HORSE ASSOCIATION & TRAIL RIDERS NEWS
BLACK SWAMP DRIVING CLUB, OHIO While BSDC members are busy scheduling club events, they can also check out several other upcoming driving opportunities. April 28-May 1 is the National Drive's Spring Fling at the Hoosier Horse Park, Edinburg, IN. The park offers some of the best driving areas in the U.S. – woods, water obstacles, dressage rings, cone courses, indoor and outdoor arenas, along with a variety of marked trails. Clinics covering a range of driving topics are scheduled and the clinicians are available for private lessons. Each day starts with coffee and donuts in the big tent and evening parties allow for socializing with drivers from several states. The Northwest Ohio Driving Circuit will host shows on May 28-29 and July 2-3. Drivers have the opportunity to compete in pleasure driving, timed cones, and reinsmanship obstacles. Both driven and in hand trail is also offered. The shows will be held in the covered arena at the Fulton Co. Fairgrounds, Wauseon, OH. Check the NWODC Facebook page for more information. A popular annual event for BSDC members is the Michigan Horsedrawn Vehicle Association's Blue Ribbon Driving Show held this year June 4-5 at the Ionia, MI, fairgrounds. Ring classes for turnout, working, super reinsmanship, pleasure driving, and carriage dogs begin the fun Sat. morning. In the afternoon, a combined test for several divisions is scheduled. A full range of dressage tests begin Sunday's competition with several cones classes, cross country to follow, providing lots of driving fun. Check www. mhdva.org or contact Dorothy Childs at 517763-3729 for more information. Interesting for all carriage enthusiasts is the June 10th auction of Woodland Coach, Mt. Hope, OH. The sale will feature more than 30 carriages and sleighs, most beautifully restored. For decades owner Ivan Burkholder was one of the premier restorers of antique vehicles in the U.S. The business also provided all kinds of carriage parts, hard to find tools, and many driving related items. More info. at: www.martinauctioneers.com Time to check carts, carriages, and harnesses for trouble free driving. No one wants to
ruin a pleasant day out driving with wheel problems, bolts breaking, or springs letting loose. Harnesses can fail from weakened stitching, serious cracks, or buckles breaking. It is important that both harness and vehicle is the right size for the horse or pony to insure its comfort as well. Don't forget that May is National Carriage Driving Month. Interested in driving? Black Swamp Driving Club welcomes new members. A carriage or equine is not required for membership since BSDC schedules events that explore the history of horse-drawn vehicles or the restoration of antique carriages. Check www.blackswampdrivingclub.com or the BSDC Facebook page for membership information. Please join us!
BRIGHTON TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC. As this is being written, the Michigan Horse Council Horse Expo just took place, and it was a big success. This event had not been held since we were pounded by Covid, so this year's Expo was especially welcome. BTRA hosted a display table at the Expo, along with several other trail riding clubs, and we were located in a section on the main floor. In the past our organizations were in one of smallish rooms on the periphery of the show area. Although it was described as cozy, attendees had to seek us out and many more casual folks did not know about us or where we were located. Now, anyone who was strolling the aisles could spot us easily, stop by, and learn about our organization. One clear benefit was our success in recruiting new members. According to Expo officials, all aspects of the affair rebounded well. The clinics and presentations were well attended, the turnout was more than satisfactory, and vendors were there in good numbers. It was gratifying to see that all parties associated with the Expo were more than ready to resume our pre-Covid lives. On a personal note, I made it a point to stop by the Saddle Up Magazine booth and chat with that publication's editor. BTRA and Saddle Up have enjoyed a good relationship APRIL 2022 • C & C PUBLISHING, INC. ©2022 (18)
for years and it was particularly gratifying to see that they have weathered the pandemic and are still going strong. BTRA is anxious to start the 2022 riding season. Although the Brighton equestrian campground is still closed, it will open in April. A recent inspection of the staging area revealed that it is in good condition, and it was noted that all the picket poles are new. We are confirmed for our annual banquet, the BTRA/PTRA “Spring Fling” at the end of April and our first outdoor event, the Open Ride, Picnic, and Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for May. Although Mother Nature can still throw us curve balls, we feel reasonably confident that we will be enjoying good weather from here on out so all the more reason to make sure our horses are in good shape and we're getting ready to hit the trails. Mark Delaney, BTRA President
IONIA HORSE TRAILS ASSOCIATION The Ionia event dates for 2022 are: • June 11 – Forbidden Trail Ride • October 1 – Chili Cookoff The Forbidden Trail Ride weekend will include a silent auction and a potluck dinner followed by our annual meeting. When reserving online, remember your first click is on the "Equestrian" tab on the right side of the first page, then you can select our horse camp. We are planning a workbee for April 3. All of the pipe corral base materials will already be added and graded by park staff, prior to our workbee. They will also upgrade footing in the wooden corrals. We will need to reassemble the pipe corrals. Some shorter picket poles will be replaced, and signage will be installed on the confidence course. If we get enough help we'd like to send two pole saw crews out to "raise the canopy" on the trails. We hope to make additions to the Ionia Confidence Course next year (2023). We have plotted out our proposed route for Phase 2, and it has been roughed in. Riders are welcome to start using the path to go... WWW.SADDLEUPMAG.COM
