Heroes . . . . . . . . . . 20 Road Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Driving Art. . . . . . . . . . . . 43 1K Mile Journey. . . . . . . . . 44 Superstars . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reviews WCC Carriage. . . . . . . . . . 46

Features Extreme Sport? . . . . . . . . .

Unsung Heros Gentle Giants . . . . . . . . . .

This Issue Are you Insured?. . . . . . . . . 48 OXEN! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Unexpected Journey. . . . . . . 58 Special Thanks to all of the trainers and writers, Rebecca Gutierrez, Charolette Orr and Julie Holt. You have vision, passion and drive!

50 “Best of Driving 2013” will be announced in the Gift Guide! There’s still time to cast your vote! Click on HorseandDriver.com to nominate or vote for your favorite carriage, horse, breed or trainer & much more. Winner of “Best Driving Gift Ever” Ever will be announced September 30th on our Facebook page. Throughout the magazine you will see the results of our first survey. We learned some fun and amazing things about your driving preferences. November 1st & 15th subscribers (FREE!) will receive a magazine filled with gift ideas for those who love driving!

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WHAT YOU MISSED IN 2013....

CanDrive.me

CanDrive is an inexpensive seven-day driving camp devoted to recreational and competition equine drivers from all over the world. Driving lessons and clinics are only part of the CanDrive camps. There are also scheduled trips to natural hotsprings, driving the beautiful trails in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, amazing meals and getting together with fellow driving enthusiasts! Highlighting the camps are a series of clinics, demonstrations and driving lessons featuring prominent clinicians and driving experts. Participants can attend all or none of the scheduled events – the only thing required is that they pass a safety check. Participants can drive at will from dawn to dusk. Lessons are given every morning and the rest of the day will be used for trail drives and other activities. The CanDrive camps provide a great opportunity for recreational driving, improving driving skills, exploring beautiful British Columbia and enjoying the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains.

At the end of the camp: you will be a better driver, your equine companion will have learned a lot and you will go home with a million “best memories!” The CanDrive camps are hosted by “House of the Friesians” located just outside of Invermere, BC, Canada, in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains [near Banff]. This is a spectacular area for driving! Each participant receives: • • • • • • • •

Lessons, clinics, on-site events and organized trail drives Good food [3 meals a day] and beverages Board for your equine[s] includes hay and stall shaving Stall or pasture board Camping and parking vehicles and trailers [no hook ups] Use of Friesian horses for those drivers who cannot bring their own horses (limited availability) Use of horse-size carriages for those not able to bring their own vehicles (limited availability) Boarding your equines for extra days in case you want to extend your visit to British Columbia (maximum 7 nights after each camp week) Continued on page 9

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CanDrive continued Continued from page 7 A note from Hope Fisher, a participant: Candrive was by far one of the best weeks of my life. I made immeasurable progress in my driving and had the most amazing time. Coming to the camp, my experience was limited to driving draft horses through the UCD Draft Horse and Driving Club. But I have always been interested in combined driving. When I heard about CanDrive, I jumped at the opportunity to drive a Friesian horse in British Columbia and learn from incredible clinicians. The week exceeded all of my expectations. I was assigned to Hans, a powerful and sensitive gelding who, along with the clinicians, taught me loads about driving a ‘hot’ horse and gave me an incredible taste of trail driving and basic combined driving. The afternoon clinics were fascinating as well-- one highlight of the week was getting to drive Gerard’s Roman chariot! I met an awesome group of people who I look forward to seeing at future driving events. Thanks to the Paagman family and all the helpers and clinicians for their generosity and hard work which made CanDrive such a success. I hope to be back next year! So.... can we say “See you in 2014??” Caio & Gerard Paagman §

Horse and Driver Magazine

The Art of Julie Muela-Farris

Being raised in the wine country surrounding Lodi, California, Julie Muela-Farris’ art is inspired by the things she grew up with. Horses, Carriage driving and country living are the themes that inspire her to create the charcoal drawings she has become known for. Her goal is to create drawings that Catch the esscence of the equine spirit in unique elements and perspectives. Julie lives in Galt, California with her family on their ranch. She has earned numerous ribbons and honorable mention in juried art shows and venues throughout California. Visit her facebook page www.facebook.com/julie.muelafarrisart or email her at JulieMuela@yahoo.com. 9

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Let’s Hook-em and See if they Drive Don’t put the cart before the horse, “Harnessing 101” Gene & Sonya Brown Training Resources, Sanger, Texas

For those of you who harness everyday, this is a great check list to make sure you have not gotten sloppyand in turn dangerous. - Stay Sharp! - H&D Staff Gene and Sonya Brown are lifetime horse breeders and trainers, with well over 150 national championships to their credit. They hail from northwestern Pennsylvania, between Pittsburgh and Erie, but have hung their hat in Texas since 2002. Today, they limit their business to about a dozen horses owned by a national clientele. About half the horses the Browns train are for recreation rather than show. “It has a great appeal for those who are discovering that swinging a leg over a horse isn’t as easy as it used to be,” says Gene. “And it’s more social. You can take your friends or your grandchildren out for a drive or a picnic.” “Our goal is just to bless people with a good horse.” state the Browns. We are going to go through basic harnessing rather quickly in this text version of my video. In the video we take the mystery out of harnessing the single horse. Please know we will always teach you the safest methods we know. NECK ROPE

BREAST COLLAR

SADDLE

CRUPPER

TURNBACK

First, securely tie your horse using a strong neck rope with a good snap. (Photos of neck ropes can be found online if you are unfamiliar BREECHING with this piece of equipment.) The first article to put on is the breast collar. Unfasten it, put it around the neck and refasten it. Adjust it to sit just above the point of the shoulders and just below the apex of the neck. If it is too high it restricts breathing, and if it is too low it causes soreness. Next is the saddle. Place the saddle across the horse’s back and let the breeching fall naturally over the rear. HITCHING Reach under the horse’s belly and fasten the girth. Next stand at the horse’s hip, not behind, TRACES and raise the tail to fold the crupper smoothly under the tail. Before fastening, make sure there is no hair caught under the crupper to HOLD BACKS chafe the skin. Check the fit of the turnback (the piece NECK STRAP from the saddle to the crupper) to make sure LONG LINE it is not too loose or too tight. To do this, slip HANGER your hand flat between the horses’s back and the turnback, then turn your hand sideways. There should be snug pressure when the hand is turned this direction. If you need to adjust the turnback, be aware that the backstraps

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(the pieces that hold the breeching) will move forward or backwards and may also need to be readjusted. Be sure to check the breeching and make sure it’s straight. It should rest in the area just below the point of the buttocks and above the apex of the hocks. If it is too high, it will ride up under the horse’s tail causing him to kick, and if it is too low, it could take his legs out from under him. Be sure to balance the buckles to the breeching. If the harness has an adjustment option on both sides, make sure they are as close to mirror images as possible. Wait to buckle the traces until after the shafts are in the loops and secondly check to see that the hold back straps are hooked to the rings on the breeching Tip: Add Ons… 1) Clip the neck strap to the saddle to keep the breast collar from sliding down when the horse lowers his head. 2) Hang a string from the saddle to carry your long lines when you are doing ground work. If the traces aren’t already attached to the breast collar, either permanently or with a buckle, attach them now and then slip the ends across the horses back under the turnback to keep them off the ground.

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DRAPE TRACES

REINS

HANGING THE LINES

BRIDLE

BLINDERS

CHEEK PRICE

The last thing you put on before you check your voicemails and get a water bottle, are the lines or reins. Throw the buckle end of the lines over your shoulder and place the other two across the horses back. Draw one line through the terret and secure it temporarily under the neck strap, then do the same with the other rein from across the back or go around and do it from the other side. Comfort has to be an important part of harnessing for the horse to have an enjoyable time. The fit and the way you put it on are equally important. You will now learn the most valuable thing I will teach you. Securing your lines. Make an 8” loop with your index finger in the middle, thumb on top and fingers at the bottom. Slide it under the turnback and put your hand through the loop. Do not pull it across the turnback. Separate the lines, top and bottom, catch them on the other side, pull it through the loop and tighten by pulling the bottom pair. This keeps the lines where you put them. Then you are ready to grab the top set and pull, and it will safely release the lines for optimum control of your horse. Now is your last chance to get some water and do final preparation to your vehicle. Once you put the bridle on, the horse knows it is almost time to go so leaving him tied in a bridle might not go so well. If you’re using a neck rope, you’ll be able to drop the halter down for bridling. Stand on the left side of the horse’s neck with the bit in your left hand and your right arm over their head holding the crown of the bridle. Lower the bridle to get the bit into their mouth, pull it up slowly and gently and carefully tuck the ears in place. Then pull the bridle up onto the horse’s poll and tuck the forelock under the left cheek strap. Adjust the blinders so that the eyelashes do not touch them and the center of the eye is in the center of the blinder. The blinders adjust at the top part of the bridle just below the ears. The blinders are to keep the horse from seeing the carriage. See that the cheek piece is not so tight that it creates a smile on your horse. You are shooting for one wrinkle at the side of the mouth. The bit adjustment is the buckle below the blinder on the cheek strap.

THROAT LATCH

CAVESON

OVERCHECK

For a more in-depth look at harnessing, or to learn to hook to a carriage, contact Gene & Sonya Brown at (940) 395-0850, on Facebook or e-mail at genebrown4up@gmail.com

You can find Gene on http://www.horseshow.com/coaching/ gene-brown for virtual training— see the article about HorseShow.com later in this magazine.

Fasten the throat latch tight enough so that the horse can’t use the shafts to remove it. You get a funny feeling in your stomach when you are on the box with your lines in

Horse and Driver Magazine

your hand and the bridle is on the ground. If you have a noseband or caveson, buckle it underneath and put the end through the keeper. The purpose of the caveson is to keep the horse from opening his mouth. A new horse might put his tongue over the bit if he is learning. If the caveson is too low, you will pinch the horse when you pull on the bit. Balance the buckles on the bridle and make sure the noseband is straight. Balance all the buckles for a neat look to your turnout. If your harness has an overcheck, remove it. Just watch your horse to keep them from lowering their head too far; that was never the intention of the overcheck. Lastly, pull the ends of the lines out from under the neck strap, run them through the neck strap ring if there is one, and connect your lines to the bit. §

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my first drive

by Charlotte Orr

Your funny, inspirational, and monumental “first drive” stories

Deborah Scherrer from Kelseyville, California started riding and driving in her 30s. She had made a goal for herself: to someday compete in a show. But years passed, and Deborah realized that she was in her 60s and still hadn’t entered a competition. ‘This is looking bad,’ she thought to herself. But her luck soon changed when a fellow driving friend approached her with a problem. There was a combined driving event in Woodside, California that needed one more “very small equine” entry or they would close the class. This was her chance. Deborah agreed to enter with “Toby,” her four year old, newly trained miniature horse. “Fun,” her friend said. “This will be fun.” Deborah knew she only had a couple months to prepare. She set about rearranging her work schedule and crafted a rigid conditioning plan to get Toby ready in time for the show. Toby had never even seen water before, but his adventure was about to begin. In the month to follow, Deborah feverishly studied the 2” thick manual explaining the rules and regulations of the CDE. The courses were going to be difficult, and designed for full sized horses, so she began trailering Toby to any place that would allow horses. Up and down, back and forth they went; over streams, through fields, under and over bridges, around any trail or obstacle she could find. With the help of a mentor, Deborah was able to get Toby soft enough to drive ‘on the bit.’ They were finally ready. It was time to head off to the Woodside CDE, so Deborah hooked up her old, single-horse trailer and off they went. Once Toby was settled in his stall, Deborah and her husband drove to the “camping” area where they parked amongst the most elegant motor homes

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and horse trailers she had ever seen. Embarrassed by the condition of her equipment compared to the rest, Deborah did her best to hide her trailer. Toby wasn’t too happy either, for the windows of his stalls were much too high for him to see out. Four days he stood, staring at the walls of his stall. Deborah soon realized that out of the hundreds of competitors, she would compete first in every class. This was because she had the smallest horse competing at the most basic training level. Despite her extensive study of the manuals, she had never been to a CDE and had no one to model. Things had not started out well on presentation day. Though her cart and harness was sparkling, and Toby had been bathed, he refused to halt and allow Deborah to give the proper salute. Instead, they walked in a large, agitated circle as Deborah secretly muttered and prayed that they wouldn’t trample the judge. The judge pointed out that Toby’s harness had not been properly fitted. Deborah was convinced they would be thrown out of the show right then, but the judge was kind, and allowed her to make the proper modifications. The next day, Toby did well in the dressage test; and was even occasionally on the bit. Deborah was feeling good as she instructed Toby to walk out of the arena, until the ring steward came scrambling after her. They had neglected to trot out of the arena; a rule she had forgotten. When marathon day arrived, all eyes were on Toby as he made his way to the first obstacle; a hay bale maze, which he whipped through with ease. Next was the water hazard, which Deborah had envisioned to be some sort of stream. What they came upon was a 20 meter lake with piers and boats of which they were to maneuver through. The surface horseanddriver.com

of the water was dark, to Toby it must have looked 7ft deep. Deborah thought back to her mentor’s instruction, “If you believe he will go in, he will go in.” …But he didn’t. Toby stood, gazing down at the water. Deborah frantically jumped out of her cart and dragged Toby into the lake. She hopped back into the cart, but Toby still refused to move. Again she hopped out; dragging Toby through the water until he found the courage to move on his own. They were eliminated, but that night Deborah took Toby back out to practice. They completed the entire course; their conditioning had worked after all. The final day was the cones course and Toby proudly trotted into the arena, halted before the judge, and Deborah gave a proper salute. They were off; darting through the first set of cones when there was a loud whistle and they were called back to the start. They had missed the starting gate. After a frantic search 1 Deborah found the elusive gate, and went on to complete the course. They were finished, or so she thought, and soon there was shouting and waving. They had forgotten the finish gate! Mortified, Deborah looked around until she found it. As they crossed the finish, it dawned on her, ‘Are we having fun yet?’ Deborah tried to sneak out of the horse park without anyone noticing, but as she was leaving, a couple of strangers called out to her, “Good job!” Suddenly, Deborah reflected on all of the people who had been so kind and encouraging. The judge had written a note on her dressage test, “Nice horse. There’s nowhere to go but up!” She was grateful for her longsuffering husband who had helped the whole Horse and Driver Magazine

time, and her mentor who had helped them prepare! $1,000 spent, hundreds of hours of training, and one embarrassing moment after the next…fun? Maybe not, but she had reached her goal and finally completed her first show.

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About the Writer: Charlotte Orr is from San Jose, CA. Her love of horses began at a young age, but she continues to be inspired and enamored by the beauty and kindness of horses and lessons they teach. § To submit a story, please contact myfirstdrive@horseanddriver.com

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club corner By Ruth Johnson

WHY JOIN A DRIVING CLUB? We all know some of the basics of why you might join a club in general — such as promoting awareness, getting assistance, helping others, volunteerism, enrichment, exposure, education and growth, social reasons, making friends, networking and just plain having fun. But I’m going to assume you already know how to drive, as does your horse, and you’re an adult who already has some friends. So why join a club? You’ve probably graduated beyond “needing more friends.” What about getting you out of the house (barn, property, valley, whatever)? What about expanding your field of knowledge about horsemanship or extending your experience with driving your horse? What about giving your horse some more experiences and practice outside of his usual driving area? All of these reasons, and more, are why you should consider joining a local driving club… and participating in it. Whether it is volunteering to keep times or scores at your club’s annual big event, or entering the competition yourself, you and your horse will be enriched by participating in club activities.

sport or are new to horses in general. Club events provide a venue for newer drivers to WHY ARE DRIVING CLUBS IMPORTANT? People who practice safe horsemanship are usually eager to commune with more experienced drivers share what they know with others, whether they are new to the so they can learn better techniques, swap stories, try out a higher level horse, or even get a lesson. Participating in a club can be an important outlet to help educate new drivers. Club activities help to promote the sport of driving. Word gets around the riding community when driving events go on and this is important because riders may be future drivers. Club events that are open to the public are excellent tools for non-horse people to see what driving an equine is all about. Having a local driving club is a ready-made “community” for buying and selling local horses or second-hand equipment, carriages and harness. Being able to see, feel and try an item is a valuable benefit since the alterative The North Texas Whip group at the 2011 Stock Show Parade staging area. Pam often means resorting to mail order. Farmer, Cathy Sykes, Denise Hinder, Karen Moore and Leanna Hardee participated. Photo by Jim Moore. In short, a driving club is a resource. Horse and Driver Magazine

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HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL DRIVING CLUB — ONE CLUB PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE A “club” is defined as a group of people gathered together to share a common interest. A carriage club has people whose common interests are horses and driving, however, those members have backgrounds, personalities and perspectives that are as different as the equines they drive. So, how can a club that is full of volunteer “bosses” be successful? Take a look at the large state of Texas that has six carriage clubs. Many drivers belong to their local club but are also members of the North Texas Whip (NTW, northtexaswhip.org). This club was founded in 1996 and continues to maintain a large membership base. It is also affiliated with both the American Driving Society (americandrivingsociety.org) and the Carriage Association of America (caaonline.com). NTW has an extremely busy calendar with a series of pleasure driving shows, driving trials, pleasure drives, games days, trail challenges, learning clinics, plus a Driver Achievement Program. “Non-profits take money to operate and events make money,” said Ernie Stuard, President of NTW. “But you must have your ducks in a row to manage this many events in one year.” Stuard has some suggestions to help develop a good team. Tip 1: Utilize people’s strengths. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Find out what people are good at and have them do it for the club. NTW has many capable people who serve as executive members and committee chairs, so the individual workload is less, yet more gets accomplished. Visit their website at northtexaswhip.org to see their comprehensive list of organizational positions with welldefined duties. Tip 2: Find someone who is very vocal and give them a job (ideally the one they gripe about the most). People who are involved aren’t as likely to complain since they become part of the solution. Tip 3: Save your face-to-face time for shows and events. Amend the by-laws to say you can meet and vote through e-mail. Next month they will have just their second in-person board meeting in three years because “You can’t brainstorm through e-mail,” Stuard said. HOW TO FIND A DRIVING CLUB Many driving clubs have a presence on the Internet. We have collected over 150 local, regional and national driving clubs and associations in our www.RegionalDrivingResources.com directory. If you know of other clubs that aren’t listed, please contact us at regionalresources@horseanddriver.com. We’ll be happy to add their information to our list. We have the most comprehensive list of equine driving clubs and associations on the web and plan to continue to help you by keeping it that way!

Horse and Driver Magazine

WHAT ABOUT OTHER DRIVING RESOURCES, LIKE NEW PLACES TO DRIVE? There are numerous places you can go to drive your horse “on new ground.” Riders enjoy beautiful forest trails and rides on the beach, and you too, as a driver, can see the world from atop your carriage. Many of the properties listed are city, state and national parks. Not all parks that allow equines can accommodate carts and carriages though, so be sure to visit the park in advance or contact the park authorities before you arrive with horse and carriage in tow. § www.americandrivingsociety.org has a list of places to drive on their website or visit www. RegionalDrivingResources.com for a quick link to the ADS information.

Gift Guide

Your husband never knows what to get you... “You” will not spend money on “You” because the horses get it all…. Send him our gift guide, He can’t go wrong! In your mailbox by Thanksgiving! Deadline for ads October 1.

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Double truck for Sargents

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regional driving resources

Select your state (or country) and be taken to listing of driving resources in your area. You or visiting www.Hors

“So You Want to Start Driving?” 1) Become a member of a club, then you get everything for free! #1- Knowledge! They teach you how to harness, what type of horse to get, where to go for training... The members may even share a carriage with you while you save up for yours. (Remember that phrase- “Save-Up.”) There are clubs everywhere! 2) Volunteer at the types of events that host the type of driving you think you want to do. 3) Listen to your peers! 4) Don’t go cheap. “Save Up” and buy new to stay safe! Everything from harness to your carriages. Horse and Driver Magazine

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Exclusive Regional Driving Resource listing of events clubs horsetels shows drives places2drive organizations training youth programs & more...

Any ny club may join the ADS for just $60 a year if only 1 member is also a member of the theADS. ADS.The Theclub clubwill willthen thenbe beelligible eligible to apply for grants apply to forhost grants clinics to host andclinics start/ and start/enhance enhance youth programs. Sales@horseanddriver.com Horse and Driver Magazine

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HORSE HEROES

The Inspiring NoMoe By Sue Drover

The Inspiring NoMoe

Imagine living your life strapped into a wheelchair. Every day, everywhere you go, the chair is holding you. You go to school, to the doctor, to therapy... in your chair. But once a week, your wheelchair van carries you up a winding dirt driveway, past a white board fence, to the Carriage Barn Equestrian Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Inside awaits your hero and his name is NoMoe. NoMoe is a 16 year old Haflinger. To look at him, you wouldn’t fully appreciate who he is and what he does, but he has a fan club that extends far beyond southern New Hampshire. NoMoe is a therapy horse. Not just any therapy horse, but a riding and driving therapy horse. He creates magic in a world of harsh realities. Ten years ago, Ann Miles called Jeff Morse at Green Meads Farm in Richmond, Massachusetts, and told him she needed a “bombproof driving horse” for her therapy program. He sent her NoMoe. Ann immediately began teaching NoMoe voice commands, which led to him learning five different languages. Maybe not the languages you and I think of, but languages nonetheless: combinations of words, grunts, pats, and reins. “Every day I make a contract with him,” explained Ann. “Today, ‘Waa’ means walk. Or maybe ‘Eh’, or an unintelligible grunt, or a tap on his withers.” Whatever the plan, NoMoe knows his job and takes care of his special charges. Horse and Driver Magazine

The Carriage Barn does not use a modified carriage with a wheelchair strapped in; drivers leave their wheelchairs behind and take the reins of a regular 4-wheel carriage. While some of NoMoe’s drivers are aided by a race car seat with a 5-point harness, many of them sit in the same seat you and I use. What makes driving therapy unique is that physical, occupational and speech therapists can also ride on the carriage with the patient. The benefits last long after the lesson is over too. Throughout the week, patients are encouraged to speak with their “NoMoe voice”, and to increase body strength they will need to be in the driver’s seat. One of NoMoe’s students is an adult who spent many depressed years confined to a wheelchair, with no motivation to do anything. Paralyzed from the midchest down, she now has something to look forward to and goes to the gym four to five times a week in order to strengthen her body for driving NoMoe. She even painted a nameplate for her hero’s stall. About half of NoMoe’s students are riders. One is a five year old non-verbal autistic boy. By the end of his first lesson, he was giving commands, counting ground poles and singing his ABCs. His family said he’d never spoken before. After just two months, the boy is speaking on his own, and not just repeating what he’s told to say. NoMoe handles three lessons a day, three to four days a week. It is physically and mentally taxing, as he fully appreciates the importance of the job he loves. His colleagues, Ann’s other Haflingers, also work as lesson ponies for both disabled and able-bodied riders and drivers. 20

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Backwoods Home Magazine practical ideas for self-reliant living t t t t t t t

1-800-835-2418 www.backwoodshome.com Haflingers are well suited for the job because of their size, build and temperament. At just under 14 hands, NoMoe is the perfect height for therapists to work with patients on his back. The cadence of his walk is unique in that it is exactly the same as an adult human, allowing non-walking riders to experience the sensation of the walking movement in their own bodies. This summer, NoMoe attended his 10th New Hampshire Special Olympics, one of the few programs that offers carriage driving. NoMoe often competes with three or four drivers at the event. This August, Ann is hoping to send NoMoe to New Jersey with one of his students for a clinic at Celtic Charms Therapy Center. The two-day program for the US Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) is hoping to feature upper level competitors. In the ten years he has been at the Carriage Barn, NoMoe has been a hero to so many. He has helped them physically, mentally and emotionally. Best of all, he has created a community to which they want to belong. § To learn more about NoMoe or therapeutic carriage driving, visit http://carriage-barn.org/

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Registered Name: Markus Height: 14.1 Breed: German Riding Pony Age: 12 Sex: Stallion Breeder: Carol Walace, MO Owner: Harmony Sport Horses, CO Driver: Paul Maye Feed: Omelene 200 Training: 5 on- 2 Dressage, Conditionin g, 1 Endurance Wins: 2013 (Single Pony) USEF National Champ, Southern Pines Reserve Little Everglades, 1st Advanced & 2012 Live Oak, 2nd Advanced 2012 Kentucy Classic, Natl Champ Goals: Preparing for 2013 World Pony Championship in Pau, France “What attracted me first was his brain and his unbelievable work ethic” ~ Paul Maye

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Horseshow.com Innovative online horse show and clinic website HorseShow.com offers a multitude of exciting educational and competitive opportunities for equestrians across a variety of breeds and disciplines, including carriage drivers. HorseShow.com offers a host of online competitions and clinics where equestrians have direct access to an impressive lineup of expert trainers and judges. Recently, HorseShow. com launched its most impressive program: online coaching, an educational platform that provides riders and trainers easy-to-use tools that allow them to work together at any time, regardless of where they are located. Through this online coaching program, equestrians can make a video of a practice drive, easily upload it to HorseShow.com, and have ready access to a roster of experts they may have never thought they’d have the opportunity to train with - all from the convenience of their home arena. HorseShow.com’s online clinics and coaching utilize revolutionary voiceover commentary technology, providing instruction in real time with the video for an unprecedented learning experience. Through this invaluable feedback, drivers can assess their horse’s readiness for live competition or simply learn how to improve their training and performance. When learning to be a better driver or sparkle in the show ring, why watch videos or clinics of other people when the best way to learn is to do it yourself? Discover a whole new online world of equestrian competition, clinics, and coaching, and see for yourself why this is a great way to continue training progress and excel in the show ring. Find out more at http://www.horseshow. com today! §

Personalized Coaching From World Champion Drivers - All At Your Fingertips with "I was thrilled to be able to work with Suzy Stafford while in Florida this winter. But when I came home, I felt a little lost since Suzy lives several states away. It could be months before I saw her again. But with the amazing online video coaching system on HorseShow.com, Harpo and I are able to stay on track in our training and continue our progress to the next level." - Jennifer Keeler & “Harpo”, Paris, KY Photo: www.goharpo.com Find out how you can work with coaches like Suzy Stafford and Shelly Temple anytime, anywhere through HorseShow.com! Simply film a practice dressage test or a schooling session from your own barn and upload to HorseShow.com. Choose your coach, and you'll receive personalized voiceover commentary describing how to improve your next performance! Trainers: find out how you can also join HorseShow.com's growing roster of expert coaches - for free! Discover a whole new world of online shows, clinics, & coaching Visit www.horseshow.com today!

Be sure you sign up for the magazine (FREE!) and make sure info@HorseandDriver.com is in your address book! “Do your traces hang low, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a knot…” Finish this poem first on facebook.com/HorseandDriver for a free Elastic Trace Carrier by Ideal Harness. Horse and Driver Magazine

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from here to there

How Do You Get There from Here?

We drivers really have no way of knowing what we are doing wrong until someone tells us. It is a lot like singing in the shower - we all sound great! If the horse is stopping and going straight, why ask for more? But one day you will, one day you do. Then what? Unfamiliar places, strange sounds, bumpy roads, additional distractions- Boom Bands??? For those of you who want to try your hand at competition of any kind, here is some advice from trainers on what to do next: READ THE RULE BOOK!!! Get together with someone who you can mentor. Take some lessons specific to what you want to do. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!! Prepare your horse and yourself well in advance. Have fun!!! ~ Olympic Medalist... Leslie Berndl Vernon Helmuth is a newcomer to the combined driving world and is especially new to training for it. His story started as the oldest of 10 kids farming 112 acres in Iowa. When Vernon was 19 he was introduced to combined driving. He was fascinated by the form the horse could take with proper training. Even though he had been driving his whole life, he realized instantly that he had no clue and could not even grasp the concept. He knew enough to know that he knew nothing. He wanted to know how to get horses into form. Showing was forbidden in his community and his cousins laughed at him for trying to find a different way of driving. To his fortune, one cousin showed for Jeanne Williams at Sargents Equestrian Center. With Jeanne’s extensive history in competitive dressage, Vernon had just the support he needed to move forward. I asked Vernon what he regularly has to help drivers with who want to move to the next level. He instantly said, “Form.” You can always work on your form. This is a really big thing that lot of Horse and Driver Magazine

trainers don’t talk enough about. Good form makes you appear more distinguished. Even though you may have average skills, if you have good form and a nice turnout when you are in front of a judge, you will do better. Good form will also save you a lot of time with a physical therapist. Sitting correctly strengthens instead of breaking down your back. Bad posture, constantly observed, will strengthen muscles that support the bad form. At first, you may be tired or sore from sitting correctly but after regular practice, it becomes easier because the muscles retrain themselves to support the new you. SEAT: You should sit just away from the back rest in an upright position. Shoulders over hips. LEGS: Your feet should never be under your knees. They should be braced comfortably in front of you on the floorboard for a secure seat and leverage should you need it. ARMS: When you are sitting up straight with your lines in hand and your arms outstretched you should be able to hold your whip under your arms across your chest and it should stay there. Elbows will be out, but not too far- slightly greater than an L shape and tight to the body. Your arms should be shoulder width apart. Picture a box around the arms not allowing them to move outside of the area. When you ask your horse for something, you should never break your form. Don’tmove your feet forward and backward. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. § Next Article: Good form and Driving with Contact (They mirror us). By Vernon Helmuth. horseanddriver.com

? t r o p S e m e r t x E n A : g n i v i r D e g a Carri

Each of these versions is a three-phase, one to three day driving extravaganza that includes: 1. A prescribed dressage test driven from memory in an arena. The test assesses the athleticism of the equine and the accuracy of the whip (driver) as well as the elegance of the overall presentation of carriage, equine and whip. 2. A timed cones obstacle course driven through about 20 pairs of traffic-like cones with balls on top set at prescribed widths just centimeters wider than the carriages. The cones course assesses the agility and responsiveness of the horse along with the whip’s judgment in NOT knocking over the balls while meeting a maximum time through the course. 3. A timed cross-country marathon course with lettered gates and fences that form obstacles resembling a maze. The marathon assesses the fitness and agility of the equine as well as the judgment of the whip to choose a suitable and fast route. The gates are negotiated in order (lettered from A to F) but with the whip’s chosen route.

18th Century European gentry going to their summer homes, romantics driving through Central park, stage coaches to Omaha—an X-treme sport? Well no, but Combined Driving Events (CDE’s), Horse Driving Trials (HDT’s), and Arena Driving Trials (ADT’s) are very much an extreme sport!

Horse and Driver Magazine

by Myke Gluck

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The main difference in the three events, CDE, HDT, and ADT, is the length and complexity of the marathon. In ADT’s, the marathon is done in an arena and has the competitors race around two to three obstacles twice each. In an HDT, (ponies compete too!) the marathon consists of five to eight obstacles (sometimes referred to as hazards) depending upon the level of the competitor, that are each separated by about one kilometer (~1000 yards) of often beautiful natural scenery. The CDE marathon currently consists of three phases: a three to six kilometer warm up, a one kilometer walk phase, and a third obstacle phase matching the HDT’s marathon. Each phase is timed separately and the trick is not to go too fast or too slow in each phase (much like a car rally), but to be as fast as possible in the obstacles themselves, hence the extreme label! The third obstacle phase is usually the most exciting component of all three events for both drivers and observers. Watching fourin-hands with accomplished whips speed through obstacles, often at a full gallop, is indeed extreme! In the United States we have four levels for competitors allowing development of both the equine and the whip to progress up the levels, if desired, toward international competition. Training, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced levels have differing requirements administered by the American Driving Society (ADS). Training level allows for a gentle introduction to the sport. The dressage pattern at Training is merely an introduction to the concepts as described by what is known as the ‘German training scale’ for driving as well as ridden equine dressage development: relaxation, rhythm, bit-seeking and impulsion with Horse and Driver Magazine

little expected at Training from the higher skills of straightness and collection. Training level skills involve working and free walk as well as working trot, basic transitions, large circles and backing. As competitors move to higher levels, improvements in the basics and quality of the higher skills are expected. At Advanced, collected cantering and multiple one-handed movements are often required. Competitions are further divided into classes by size of equine: very small equine (often miniature horses), small pony, pony and horse; and by number and style of equine configurations: single, pair and multiples (usually a team of four hitched as two pairs, or a tandem with one horse in front of the other). All competing equines must be at least four years old and both purebred and grade equine are welcome. In the cones phase, the same course is usually used at all levels but the speeds get faster and the width of the cones gets narrower for each level. Training level entries may not canter and the expected maximum speed is generous. In the marathon, each level increases in complexity and speed. At Training level, each obstacle is not separately timed so the competitor just needs to finish the entire marathon between the minimum time (faster accrues penalties at .2 of a point for each second too fast) and the time allowed (really the maximum time for no penalties). However, if a competitor is REALLY slow they can be eliminated, unofficially referred to as the ‘BIG E’. Training usually has to complete no more than five obstacles and only three lettered gates (A,B,C) in each obstacle. A water obstacle allows competitors to further show off their equine’s fearlessness but rules allow for a non-water route at Training level. At the higher levels, obstacles are timed and each second in an obstacle costs .2 penalty points. Maximum times also decrease, meaning the higher levels require more speed plus have more lettered gates to negotiate: Preliminary has four gates, Intermediate five gates, Continued on Page 33 25

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http://www.ShadyOaksEvents.com

1 THE BRIDGE

THE BRIDGE

The Bridge - Advanced and Intermediate levels. The Bridge at Windsor Palace was the inspiration for this very difficult obstacle.

2 WATER HAZARD

THE DUCK B

Water Hazard - Training and Preliminary (Prelim. does a simplified version.) This is an original design by Fritz Grupe. The steep entry is fenced to assure the horses will not vier off course.

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THE

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3 BIG TOP

Big Top - Advanced level only. Designed to recreate the hillside challenges found at Live Oak at the Eagle’s Nest.

THE FORT OF NO RETURN

THE WATERING HOLE DON’T FENCE ME IN

BLIND

E BULL PEN

Horse and Driver Magazine

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CALIFORNIA The West Coast CDE Hotspot Written by Charlotte Orr with guidance and support from Buck Scholderer

If you’re looking for variety, try Northern California where there are four very different American Driving Society sanctioned Combined Driving Events each with its own distinct “personality.” These four venues are all within an hour’s drive of Sacramento, but each is uniquely different in style, management and competition. Buck Scholderer, the announcer for all of the events stated, “Competing in all four is a hoot; volunteering at all four is a challenge and a pleasure; and spectating at all four will get you hooked! You’ll be back the next year with a horse and carriage!” While all of the events inspire fierce competition and nail-biting excitement, there is a noticeable atmosphere of encouragement and camaraderie among Horse and Driver Magazine

Woodland Stallion Station Vineyard Classic May 9-11. 2014 LOCATION: Woodland, CA HISTORY: The Vineyard Classic is the first major event of the year in California and draws about 50 competitors. The event is held at the Woodland Stallion Station and was started in 2008 to replace another West Coast venue that closed. WHAT TO EXPECT… “On Course” Dressage: The laser-leveled Dressage court has a compacted sand footing with a grassy warm-up area. Marathon terrain: The marathon course has moderate hills, olive groves and prepared tracks on the perimeter of 28

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FOUR

Pair of Haflingers at the Stonybook Bridge- Clay Station their new cross country course. There are two water hazards, an “enchanted forest” and the competitors’ favorite –large tires painted to look like cows. The Vineyard Classic marathon is particularly exciting because new obstacles are added each year. Cones: The cones course is held in the dressage court on day three. Most unique obstacle: The “Crayon” obstacle is made up of large 10ft tall concrete bridge conduits disguised to look like a spilled box of Crayons. “Amenities and Accommodations” Barns/Stalls: Stabling is mandatory and includes portable stalls, pipe paddocks, and wood stalls with paddocks in the barn. Camping/Overnight: Camping available on site, or hotels nearby. Food: Food and snacks available on the grounds. Complimentary breakfast/catered lunch and dinner. “For Spectators” Spectators are encouraged to come out and watch the events. There are vendors on site as well as a silent auction. Proceeds from the silent auction go to the select driving-based charities. Horse and Driver Magazine

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Sargents Equestrian Center

Shady Oaks CDE Oct 10-14, 2013 LOCATION: Lodi, CA HISTORY: Shady Oaks CDE started in 2000 and is located in Lodi, CA. It is considered the most formal of the four events with internationally renowned course designers and world class judges flown in every year to officiate. The farm is used primarily for the development of fruit, wine-grapes and olives but has gradsevenually grown to be the premier driving facility in the Western United States. The event draws competitors from all over the USA and Canada. Shady Oaks has become the goal of every western combined driver, offering classes from Training to Advanced Level. The National Pairs Championship has been held there in the past. WHAT TO EXPECT: â&#x20AC;&#x153;On Courseâ&#x20AC;? Dressage: This grass dressage court (nicknamed The Field of Dreams) has been referred to as the most beautiful dressage arena in the west and one of the most beautiful in the world. Marathon terrain: The Shady Oaks marathon course uses the same obstacles each year, but with a different course design. The obstacles are located on over 20 acres of grass and dirt with eight world class hazards, each influenced by structures in Europe and America. Cones: The footing for the warm-up/cone event (also known as The Field of Screams) is grass. Most unique obstacle: The Bridge which tests strength, endurance, agility and nerves of both horse and driver.

Horse and Driver Magazine

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“Amenities and Accommodations” Barns/Stalls: 10x10 covered stalls Camping/Overnight: Camping on grounds available, or nearby RV camping. Food: Snacks available. Catered dinners. “For Spectators” Shady Oaks is the most spectator friendly venue in the west, if not the whole country. Bleachers are set up for easy viewing. Seven of the obstacles are visible from a single location. Vendors are set up on site for convenient shopping and food service. www.shadyoaksevents.com/

for a first-time CDE competitor making their debut! WHAT TO EXPECT: “On Course” Dressage: Grass including the full perimeter. Marathon: Footing includes dirt, grass and gravel roads. The track includes seven bridges and all obstacles are gated to challenge more advanced drivers without frightening training levels. Cones: Grass. Most unique obstacle: A covered bridge right out of Madison County.

Clay Station Horse Park Summer Festival Tentative 3rd Weekend on June 2014 LOCATION: Wilton, CA HISTORY: Clay Station Horse Park is the place to go if you want to learn how to drive a CDE, or get some driving miles on an inexperienced horse. Not for nothing is the place called a horse “park” since everything on the property has been built or planted with the “park” setting firmly in mind. The event allows for Training Level through ADS Advanced. The Summer Festival event is the most “economic” of the four, and is perfect

“Amenities and Accommodations” Barns/Stalls: Hard shell stalls and paddocks. Camping/Overnight: Camping on grounds. Food: Snacks available. Complimentary breakfast and catered lunch/dinners. Highly praised Clay Station Cuisine! “Spectators” Spectators welcome. Dogs must be leashed. www.claystationhorsepark.com/

Sargents Equestrian Center Horse and Driver Magazine

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Sargents Equestrian Center Golden State CDE September 13-15, 2013 LOCATION: Lodi, CA HISTORY: The Golden State CDE is our Sargent’s “wild card” event, making its grand premiere in fall 2013. Although the event is ADS recognized, it will run for just two days this first year having cones and dressage on the same day.

Reigning Vineyard Classic champion, Merrie Morgan, driving two Friesian mares in the marathon. Courtesy photo.

WHAT TO EXPECT: “On Course” Dressage: Sand arena. Marathon terrain: Mostly level grounds. Rumor has it Sargents’ volunteer crew has built four permanent obstacles and one temporary obstacle. Cones: Dirt and grass over rolling terrain. Most unique obstacle: To be determined! “Amenities and Accommodations” Barns/Stalls: Temporary stalls. Camping/Overnight: Camping on grounds. Food: Available on grounds. www.goldenstatecde.com/ § Horse and Driver Magazine

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Of Those Driving Surveyed: 20 BEST OF

Of those surveyed so far.... 35% of you have been driving more than 15 years. Multiple answers allowed What you drive: 27% Very Small Equine 46% Pony 51% Horse 25% Draft 8% Donkey or Mule TAIL SWISH CLAMP Recently on the CD-L (A searchable wealth of knowledge, the Carriage Drivers List can be found at listerv.dartmouth. edu), I read “How can I fix the tail swish clamp?” I thought for a second and realized I had also been in that predicament. It could be caused by a frustrated horse or a fly. While I agree with Catherine in SoCal to “Hold the reins higher”, I was also interested in the “Anti-Swish Tail Tie” I found at IdealHarness.com

Horse Sense By Unknown

Come on, let’s quit kicking and pull hard. A horse can’t pull while kicking, This fact I merely mention. And he can’t kick while pulling, Which is my chief contention. Let’s imitate the good old horse And lead a life that’s fitting; Just pull an honest load, and then There’ll be no time for kicking. Horse and Driver Magazine

Extreme Sport... Continued from Page 25 and Advanced six gates. The number of obstacles also increases with each level with Preliminary racing through six, Intermediate six or seven, and at championships, eight for Advanced competitors. To win, the goal for the whip is to have the lowest dressage score and the least number of penalties in cones and the marathon. In each class or division, the entry with the lowest score overall is declared the winner. In the marathon, a second person called a navigator is required for pony and horse singles and pairs. As the number of equines in the configuration increases, the number of required personnel aboard the carriage increases to assist should mishaps occur. The navigator is truly a member of the team who assists in providing directional support especially in the hazards or actually shifting the carriage to avoid hitting objects within or outside the marathon hazards. Properly attired grooms are allowed or required in cones and dressage BUT they cannot communicate or interfere with the actions of the whip or equine. The smooth running of CDEs or their lesser relations require many volunteers. The best way to understand these competitions is to volunteer (along with reading the rule book). As with many sports, the rules can seem quite daunting to beginners and they do constantly change but they are indispensable to avoid the BIG E or large penalties. Thankfully, these competitions are full of the friendliest folks who really care and are most willing to help beginners. Volunteers assist with gates, filling out judges forms (called a scribe) in dressage, setting cones, and observing and timing competitors on the marathon course and in obstacles. These volunteers are in addition to the scorers, score runners, hospitality, stable management, parking attendants, and many other miscellaneous jobs that keep any horse show running smoothly. Officials for these events include a ground jury with a head judge and up to four other dressage judges, an official to time and monitor the cones, and a starter and official recorder for the marathon. In addition, a technical delegate is required to assist with rule interpretations and be a liaison among the judges, event managers, and competitors, and is also a critical competitor resource for rules and information. Another support tool is the official score board which includes any changes to the courses, times and places for competitions plus other useful information. These events are extreme and no one should just show up with an untrained whip and an untrained driving horse. However a bit of preparation and planning and a fair amount of hard work will provide a wonderful world of equine extreme fun. § References: The American Driving Society Rulebook. January 2013. Published by ADS. Cross Plains WI. Bean, H. and Blanchard, S. Carriage Driving: A Logical Approach Through Dressage Training. Howell Equestrian Library. A Simon and Schuster. MacMillian. 1992. Clayton, Hilary M. Conditioning Sport Horses. Sport Horse Publications Mason, MI 1991. Pape, Max. The Art of Driving. JA Allen & Co. LTD. 1982 (English Edition) Rubinowitz, Sandy. Driven Dressage with the Single Horse. Published by ADS, 1989.

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heroes of the horse show world – no matter the discipline. They are far more than just individuals with good diction and mellifluous voices.

An announcer keeps

competitors, spectators and horse show personnel informed, doing so with charm and authority. Among the best is Buck Scholderer, whose discipline of choice these days is carriage driving. by: Jane Meggitt

ANNOUNCERS

Announcers are the unsung

“Over the years, I have worked with and been mentored by some of the best horse show announcers including Nicho Meredith, Otis Trowbridge, Victor HugoVidal, John Walker, Alex Orr and Malcolm Hook,” he said. Scholderer began riding as a child with the New Jersey-based Junior Essex Troop. In later years, he served the JET as an instructor. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and graduating from Bloomfield College, he began a career in the pump industry. Horses remained an avocation. Scholderer moved to the West Coast in 1980 when his company transferred him, but he didn’t start driving until about 12 years ago. After retirement, he and a friend started selling Parma Arena Groomers, with northern California their exclusive territory. Part of his job involved making cold calls on ranchers and show facilities Horse and Driver Magazine

Announcing Inavale in Oregon several years ago...

with the groomer in the back of his pick-up truck. Scholderer turned up at one quarter horse show, where a judge told him to “stick around for the driving classes.” He spoke with the drivers, finding them “super-nice,” with one giving him a ride in his carriage. Not long after that, he was asked to announce at the inaugural CDE at Shady Oaks Farms in Lodi. That was the beginning of his active announcing career in California. Shady Oaks has now become a major event, rivaling Gladstone and Southern Pines, according to Scholderer. He says that East Coast-based competitors aren’t willing to make the commitment to come to California, “but Shady Oaks is the same quality as Live Oak.” Scholderer’s personal dream is to compete, not just announce, at Shady Oaks. He recalls that he and driving competitor Jay Hubert took a tandem to Live Oak about 10 years ago, also competing in South Carolina and Georgia. “We did very well and had a ball,” he recalls. Scholderer is known as “the Voice of Clay Station Horse Park,” a privately-owned facility featuring clinics, pleasure shows, CDEs and HDTs. Scholderer and his wife, Patti, drive equines owned by CSHP. They both drive a Morgan pony , which Patti drives as a single and he drives as part of a pair. Patti also drives a Morgan/Thoroughbred cross. Scholderer is optimistic about the future of the sport in northern 34

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Driving a pair of Morgans at Clay Station HDT... Fairy Tale Bridge California, for several reasons. The primary reason is that as the horseback riding population ages, more horse people turn to driving, he said. “The sport is growing,” he said, noting that there were four CDEs in northern California and this year there will be five. There are also several active driving clubs in the state and county fairs with driving classes, he said. Northern California also draws drivers from southern Oregon. “One of the big things that makes the CDE format viable is that the organizers own the property [in northern California],” he said. §

During Buck’s reining days...approx 1999. Quarter horse named Lucky.

You’re Invited To

Shady Oaks Combined Driving Event October 10 - 13, 2013 Marathon Day Saturday, October 12, 2013 Lodi, CA shadyoaksevents.com Horse and Driver Magazine

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ROAD SAFETY SERIES PART ONE: BEING AWARE DRIVING IN THE REAL WORLD ROAD SAFETY SERIES by Joanne Bellion Povenski

The purpose of this series is to help you prepare to drive in the most “non-horse friendly” environment you can imagine……the public roadways. During my career as a professional carriage driver, I was often asked what it is like to drive in city traffic. My answer was always this, “It’s like struggling to navigate a sail boat through a crowded harbor of speeding power boats.” That being said, I must tell you that it was the best job I ever had and one I could not wait to go to each evening! I have been showing horses since I was nine years old and up until I became a carriage driver I thought I had a fair amount of knowledge under my belt. I was amazed how humbling my first night of training on the city streets was. Believe me when I tell you, driving in traffic is a VERY different world! Recreational driving can be at places such as an organized event, in which the level of safety and awareness are relatively high due to the horse friendly environment. On country roads one would think you are a bit safer because it is a rural area where many residents have animals and there is not much traffic. Our State and National Parks are a wonderful place to drive in their animal friendly environment of well maintained road and trail systems. Motor vehicle traffic is prohibited in some areas of the parks. However, you must remember this one very important fact: Motorists don’t realize that a horse is not a machine under absolute control by the driver. To the motorist you are nothing more than a nuisance. To them the horse and carriage is a thing of the past which should stay there. If I had a nickel for every time I heard, “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know horses don’t belong on the road?” The important role the horse played in our history has long been forgotten by the modern motorist who is in a hurry to go to a soccer game, yard sale or work. Make no mistake there are people out there who think it is hilarious to see a horse bolt by honking the horn, yelling or throwing an object at it. In fact that is the very reason I hung up my whip, after many years as a professional carriage driver. I was continually appalled at the behavior of people toward horses and just couldn’t stand it any longer. I have come to hate the movie, “Blazing Saddles” because people want to see if they can knock out the horse like in the movie. It needs to be said here that the area in which we worked, most

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people were under the influence of alcohol. Never the less, it got very old, indeed. In spite of all that, I love driving a horse and carriage more than anything else on the planet, I just don’t do it in the city any more…….but be forewarned: the nuts are everywhere! Horses still have the right of way but it is more prudent to be the driver who yields, rather than the one who stands his ground under the law. It’s not worth the risk of losing that battle. Don’t expect considerations from motorists and when you do get them, make sure to signal your appreciation. (And when you don’t get them, do not signal your disappointment!) By the same token, do NOT wave a vehicle on to pass or turn in front of you……ever! If anything bad happens as a result, it’s on you because you told the driver it was okay. A good idea is to have a sign on the back of your carriage which says, “PLEASE PASS SLOW AND WIDE.” Allow the motorists to make their own decisions. Once you have taken your horse out of his normal, safe environment you need to think of your surroundings as he would see them. The noise a tractor trailer makes when it is using the Jake Brake may very well sound like a growling predator, to the horse. Consider yourself lucky if traffic even slows down as they pass you. A lawn or tree trimming crew uses loud equipment and don’t expect them to stop working while you drive by. Trash and dump

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trucks often drop debris onto the roadway. Sirens blasting on emergency vehicles, riders on bicycles, loud motorcycles or perhaps a car dragging a muffler on the concrete, are all sounds your horse is not accustomed to. Even the most seasoned road horse will have some sound or thing which will launch him into orbit. First let’s examine how the horse perceives his world. As a prey animal, your horse has monocular vision, meaning he has one eye on each side of his head. A prey animal’s eyes work independently of one another, sending separate images to separate sides of his brain as they constantly search for predators lying in wait. Only when your horse has directed both eyes on an object directly in front of him – beyond his front-end blind spot – do both eyes focus together in binocular vision. WHAT YOU SEE: My 10 pound yellow cat sitting on a stump to the right of my driveway. WHY YOU SEE IT THAT WAY: Your eyes’ autofocus mechanism instantly sends your retina a sharp image of the cat. WHAT YOUR HORSE SEES: A cat the size of a Cocker Spaniel. Your horse has the largest orb found in any land mammal and has a correspondingly oversized retina. The effect of this large retina is that it magnifies everything he sees – to him up close objects look 50% larger than they appear to you. WHAT YOU SEE: An aluminum gate standing open in your driveway. WHAT YOUR HORSE SEES: To help his focus in spite of rigid lenses, he must move his head, adjusting the distance – known as focal length – between his eye or eyes and the gate, and adjusting the angle of view, until the image falls into focus on the appropriate portion of his retina. As he moves through the opening, portions of the gate move into focus, while other portions seem to be shimmering blurs that change as his every step and minor head movement alter the focal length and angle of view. 3 To your horse, this appears as though portions of the gate are actually moving – an unsettling vision for a prey animal who believes that strange, moving objects are boogiemen until proven otherwise, and are to be approached with utmost caution, if at all. WHAT YOU SEE: The sight of my Labrador, trotting in from the field to join our trail ride. I shift in my saddle as I watch the dog make a beeline for my horse’s heels. He zigzags from right to left, “herding” my horse. WHAT YOUR HORSE SEES: His right eye sees a pony-sized dog. The dog then disappears, and another pony sized dog appears in his left eye’s field of vision. The dog disappears in his cone shaped blind spot behind his hindquarters. With a slight tilt of his

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head to either side, your horse is able to eliminate this blind spot. And, because your horse has monocular vision, the area in his right eye’s field of vision is perceived and processed by his brain separately from the area in his left eye’s field of vision. The unfortunate side effect of this unique ability is that while the right side of his brain has already “seen” the dog, the left side of his brain will perceive a new threat when it sees the dog. Now you know why harness bridles have blinkers which helps but does not eliminate the problem.

NEXT TIME, “ MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE, TIMING AND SIGNALS” Bio: Joanne Bellion Povenski is an ‘R’ rated Pleasure Driving judge with the ADS (American Driving Society) and the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) with more than 10 years of experience. This card requires that one must be knowledgeable enough to judge any breed of horse, not only in harness but under saddle and over jumps. She has a lifetime of experience with a wide variety of breeds and disciplines. She has successfully showed her Morgan Horse, “Piper” to the National levels of competition. As a professional carriage driver for 8 years, she rose in the ranks from driving a single horse to a pair of Arabian Horses and then barn manager of over 30 horses, carriages and employees. Joanne does not compete anymore but instead judges driving shows, Open shows and 4-H shows all over the country. §

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Competitive Distance Driving

Need more time to drive?

The Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive Rides Association (UMECRA) was formed with the goal of promoting the sport of endurance and competitive riding, and good horsemanship under the direction of qualified veterinarians. Competitive Distance Driving competitions were added to some rides about ten years ago. UMECRA was founded by a group of ride managers to standardize a set of rules for the various rides to reduce variation in the way rides were managed, to coordinate ride dates, to tally points, and to present year-end awards at an annual banquet. We host rides throughout the states of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. In 2013, there were 14 events that include competitive drives mainly in Wisconsin and Illinois. Check us out on www.umecra.com. §

Go on a low information diet (turn off the TV and forget about the news online).

27th Annual

Read the 4 Hour Workweek. Here are some tips…

Become better at time management: Use an online timer such as Rescuetime.com. Batch as much as you can. Only check e-mail 2X a day at specific times. Ask people to call instead of e-mail- believe it or not, it takes less time if you are to the point- answer, “What’s up?”

BEST OF

Those Surveyed: Driving Of 43% of you drive 2-3 days a week. Great 2013

job! Log your hours with the ADS. http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/ rec_hours_drive.asp

Draft Horse Classic September 19-22, 2013 Enjoy Six Amazing Draft Horse Shows! See the majestic Draft Horses in 20 competitions, plus go “backstage” and meet the horses up-close!

Harvest Fair: Free Fun for All Ages! Art Show, Music, Delicious Food, Clogging, Exhibits, Trade Show

Bounty of the County

A pairing of local chefs and BBQ experts with the produce and meats of Nevada County Grown farmers and ranchers. Local, delicious, fresh food! Saturday of the Classic

Classic BBQ Cook-Off Sunday of the Classic

New This Year! Lower Prices on AduLt Admission tickets For evening PerFormAnces. Buy eArLy And sAve! RV Camping onsite

Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA Show Tickets (530) 273-6217 • www.NevadaCountyFair.com Horse and Driver Magazine

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PONIES...

by Mary Thomas

Dartmoor Ponies have roamed free on the eerie moors of Southwestern England for centuries. Shaped by the harsh environment, they have become not only survivors, but hardy, attractive animals. Now classed as a rare breed, there are approximately 3,000 Dartmoors worldwide with about 300 of them in the United States. The ponies range from 11 to 12.2 hands. A chiseled head showing Arabian influence is set on a clean, medium length neck. A strong back and wellmuscled hindquarters guarantee that the ponies can perform a variety of jobs. Short, flint-like canon bones, solid hoofs, and well let-down hocks add to their solid appearance. Sharp, small ears and soft, expressive eyes complete the picture of the ponies’ overall quality. Dartmoor colors include brown, black and several shades of bay. Occasionally there will be a gray or a chestnut. White markings are minimal although a white pastern or a small star appears on many of the ponies. Spotted ponies are not accepted for registration. Most of the Dartmoors in the U.S. are included in the Dartmoor Pony Registry of America (DPRA). Their website www.DartmoorPony.com has information about registration, the DPRA studbook, ponies for sale, breeders, etc. History hasn’t always been kind to the Dartmoor Pony. When no longer useful as mine pack animals (often carrying more than 200 pounds of ore to the refining plants), the ponies were discarded to the moors to fend for themselves. Two world wars and the financial woes of the Great Depression saw Dartmoor numbers dip disastrously. After WWII, the British Dartmoor Society began to slowly bring back the Dartmoor population, and continues to promote the breed through shows, articles, and clinics. Dartmoors were imported by Farnley Farm, beginning in the 1930’s. Many of the early imports were used to breed polo ponies. In the past two decades, several more Dartmoors have been brought to the U.S., bringing in new blood and an increased interest in the breed. Dartmoors have gained favor in the U.S. because of their delightful dispositions and athletic ability. Muffy Seaton and Tracy Morgan have won both international and national honors driving Dartmoors. The ponies are very versatile, being used for children’s mounts, combined driving events, pony hunter classes, pleasure driving shows, and recreational driving fun. A recent American Driving Society rule change has created renewed interest in small ponies as a single small pony may now compete in combined driving events without the second person (navigator.) What better small pony than a Dartmoor? § Horse and Driver Magazine

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Transforming Un i te d S t a te s D r iv i n g for t h e D i s a bl e d , In c .

by Bev White

The mission of United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. (USDFD) is to support the extraordinary benefits of therapeutic driving by sharing knowledge and experience, as well as serving as a resource for innovations in adaptive equipment for drivers, trainers, and programs offering carriage driving. Our website, www.usdfd.org, provides a wealth of resources and information about equipment, clinics, training, and more. It also includes inspirational profiles of drivers who have moved from a wheelchair onto the box to enjoy regained freedom, and drivers who represent Team USA at national and international competitions. To send our horses, equipment, drivers and support staff to international competitions is very expensive so our Board of Trustees works to raise funds to allow USDFD to train, select and send a winning team. The training clinics, organized by our Vice-President Diane Kastama, invite horse clubs across the continent to introduce their members to driving for the disabled where they are educated in the use of adaptive equipment and receive training to improve their driving skills. Expert trainers and driving venues donate their services and facilities to make the clinics financially accessible to drivers with disabilities. At the Vineyard Combined Driving Event in Woodland, California this past May, five drivers with disabilities joined the ranks of competitors: Diane Kastama, Stefanie Putnam, Tracy Bowman, Ginny Leal and Bev White, President of USDFD. Each of them used adaptive

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Lives

equipment or assistance in some way, whether it’s to aid in entering and exiting the carriage, being secure in the carriage, or help in holding the reins. Once in the carriage, they drove dressage, marathon, and cones courses, competing equally with able-bodied drivers. The freedom, adrenaline and wind in their faces was exhilarating as their equines danced through dressage gaits, marathon obstacle gates and between orange cones with yellow balls balanced on top. All competitors are on wheels and dependent on their ability to communicate with the animal in front of them. Driving is truly the great equalizer! So join us in opening the world of carriage driving to persons with disabilities. It’s easy to join online at our website at www.usdfd. org. The USDFD is a 501©(3) organization so both our drivers and your reduced tax bill benefit from your donation. We also welcome additional contributions to the Sybil Dukehart Endowment Fund which provides scholarships to help people with disabilities find new freedom in carriage driving. Since you are reading this magazine, you know the joy of carriage driving. Help us open the sport to those who may not even know what they are missing. §

INTRODUCTION TO ACCESS ADVENTURE Non-profit Access Adventure was founded in 2006 by John Muir’s great-grandson, Michael. The program is staffed entirely by volunteers whose goal is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and other underserved members of the community by providing outdoor recreation, open space access, education and therapy through a working partnership with horses. Horsedrawn Thornlea carriages incorporate a battery operated lift to bring aboard people with mobility issues. Programs offer lifechanging experiences for participants in a safe, secure environment. With horses leading, their world expands as they challenge the limits of their disability. www.access-adventure.org

H orsetels.com Bed, Barn & Breakfasts

Mobil e Web Tablet Add your own place 2 stay.

Please send reviews and we will create a “Triggers’s List” of preferred locations and scary places!

Regional Driving Resources contains clubs, events and links directly to the list of Places 2 Drive on the ADS website. www.RegionalDrivingResources.com

Photo by Ben White Horse and Driver Magazine

Places2 Drive 41

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Noriker Horse

The The Noriker Horse has been bred in the Austrian Alps and foothills for about 2000 years. It was originally bred as a heavy war horse in Thessaly until it caught the eye of the Romans, who used this strong horse to cross the Alps. The Noriker was transformed by the landscape, climate and terrain into a cold mountain horse. About 400 years ago, the Archbishops of Salzburg sought stricter breeding controls and influenced the creation of a stud book and breed selection rules. Stud farms and stations were constructed and the Noriker became a product of the Austrian Alps. In the valleys and slopes of the alpine meadows, the old Roman legion horse became an adaptable, frugal and poised horse with the cold-blood character. The breeding goal can be summarized as: “A healthy, middleweight, noble mountain cold-blood horse with harmonious width and depth, sufficiently strong bones and joints, with correct ground covering and elastic gait, agility, sure footed, frugality, diligence, endurance and willing to work with a quiet temperament in unsure terrain.” These qualities describe today’s Noriker which can be defined as a multi-purpose and hard working leisure horse with excellent character. Some of the most valuable bloodlines are the Vulkan, Nero, Diamant, Schaunitz and Elmar lines. The color variation in the Noriker breed is unique. There are equal numbers of black, bay, chestnut, grey and the notable spotted/leopard. The ideal size of a Noriker is between 15.3 and andDriver 17 hands. § Horse Magazine

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Julie Muela-Farris was raised in the wine country surrounding Lodi, Ca on her family ranch. Because of her upbringing her art is inspired by the things she grew up with including horses, carriage driving and country living. She has earned numerous ribbons and honorable mention in juried art shows and venues throughout California. facebook.com/julie. muelafarrisart

Chris Rankin - Chris Rankin is an awardwinning watercolor artist from Northern California, whose equine-themed works have been featured in numerous galleries, national and international art shows and print media features. She can often be found displaying and discussing her art and love of draft horses at local galleries and annual horse shows. Web site is: www.chrisrankinart.com.

DRIVING ART

Kaylan E. Senour is a Graphic Designer by day, Artist by night. She enjoys all types of artistic mediums from drawing and painting to sculpting and photography. After an art teacher told her she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend her life only drawing horses, Kaylan set out to prove the statement wrong. Horses remain one of her favorite inspirations! Kaylan lives in Aiken, South Carolina, and is available for equine photo sessions and custom paintings. Visit her website at www.drawing-on-walls. com or email her at kaylan@drawingon-walls.com for more info. Horse and Driver Magazine

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THE THOUSAND

MILE

In 2001, the Horsedrawn Journey across America traveled from the Mission San Diego on the West Coast, all the way to Washington, DC. Covering more than 3,000 miles, this epic trek took nearly ten months. In 2002, HorseJourney Europe travelled through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany on the way to the World Carriage Driving Championships for Drivers with Disabilities in Greven, Germany. HorseJourney, in 2003, followed the route taken by John Muir in his first great wilderness adventure, The Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf. Starting in Louisville, Kentucky the Journey travelled through Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida arriving at Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. On this journey, Michael’s companion was Cindy Goff, who was paralyzed in a riding accident. Both Mike and Cindy have represented the USA in Carriage Driving competitions for the disabled. Mike is a former President of United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. HorseJourney starts with an idea, and rolls along from there. You never know just what combination of crew, equipment and animals will hit the road until that Journey is underway. Originally, Mike intended to pull a pair carriage with two of his sporthorses. The physical challenges for Cindy and Mike to manage a pair without help on the road led to another downsizing. Jerry and Barbara Garner of Wabash, Indiana offered an ultra-light version of their cleverly designed Thornlea carriage with a mechanical wheelchair lift. This is easily managed with a single horse. Stonewall Domino was drafted for the job. http://www.access-adventure.org/newsletters.html Stay tuned for the next episode: “The Team”, It takes a village! §

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JOURNEY TO THE GULF

Mary Aiu picked up her camera and renewed her passion for creating photographic imagery after a career as an art instructor. Embracing the digital world provides the opportunity for her to reshape her work on a more personal level beyond the camera capture. While most of her subject matter comes from the natural world, horses are her favorite inspiration. Creating imagery that captures the spirit of the horse, whether it be a loving friend, a working horse, or an arena performance, is a labor of love. Mary is currently showing her fine art photography in Northern California. She also photographs the wonderful horses and events of Access Adventure, www.access-adventure.org To see more of her work, visit her website at www.maryaiu.com Regards, Mary Aiu horseanddriver.com

CAA Driver Proficiency Program History For years the directors of The Carriage Association of America (CAA) had been well aware of the great program run by the British Driving Society (BDS) for some 30 years. The program, named BDS Proficiency, was made up of over 30 booklets and covered basic knowledge and driving skills, right up to advanced and the creation of Light Horse Harness Instructors. Working with the BDS and its then chairman, John Parker, the CAA was able to work out an arrangement with the BDS to adopt their program and bring it to North America. So in January 2007 the BDS sent us copies of all their publications to do with their Proficiency program. A small committee, on behalf of the CAA, was formed to review the publications and to make their recommendations. The committee set about “Americanizing” the publications, recognizing that the terminology and spelling is not always the same between North America and the U.K. The committee worked hard and produced their recommendations to offer Level 1, 2 and 3 in North America. Purpose Offer a program to evaluate levels of skill within the carriage driving community. Increase awareness and knowledge of how to drive safely and correctly, while maintaining carriage traditions. Level 1 – like primary school Intended for the person who can drive competently in an enclosed area; with the help of a proficient assistant, safely and competently harness, put-to and drive a single; demonstrate and describe practical knowledge of the use of harness and vehicles suitable for a single; and care for a driving horse, housed in a stable and on pasture, and maintain it in a suitable condition for driving. Road Driving If you complete Level 1 Units 1-3 competently, then you can go forward and take a Road Driving evaluation. This can be done right after Level 1 or separately. It is not necessary to take Road Driving to complete Level 1, but is necessary if you plan to go on to Level 2. Level 2 – like high school While Level 1 is taken all at once, Levels 2 and 3 are made up of many units that are taken over time and built up in your file at the CAA office. Level 2 is for those who can work competently in a driving environment with some responsibility, in company and perhaps competition and who can look after a group of horses, and maintain them competently over a period of time in work and out of work. Level 3 – like college Horse and Driver Magazine

Requires the driving of multiples (either pair, tandem or four), training a driving horse and good knowledge of different types of harness and carriages. Instructors and Evaluators All certified CAA instructors and evaluators have gone through the program beginning with Level 1. It is felt important that they do so in order to fully understand and appreciate the program. Once an instructor has been teaching the program for a year, they are able to then go forward in the program and study to be an evaluator. Procedure (fully explained in the Syllabus) Either organize a group in your area and host an instructor or evaluator, or attend an event already planned. There are costs involved and the fees for evaluations are listed on the application form at the back of every syllabus. Those fees and the completed application form must be filed with the CAA office prior to your taking an evaluation. Out of these fees, the evaluator is paid for the actual evaluation once they have submitted the evaluation forms to the office. In some cases, there will be travel & housing fees involved if you have to bring an instructor or evaluator to town. These costs can be negotiated with the evaluator directly. Learn more about the program The CAA offers syllabi for sale on its website and at booths around the country. A list of instructors and evaluators is shown on the CAA website. § Carriage Association of America 3915 Jay Trump Road Lexington, KY 40511 (859) 231-0971 or fax. (859) 231-0973 info@caaonline.com www.caaonline.com

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equipment reviews

WCC CARRIAGES by Muffy Seaton I have been driving WCC carriages for as long as I’ve been driving four-wheelers in combined driving events. That’s about 25-30 years, actually. Yipes, that’s a long time! But I’m still driving and still driving a WCC! WCC started business in Poland under the name of European Carriage Company. A few years ago, they merged with another company to get a larger facility and changed the name to World Carriage Company. The main importer to the USA is Bob Cook of Southern Pines, North Carolina. The manufacturer is still in Krobia, Poland. They make many models for all occasions and sizes of equine (including minis and VSEs), from singles to pairs and fours, for competition, cross country, driving for pleasure and exercise carriages; both two- and fourwheeled. I am most experienced with the pony sized marathon carriage, the model M 140. I drive a 13.3 hand single pony to this vehicle and have also used it for a 12.2h pony up to a 15h horse. It weighs about 308 lbs and has four-wheel disc brakes with one brake pedal and a fifth-wheel brake pedal. It has ample back step room according to my navigating husband, Doug, and good padding where it’s needed. It also has the option of telescoping shafts which my ponies love since the shafts don’t poke into their shoulders in tight turns. It’s very stable and has always pulled through for me in tight areas. You can custom order one in almost any color combination and the wedge seat has the added security of having a nice suede seat cushion. I love my bright blue and yellow. It really stands out in a crowd! It also comes with an odometer/ speedometer which is a great tool for conditioning your horse. I have had very few issues with my Horse and Driver Magazine

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Horse Ownership is for the Rich!?

WCCs over the years, but Bobby Cook is the best to work with for repairs and parts if you should ever need them. The only thing I’ve ever had to replace, actually, is the rubber covering on the extendable shafts as the sun in South Carolina is so strong it tends to melt rubber. I love my snazzy blue and yellow carriage and have recommended WCC to many people who also swear by them. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for a new carriage to find a WCC to try before making a decision. You are most welcome to come by my farm anytime to go for a drive in mine! Bobby Cook’s website is www.horsecarriages.com. It’s very informative and even has a used carriage page, although I really don’t advise buying a used marathon carriage. Sometimes, you just don’t know what kind of treatment they’ve had. It’s a lot better to order one in your special colors so you get exactly what you want. The Model M140 is in the mid-range price wise; not as expensive as a Kuhnle (but in my opinion, just as good and more comfortable) and not as inexpensive as some others, but way better built! Go try one! I think you’ll like it! §

BEST OF

CARRIAGE LOCKS We are proud to be a long-time Morgan Horse Family; Breeding and Showing Morgan Horses since 1980. This is a family operation with three generations feeding, training, and maintaining the herd.

Not that we would ever worry about theft, but I (Denice Barton, Publisher) was quite shocked when my carriage bounced out of the flatbed trailer. Men quickly played white knight and women blocked traffic in an instant. I had stopped at my mother’s for a sandwich on the way out of town and all I can figure is that it was untied by some of the neighborhood sweeties! Luckily, the shocks were in great shape and it did not hit a car. §

Driving Clubs & Regional Events Sign up or find one at... RegionalDrivingResources.com

Of Those Surveyed:

Driving 2013

Study results indicated only 28% of horse owners have an annual household income of more than $100,000; nearly half earn $25,00075,000; and 34% earn less than $50,000. Source: The American Horse Council’s 2005 Economic Study. An average horse eats over 2.7 tons of hay a year. Waste? A 1,000 pound horse excretes 50 pounds a day. §

# Equine Owned: 30% Own 1-2 26% Own 2-3 38% own 5 or more

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68% also ride 80% board at home 69% use supplements 47

We are especially interested in the preservation, promotion, and sharing of Morgan Horse pedigrees, in a modern horse. Good Manners are every bit as important to us as correct conformation and the Morgan’s intrinsic beauty and terrific personality. We have all ages. Suitable for various disciplines. Classic Morgan bloodlines and temperament. Blacks, Seal Browns, Dark Chestnuts, Red Chestnuts, Bays, and a Palomino. National caliber horses for the show ring, CDE, neighborhood pleasure driving, on the trail, or in the backyard. Our horses are groomed near geese, ducks, chickens, guinea hens, cats and dogs. Sleipnir Morgan Horse Farm is located in East Tennessee at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, off Interstate 75, between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Georgia and John Denman and Family 423 284 0899 Cellular and Texts Sleipnir Morgan Horse Farm 2214 Columbus Road Delano, TN, 37325-7607 www.SleipnirMorganHorseFarm.com featuring Georgia Denman’s blog. Facebook: Sleipnir Morgan Horse Farm

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Are You Sure Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Insured? These are the days of lawsuits. Last year we saw football fans sue over hot bleachers, a little league batter sued over a foul ball hitting a spectator, and more. So, in the event of an accident caused by your horse, hope for the best but expect the worst. Many equine enthusiasts cut corners on their coverage, when they should solidify it. Some cite recent equine participation laws as protection against lawsuits. Simply put, there is very little case law to determine how individual states will enforce this new law. Secondly, the costs of defending yourself, even against a frivolous lawsuit, can be debilitating. Having a liability policy in place can relieve the burden of defense costs. Equine Personal Liability and Equine Commercial Liability are two very different things and provide coverage to an insured for different

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exposures and operations. Finding the right policy and coverage for your needs should be determined through a conversation with an experienced insurance agent; preferably one with equine experience. Not all equine risk can or should be categorized together. A false sense of security can sometimes arise through boarding situations where a horse owner may think they are insured against liability exposures because the boarding stable has a Farm or Commercial Liability policy. The boarding stableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy covers them for exposure to liability claims as a result of their business activities. Taking a boarded horse off premises for a pleasure drive through the trails of a local park can leave the owner/driver exposed should the unfortunate event of a runaway result in bodily injury or property damage to a third party. Having an Equine

Personal Liability policy in place can guard an insured against lawsuits arising from claims caused by their horse(s), either when at a show or on a leisurely Sunday drive. A discussion with an insurance agent can help you determine if you have an exposed risk and where you will find the best value to insure against that risk. If you own your own property and have a Farm Owners policy, you may be able to add this kind of coverage in the form of an endorsement to your existing policy. Insuring for equine liability risk gets more complicated when the almighty dollar is involved. When an insured begins to give rides at the local park on Sunday afternoon and accepts money to do so, the Equine Personal Liability policy can no longer cover the risk. The acceptance of payment for a carriage ride transforms this risk from a personal liability exposure to that of a commercial exposure. Most farmowner policies cannot be endorsed to cover any kind of commercial carriage operations so a separate policy

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will be needed with its own limits of liability. Policies for these operations can be costly due to inherent risk of injury and property damage, and higher claim volume associated with equine activities. A good choice when searching for a commercial liability policy for equine operations is to find an agent who can provide a policy through a group plan, similar to group health coverage, which spreads risk and lowers premium amounts. It is of utmost importance to ask your agent the questions before you drive out of the barn and onto the road. Don’t risk your livelihood, your business or your family’s security; be sure you are insured! If you have any questions pertaining to any aspect of equine insurance, please call one of our agents today. We have nationally available policies in order to serve your insurance needs effectively. § Ruhl Insurance 26-28 Market Square Manheim, PA 17545 1-800-537-6880 www.iruhl.com

Monday’s at 7:30pm and Tuesday’s at 9:30am ET Gentle Giants will feature farms across North America that raise draft horses, to see the horses at work and at play. They will cover draft horse competitions from The Calgary Stampede to the Nebraska State Fair, from the North American 6-Horse Classic Series World Championships in Oklahoma City to local competitions. Breeders have opened their gates to allow a glimpse at the one-ton wonders and the people who own them. Horse and Driver Magazine

CONA MENTOR PROGRAM Carriage Operators of North America Cona.org

CONA MENTORS are now available to its members in the commercial carriage industry. CONA supplies the names and contact information of volunteer members experienced in a number of areas likely to be of interest to companies just starting out. Topics include “Getting Started in Business” where a tenured commercial carriage owner advises on topics such as how to work with a city to implement ordinances governing carriage service, how to find financing, urban stabling options, and more. A member representing the insurance industry advises on the recommended coverage for each unique operation and explains insurance terms and options. Specialists advise on truck and trailer purchases, maintenance, and decisions regarding equipment acquisition such as gas or diesel engines, aluminum or steel trailers, bumper or goose-necked, and size to fit draft horses and/or carriages. When there is an accident involving a horse drawn carriage, we have a very experienced operator in a large metropolitan area that can help with accident mitigation, working with the insurance company and the media. Mentors advise on safely working large public events such as parades and festivals. There are mentors who can help increase or expand business opportunities to offer horses with or without carriages for private functions like weddings, Baraat (Hindu wedding) ceremonies, Quinceanaras, and funerals. Many of our mentors have been in business for over thirty years and are happy to help others learn new safety strategies while growing their business. Join CONA today to gain access to these great services! § 49

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Draft Horses aka “Gentle Giants”

Draft horses are such a large part of the forming of the land of freedom we call home. Drafts were a significant part of the workforce prior to the steam engine. Publications such as Draft Horse Journal, Rural Heritage and Small Farmers Journal pay homage to the work horse and celebrate his intense work ethic. Nationwide events feature draft sales, draft pulls and draft equipment sales (many are listed in the event section). Commercial carriage companies across America give drafts and draft crosses a job that keeps them necessary. The horses serve as transportation for brides, dignitaries, tourists and the recently deceased. Commercial drivers raise awareness in the general public and some even transition to become competitive drivers, having the horses and knowledge to allow them to compete in this expensive sport. A single or pair are common in commercial work, whereas 6-8 drafts can be seen pulling wagons for pleasure, demonstrations and competition. These “hitches” are less common but are very impressive. The North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series has become the most prestigious draft horse event on the continent. Six gleaming oneton horses create a spectacle as they stomp into the arena moving as one, outfitted in patent leather and chrome harness pulling historically restored freight wagons. Crowds can literally feel the earth tremble as the massive hitches pass by! Each year, six-horse hitches across the United States and Canada compete at agricultural exhibitions, and state and county fairs to accumulate points for the Classic Series. Close to 200 hitches travel within their region and beyond, competing at 60 qualifying shows throughout North America. The competition builds to a climax at the end of the series when the four highest point hitches in each of three breed classifications are invited to compete for $30,000.00 in premiums at the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series Final Championship. The goal of the North American Classic Series to promote draft horse breeds is being realized at all levels of competition. After becoming SixHorse Hitch Classic Series qualifying events, small local and county fairs have blossomed into tremendous draft horse hitch shows bringing

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Dave ThomasBudweiser Clydesdales

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spectators back year after year to root for their favorites. The qualifying shows run from early September through Labor Day weekend annually. Once the final numbers are reported, the top four hitches in each of three breed classifications, Belgian, Percheron, and Clydesdale/Shire, are invited to attend and participate in the Classic Series Finals Championship Show. All twelve hitches are guaranteed premiums and travel money. For many years, the Classic Series was supported by a handful of dedicated draft horse promoters. Through the efforts of that small group of individuals, the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series and its “Final” has grown to be the “Triple-Crown” of draft horse competitions, stimulating growth and interest in all of the draft horse breeds. To learn more, visit www.naclassicseries.com or facebook.com/ NASHHCS

West Coast Events There are draft shows across the Nation but in this issue we are featuring the west coast and its largest draft show, Draft Horse Classic in Grass Valley, California. The 27th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair happens September 19 – 22, 2013 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Featuring six performances by the beautiful Draft Horses, this event is the premier Draft Horse show in the western United States. The Classic spotlights a variety of horses, teams, rigs and performances; featuring everything from farm wagons, carriages, and driving competitions to dancing horses and racing mules. The stars of the show are the horses with more than 120 horses stabled on the grounds. In between classes, spectators can enjoy showcase specialty acts. This year, the featured act is Tommie Turvey, a world-renowned equine entertainer, stuntman and one of the best movie horse trainers of

today. Tommie’s horses have been featured in many movies, including “Batman: The Dark Knight,” and he did the training and filming of the Budweiser Clydesdales horses for the 2013 Superbowl commercial. You will also enjoy the Harvest Fair that features musical entertainment, a clogging jamboree, Treat Street goodies, Art at the Classic, horse shoeing demonstrations, a chance to visit with the horses, and hundreds of community exhibits. This year’s Draft Horse Classic is September 19 – 22 at the tree-covered Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling the Fairgrounds Office at (530) 273-6217 or visiting the Fairgrounds’ website at www. NevadaCountyFair.com.

Profiles of Commercial Drivers With the knowledge that the only good thing for a healthy draft to do is work, we must appreciate exposure to driving that only a commercial operator can give. Charlie Evans At a party, Charlie Evans was amazed by the presence and strength of a draft that came to give rides to the guests. So much so that he went right out and bought a Clydesdale.

Luke & Abel

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Sage- 2 -year-old Percheron filly that Nattie started in both team and single driving. He had no intention of doing anything other than driving Milestone, but before a year had passed he went from two to eight and was taking lessons from many trainers with the intention of hooking them. His entire family thought he had horse fever and this, like many illnesses, would soon pass. No chance! They knew they needed help so they commissioned a wonderful girl named Dana Clark. She had lots of riding and training experience but was also brand new to driving. To support the community, Charlie does 20 events a year, from a one-day Tractor Supply exhibition to two-weeks in Sacramento at the State Fair. It is a real family affair, as is with all privately-owned hitches. It takes all six of his kids, significant others, friends, friends of friends and friends of friends of friends to make it all come together. Cal Crush’s main goal is to hook six, put on a clean safe show, and allow patrons to interact with the horses. It is wonderful for hitch drivers to have such commitment to sharing this entertainment and piece of our history. Dave Thomas Dave Thomas is a relatively new driver with the East Coast Budweiser Hitch. He was introduced to driving by a neighbor around the age of 13. He is married and is ecstatic that his wife is also into horses. He loves the traveling and the horse time. The biggest challenge, Dave says, is learning to handle the popping balloons and the strollers that come right up to the horses. Dave said all of the horses are 8-10 year old geldings and that they try to limit the events to two hours, except Mardi Gras which is seven miles. Dave’s team travels with 10 horses and has 14 total. They do 20-50 events a year so

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they trade out horses every few shows. The lines (reins) weigh between 40 and 75 lbs so the drivers also have to trade out during an event. Budweiser recently started a driver training program in Merrimac, New Hampshire where two applicants are accepted every year to this four month program. It begins with two months of focused training, a return to their hitch for practice, and then another two months of training in NH later in the season. The training is intense because they work with 2-year-old colts. During training, Dave was introduced to a “Hitch Simulator” in which 8 bicycles are attached to a golf cart. The cart is steered through the lines which are attached to the handlebars. Dave said the Hitch Simulator is more sensitive and harder to drive than horses because a horse watches where it is going but the bikes will crash right into a wall. “After completing the course, drivers are prepared to do exhibition-type maneuvers,” Dave explained. “You never stop learning at Budweiser.”

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Learning to drive multiple horses with the hitch simulator.

Nattie Book’s View on the West Coast Movement…. There are several farms in California, Washington and Oregon embracing live power organic farming. These are referred to as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). These farms generally provide fresh produce to people in the city who can’t grow their own. This ties in directly to the huge movement where people want to know where their food comes from. There are fewer chemicals used and a lot more varieties of produce, especially tomatoes and cucumbers. These are smaller operations and they have found it’s cheaper to replace their tractor with a horse. The horse adds to the mix, literally, and helps with the biodynamics of the farm. (www.biodynamics.com) Farmers particularly like that they are not using fuel and the horses can be used for all aspects of farming such as preparing the ground, planting and harvesting. Some farmers are using restored equipment while others buy new equipment if there is enough of a harvest to fund it. They are driving light drafts and draft crosses, generally from 1500 – 1800 pounds. These mid-weight heavy horses are best suited for this job. For more information about the farms in this movement in California, visit www.livepower.org or visit www.localharvest.org/csa for Nationwide resources. Search Facebook for Live Power Community Farm. If you would like to apprentice at a farm near you visit www.growfood.org/ for a list. Nattie Book gives driving lessons at her place or yours and trains horses at her farm in Durham, CA (near Chico). www.DrivingHorseTraining.com 530-680-7974 § Draft Events: Draft Horse Classic, Grass Valley, California. September 19-22 (Details above) Southern Ohio Draft Horse Association Show; September 20,21 & 22 – Highland County Fairgrounds, Hillsboro, Ohio. This event offers a Friday Night horse pull, breed classes, hitch classes for adults and youth. They also have a light horse show. The goal of this show is to keep people aware of the existence of drafts. www.sodhasshow.com

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Georgia National Draft Horse Show- 20th Annual; October 11 & 12. 81 classes spread over 2 days. Facebook.com/gadrafthorse

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Youth Driving

Photos by Carrie Jacobucci and Lydia Coleman

At just 11 years old, Elana Coleman, from New Mexico, has already been driving for three years. She outgrew her first Miniature Horse and is now driving a more advanced horse, RSB Winning Tradition (aka Winner). Her Mom says he is perfect for her and is competitive enough that she can now drive against her peers in the American Miniature Horse Show Association (AMHA) shows. Here she is driving Winner at the AMHA Rocky Mountain Classic show in Estes Park, Colorado, this past June.

Ten-year-old Jessi Jacobucci from Colorado won Grand Champion in the Musical Freestyle class at the Adams County Fair with her mini, Monty. She choreographed it to the song “Shut Up and Drive.”

Jessi showed off her skills in the Reinsmanship class at the Adams County Fair in Brighton, Colorado and ultimately won Overall Grand Champion for Driving. Her mom says she loves to drive Monty because he goes fast!

The horses are a family affair with proud parents Tom and Lydia supporting Elana every step of the way. “We could not replace with traditional therapy what the horses have accomplished,” said her mother, noting the many ways the horses have improved Elana’s issues caused by Down Syndrome. Elana’s father, Tom, rides along during competition for safety, but at home Elana drives without an adult in the cart. Watch for her at the AMHyA World Miniature Horse Show in Fort Worth, Texas in September.

The Driving Radio Show is an online radio show (podcast) dedicated to the thrill of carriage driving. Four-inHand Driver Dr. Wendy Ying and Horse Radio Network’s Glenn the Geek take an entertaining look at it all from competitive driving to recreational driving of all sorts. Join us every week as we harness up to have fun and learn a little something along the way. Listen at www.drivingradioshow.com , subscribe through iTunes or on the Horse Radio Network phone app on IOS or Android. Have a safe ride, Horse Radio Network Glenn the Geek www.horseradionetwork.com Executive Director and America’s Horse Husband \

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Fraser School of Driving

255 Boulder Road, Deer Lodge, Montana 59722 Alex & Kayo Fraser 406-846-3686 http://www.drivehorses.com

Experience the Thrill of Driving Horses!

Plan your vacation time, take driving lessons and discover Montana! Learn what the driven horse needs and expects from you. Professional training is a wise investment in your safety and future.

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Safety is paramount! Painting credits: painted on silk by the accomplished artist Horse andJanene DriverGrende Magazine

UC DAVIS DRIVING CLUB The Draft Horse and Driving Club at UC Davis is comprised of about 15 active members, who are largely UCD students although anyone is welcome to join and no experience is required. Club goals are to promote draft horses and driving as well as to improve our own driving skills and horse knowledge. Long term goals include getting our mares ready to show and competing at the Draft Horse Classic. As a club, we have three Percheron mares; Leeza, Marty, and Olive who are housed at the UCD Horse Barn. It’s a fantastic way to experience horses-- members get a lot of hands on experience learning how to care for, handle, harness, groom, and drive draft horses. We learn from the collective knowledge of the group under the guidance of UCD barn manager Joel Viloria who has a lot of experience driving draft horses. The club drives up to six days a week. Weekdays are usually spent driving a single horse in the arena or through the pastures behind the UCD Arboretum. On weekends, we get out our wagon and drive a pair around campus where we give people rides and stop for lunch in the quad. Here, we have to negotiate roundabouts and avoid bikers, skateboarders, pedestrians or whatever we come across! Club activities have included volunteering at the Draft Horse Classic and the Vineyard CDE, learning about combined driving at Shady Oaks, giving rides at events such as Animal Science Barbecues or Black Family Day, participating in the Picnic Day parade and horse barn demonstration, and going for picnic drives with the wagon. New members can participate for free their first quarter and the cost for each subsequent quarter is $25. § Hope Fisher hdfisher@ucdavis.edu (707) 292-9958 Florida - Camp Black Prong October 25-27. The clinicians will be giving group lessons for 4 hours on Friday & Saturday and you can schedule private lessons with them if you choose. Make your reservations early, Black Prong is already receiving room reservations! This year we’re having a trick or treat drive, a continuous drive sponsored by the Florida Whips, and a costume dinner. Hope y’all come! http://www.blackprong.com/ 56 horseanddriver.com

OXEN!

Mission To promote the use of Oxen to our American Youth as well as to those in foreign lands, so that all may be shown their diversity and skills, even in this modern world. We do this to keep our American Heritage alive and to educate those who can benefit from our experiences. Description: MidWest Ox Drovers Association (MODA) has grown since 1996 and now has close to 180 members in at least 42 states in the United States, plus Canada, Germany and Africa. Not all members have oxen but they all share the love of the animal as well as wanting to keep alive our American Heritage. Each year in June the MidWest Ox Drovers Association meets at Tillers International, in Scotts, Michigan. Some bring their own animals and work them on Tillerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grounds or give demonstrations. The discussion and workshop sessions are a learning experience and a time for fellowship. We think ox people are the greatest. www. midwestoxdrovers.com/ Â§ Horse and Driver Magazine

Rob Collins is pictured with his team, Brutus and Cassius, at the 2013 Ingham County Fair. They are yearling shorthorn steers.

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We are proud to be a long-time Morgan Horse Family; Breeding and Showing Morgan Horses since 1980. This is a family operation with three generations feeding, training, and maintaining the herd. We are especially interested in the preservation, promotion, and sharing of Morgan Horse pedigrees, in a modern horse. Good Manners are every bit as important to us as correct conformation and the Morgan’s intrinsic beauty and terrific personality. We have all ages. Suitable for various disciplines. Classic Morgan bloodlines and temperament. Blacks, Seal Browns, Dark Chestnuts, Red Chestnuts, Bays, and a Palomino. National caliber horses for the show ring, CDE, neighborhood pleasure driving, on the trail, or in the backyard. Our horses are groomed near geese, ducks, chickens, guinea hens, cats and dogs. Sleipnir Morgan Horse Farm is located in East Tennessee at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, off Interstate 75, between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

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by Rebecca Gutierrez In the summer of 2012, I moved from out West to the rolling hills of North Carolina with a herd of horses. I had visions of doing lots of driving in the region, but because the hills where I lived were more like the side of a cliff, I found myself not able to drive much and very grumpy about it. While grumbling about my predicament to a driving friend, she suggested I lease my primary driving horse to Lisa Singer as she needed a new Morgan for her pair. I knew of Lisa because of her status as an international level Pairs driver and judge, and was dubious about how my Prelim level Morgan would be of much benefit to her. We started talking and eventually I learned of her intentions: To compete at the Pair Horse World Championships in Slovakia in September 2013! This was big news and it took me a few days to weigh the serious pros and cons of this decision. I ultimately decided I didn’t have much to lose and a whole lot of exciting adventures to gain, so I agreed. Warrior soon went into training with Gali, Lisa’s rock-solid gelding that’s competed in four World Championships. They hit it off well and, after just a handful of training sessions, looked like they’d been a pair for a long time. My Prelim boy had a lot of learning to do but, like most Morgans, 58

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he’s a quick study and improved every day with Lisa’s expert guidance. Their first test was at the Little Everglades CDE in Florida last February. I rode along for training sessions and Lisa gave me lots of helpful driving hints. Best of all, she let me take the place of her long-time groom so I could be in the carriage for dressage and cones. I probably had the biggest smile the judges had seen all day! I don’t even remember how the boys placed but it didn’t really matter because we were all pleased at how well they did considering the short time they’d been together. They still had a ways to go to be considered for the World Championship team but we had a glimmer of hope. Next was Live Oak CDE where they put in a good showing but, thanks to Warrior’s inopportune timing for the call of nature, their less than stellar cones performance brought them down to third place. (Apparently it’s not easy to do an extended trot, stay between the cones, and poop at the same time!) We had high hopes for Southern Pines CDE, but this time they were quickly dashed when Warrior failed the vet check. We eventually discovered a hock issue that ruined any chance of a World Championship bid. My dream of cheering them on in Slovakia was dashed. As Warrior recovered from his lameness, Lisa presented me with an incredible opportunity: to drive the pair at Glen Willow CDE in September! Having hardly driven in the past year and with just one pair training level cde under my belt, I was feeling less than competent and more concerned about embarrassing Lisa. After woefully explaining my insecurities to her, she simply said, “Someone has to be last!” So here we are! We had a crash course of four training sessions in August and a few more just before the event. My prelim level horse has become a powerhouse thanks to Lisa, and this finely-tuned pair has adapted to my lower level driving skills. Watch for us at Glen Willow and see if we bring home that last place ribbon! § Horse and Driver Magazine

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The National Drive is an inexpensive 3-6 day event, devoted exclusively to recreational equine driving. The Drive was first held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky, in October 2005. The Drive has come to be viewed as the largest single gathering of recreational equine drivers on the continent. Highlighting the event is a series of clinics, demonstrations and private driving lessons featuring some of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent clinicians and driving experts. Participants can attend all or none of our scheduled events â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the only thing required is that one passes a safety check. Participants can drive at will from dawn to dusk. * The Drive officially begins on Tuesday, October 8 and ends at dusk on Sunday, October 13, 2013. Participants can arrive on Monday, the 7th, and leave on Monday, the 14th, but cannot drive on either of these days. No formal attire is required throughout the weekend, but helmets are encouraged to be worn by all drivers and passengers. A safety check is mandatory before turnouts are allowed to be driven anywhere in the Park. We will also again offer the CAA Driver Proficiency evaluation. We hope that your participation in this program will help to increase your awareness and knowledge of driving and how to do so safely and correctly. http://www.nationaldrive.net/

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