December Wheelhorse

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Marcy Eades, winner of the 2017 Costume Contest at MARD. Theme was Comedy…but Marcy thought the theme was Halloween, as it’s been in the past.

That, in and of itself, made her turn-out funny!

Photo by Heidi Ferguson.

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NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN DRIVING SOCIETY, INC.

Representing Carriage Driving in the United States and Canada

IN THIS ISSUE:

NOTES From the Editor .......................................1 ADS NEWS • 2017 ADS North American Championships Results ....................... 1 • 2018 ADS NA Championships Announced...........................................2 • Hours To Drive Deadline ...................... 2 • Donor Letter & Form .........................6-7 FROM OUR MEMBERS • Drivers Participate in Equine Fair ......... 2 • Bromont CDE ....................................... 3 YOUTH Caution: Student Drivers! ....................... 4 OPINIONS From Between My Blinders .................... 5

December 2017

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From the Editor

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appy holidays to all ADS members. Make sure to treat your equines to a little holiday snack this December. My horses have always loved peppermints and candy canes, and it makes their kisses just a little sweeter.

I’d like to draw your attention to the columns in this issue. We had several members submit coverage of drives and promotional carriage driving events.

In the second From Our Members column, you’ll see an article about a carriage driving demonstration organized by the Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council in Southern California.

ADS Regional Director Pam Miller-Mitchell asked the Whip’R Snappers Driving Society members to demonstrate the sport of carriage driving across the discipline, and they report that many equestrians in attendance who had no previous knowledge of carriage driving went away intrigued by their exposure to the sport.

Ingratiating and recruiting new members at every level is key in an organization such as ours. I’d like to offer the ADS’ support in all of your efforts. We’re in the process of creating a new brochure for members to hand out at events, and Stacy will create a custom membership application for your event with two weeks’ notice (she’ll supply you with a pdf that you can print from home). In the spirit of sharing ideas and celebrating our carriage driving promoters, I commit to publishing your written and photographic coverage from your promotional events.

I encourage any ADS member interested in promoting carriage driving to the public to contact their regional representative or ADS President Mike Arnold (contact information is in the front of every issue of The Whip). Through the institutional knowledge of the ADS membership we can continue to share ideas and make a collaborative effort to grow our sport.

Abbie

ADs News

2017 ADS North American Championships Results

Happy Holidays!

Articles that appear in The Wheelhorse do not necessarily reflect the opinions or position of The American Driving Society, Inc. (ADS), its Board of Directors or staff, nor does publication of said articles constitute an endorsement of the view they may express. Accuracy of all material is the sole responsibility of the authors. Appearance of an advertisement in The Wheelhorse does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the ADS of the goods and services therein.

Single Pony Champion Jennifer Keeler Reserve Drew Callahan

Pair Horse Champion Wiebe Dragstra Reserve Paul Grippa

Team Horse Champion Wiebe Dragstra Reserve Gerben Steenbeek

Single Horse Champion Leslie Berndl Reserve Brooke Tadlock

Team Pony Champion Wendy O’Brien Reserve Philip Knox

Single VSE Champion Kim Allen Reserve Peggy Keeler

Pair Pony Champion Boots Wright Reserve Debbi Packard 1

ADS News

Congratulations to our Officials Upcoming Deadlines!

Linda Bennett who has been promoted to Recorded ‘r’ Combined Driving Technical Delegate.

Lynn Legg who has been promoted to Recorded ‘r’ Combined Driving Judge.

Jennifer Matheson who has entered the Learner Program as both an ‘L’ Combined Driving Judge and ‘L’ Combined Driving Technical Delegate.

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Hours to Drive Program rivers can earn an “Awards Pin” for 100 hours, 250 hours, 500 hours, 750 hours and 1000 hours of cumulative driving, by completing a log form. Logs must be returned before November 30, so we can report on members who have reached a milestone in The Whip and on the web site.

Youth Championship Award Deadline NOVEMBER 30.

Learn more and print out your forms at www.americandrivingsociety.org Questions? Email stacy@americandrivingsociety.org.

2018 ADS North American Championship Dates Preliminary Championships -Hickory Knoll CDE July 20-22, 2018 - Fitchburg, WI

Intermediate Championships - Katydid CDE/CAI** November 1-4, 2018 - Aiken, SC

From our Members

Drivers Participate in Equine Fair

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By Katie Twohy

n October 21, 2017, an Equine Fair was organized by the Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council and held in Gabrielino Park in Lakeview Terrace, California. At the request of Pam Miller (WS member and ADS Pacific Region Director), several members of the Whip’R Snappers Driving Society of Southern California presented an excellent driving demonstration at this fair. They introduced equestrians who did not previously have much exposure to the sport of carriage driving, providing them with great examples of driving horses in different types of driving competitions.

Doug Russell, with the help of his wife Nancy Russell as navigator, and his daughter Jennifer Russell as helper, demonstrated the unicorn hitch and a marathon cart with Archie, a VSE as the leader, and two small ponies, Cisco and Nugget, as the wheelers. They were a big hit as they showed the beauty, athletic ability, and fun of small equines pulling a carriage on the rail and through obstacles. It was also noted that the Russells and their equines also do a great deal of recreational trail driving both for the fun of it and to keep their fitness high.

Doug and Nancy Russel with their unicorn hitch.

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Dave Aparicio showed Pam Miller’s Haflinger, Carbon Copy, dressed and hitched for a Carriage Driving Pleasure Show.

Dave and Carbon provided the large audience at the fair with clear examples of each of the three trots that pleasure driving equines must perform as well as obstacle driving. Dave also did the proper gentleman driver’s salute, removing his hat as he passed the bleachers at a trot on one of his trips around the arena, to the great enjoyment of and applause from the audience.

Driver Kate Aparicio and navigator Heidi Aparicio, brought their very accomplished pair of Canadian Horses (Theo and Griffon) hitched to a marathon cart. They presented the spectators with a great example of a pair of horses showing great agility, team work, and speed as they flawlessly negotiated cones obstacles and marathon type obstacles.

Sarah Aparicio was dressed in racing silks and used a jogging cart to show Brimstone (also known as “Meebers”), a champion Standardbred (pacer) race horse, born, bred, and owned by Pam and Hei Miller-Mitchell. Sarah and Brimstone raced at a controlled but speedy pace on the rail, and like all of

Kate and Heidi Aparicio with their pair of Canadian Horses.

our demonstrators, did a fabulous job. They also demonstrated that although Brimstone raced (and won big!) as a pacer on the race track, she can also trot beautifully. She has retired from the race track and her trot will come in handy as Brimstone starts her new career as a carriage driving horse.

All of these demonstrations were well-received by all of the fair attendees, and it was especially inspiring to see both adult and junior equestrians enjoying the sport of carriage driving.

Several of the people who saw the demonstrations expressed interest in learning to drive. Information about local driving

Bromont CDE

Dave Aparicio driving Pam Miller’s Haflinger, Carbon Copy.

trainers and driving barns were provided to all who were interested, and it looks like we may have some new carriage drivers in the near future!

he Bromont Combined Driving Event was held in Bromont, Quebec from June 29 through July 2. It’s an International Competition with horses from Canada and the USA. We had competed last year and hoped to correct our mistakes this year.

It is a four hour trip with a border crossing which can take time.

Fortunately, this year it was a breeze. After arriving, we checked in and got Frodo stabled. Frodo is a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding from the M line. His registered name is Maty TCF. I’ve owned him since he was three. My daughter, Hilary, drives and schools him. He was the only Haflinger at Bromont this year.

minutes to drive to the dressage ring and warm up. Frodo turned in his best ever test! The score was an average from the three judges. Our navigator, Catherine, arrived. Two more course trips with the ATV. Saturday was marathon day. The course was shortened because of the high heat index.

The marathon total was 11 KM, divided into the first part, 3.3 KM trot, 1 KM walk and 6.4 KM trot with five hazards. Each hazard is a maze with up to five openings (gates) that must be driven in a particular order. Drivers are timed and speed and accuracy are important. At the end of the first part there was a vet check to be sure Frodo was not too hot and winded. He wasn’t. But as he stood and waited, his bridle slid half off! Hilary was not allowed to get out of the carriage so she screamed for Catherine who came running with others, they got it back on. Frodo is good at standing.

We are getting him a new bridle. At the end, Frodo again passed the vet check with flying colors. The vet was very pleased. A lot of horses had elevated temps. Because of yesterday’s rain the course was muddy and that made pulling hard.

Sunday was cones day.

There were 20 pairs of cones in the arena just below the pavilion. Good viewing. There was another soundness check at the start. Not every horse passed, including one who had been in first place. A big disappointment for the driver. Frodo had a clean round with no balls displaced. A first for him and Hilary. Awards were made after each division finished. Frodo was fourth in Preliminary Pony. Lots of photos and the horses had a victory lap.

We then had time to get packed and ready to leave before the fourin-hands drove. They are amazing.

Again, a seamless border crossing and we were home by 6:30 PM.

The first part of the competition was the soundness jog.

Hilary presented Frodo, jogged him away from the judges, turned and jogged back. “Number 64, pass; arête.” All the horses passed but several were held for a second check. Hilary put him away and climbed on our small ATV to drive the eleven kilometer marathon course. It is impossible to thoroughly walk or even bike the course, which was quite hilly.

Next morning, Friday, was the dressage phase which was preceded by a standing ‘presentation’. A courtly judge inspected pony, harness, carriage and driver for proper fit and cleanliness.

At one point he felt the underside of the carriage for dirt. Twenty

Marathon day.

By Sylvia Miskoe • Photos by Tom von Kapherr

Editor’s Note: Although this event was held in the summer and the coverage is later than we usually publish, we loved the author’s enthusiasm, candor, and the detail in which she described her experience.

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Hillary and Frodo

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YOUTH

Caution: Student Drivers!

By Pat Belskie

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earts for Horses 4-H Club of Lee County, North Carolina took the reins this summer for their first ever driving experience. Odyssey Farms in Raeford NC hosted the event presented by Moore County Driving Club members. The 4-H members eagerly learned about parts of the harness, different types of carts and carriages, and various ways of competing in driving events. The club is composed primarily of hunter/jumper riders, so this was the first time most of the members had seen any type of driving.

The day started with Mary Cody educating everyone with an explanation of the parts of the harness and a demonstration of how to safely and properly harness using her Shetland pony Tommy.

Next, Deborah Branson showed off various carts and carriages explaining their uses. Then she had the entire club awestruck with her flawless advanced level dressage driving demonstration with her Welsh pony Red. She effortlessly maneuvered him through a dressage pattern that required collection and extensions at the trot and canter, side passing, and many other skills that the 4-H group was amazed could be performed from a carriage with just minimal cues and aids available.

Pat Belskie then performed a training level test with her Polish Driving Pony Maggie to give the kids confidence that there is a level for everyone; this got them very enthused about the possibility of being able to compete in driving events!

Intrigued by this newfound sport, the 4-H members were enthusiastic to take the reins and try their hand at driving.

Each youth received several opportunities to drive two separate ponies pulling two different types of carriages. Deborah Branson and Pat Belskie generously offered their time and knowledgeable instruction to teach basic driving skills and share their love of this sport with the next generation of drivers.

4-H Leader Kris Font did a super extended trot with Pat’s Polish Driving Pony Maggie.

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Pat Belskie showing Livia TenBrink the reins.

The 4-H crew with Pat and Maggie, and Shetland pony Tommy and owner Mary Cody.

Teryn Staples takes a ride with Deb Branson and Deb’s fabulous Welsh pony Magic.

By the end of the day each child was versed on driving safety, how to use voice commands to communicate with their ponies, and how to properly maneuver the ponies through basic skills and patterns at the trot. The huge smiles on their faces as the children sat high in the carriages and the eager members jumping up to have another turn showed just how exciting this sport really is! Everyone was excited to hear how they can get involved with driving, and how they could even learn to be a navigator and start competing without having to own their own driving pony!

The club is extremely grateful for this opportunity to learn a different way to have a great time with horses! We would like to thank Deborah Branson for hosting our club, and Pat Belskie and Mary Cody for bringing their wonderful ponies over for additional demonstrations and hands on driving practice!

They were all very welcoming and eager to volunteer their time to introduce this wonderful sport to the next generation of horsemen and women. We hope to return again very soon and that you’ll start to see these youth at future shows!

Opinions

bit close to the Southern Pines CDE, which is only the week prior and is scheduled to also host the USEF Advanced Singles Horse Championship. But since both are in North Carolina, perhaps some may decide that they can do both, so that neither of them winds up short of entries. After all, who wouldn’t want to drive at the site of the next WEG and be part of that test event - while Southern Pines is a well-established and great event every year.

The USEF Advanced Pair Horse Championship is planned for the Hermitage Classic in Goshen, Kentucky for August 2-5.

In addition of course we also should have again the ADS Intermediate Calculated Championships as well as the ADS Annual Youth Championships. You’ll find details of all ADS Championships as well as their rules on the ADS Website and for all USEF Championships on the USEF website.

Hah! That’s the word: The rules! The devil is in the details!

Unfortunately our organizations don’t have their rules in sync anymore, neither time-wise nor in all details. As this writing, I don’t yet know how many of the earlier proposed FEI Rule Changes will be passed at their annual meeting in late November, and how many of those USEF and ADS will follow, and as of when. I do see the latest ADS RCP’s do follow the latest words from FEI. So I trust, ADS will be mostly in sync with FEI. I just received the 2018 Rule Book from USEF which does not have any of the FEI proposals in yet. Perhaps they’ll implement some at their January board meeting? So, my friends, while most of the rules are pretty similar, unfortunately some are not. So you better study before you go to the events - otherwise don’t be surprised if some of the differences come up.

While the ADS Championships also include VSEs I see no such offering from USEF yet. So my friends with VSEs: You unfortunately can only become champion at the ADS events.

I understand that drivers do not need to be USEF members in order to participate in the USEF lower level championships, instead they can just pay a show pass fee of $30.

I am not worried about enough entries for Live Oak. They are well established and the top event in the nation. I do hope that the WEG Test event also does see a good number of entries. I wish them well and hope you’ll support them too, as well as of course also all of our ADS Championships.

Happy holidays and a great 2018 with many new champions,

From Between My Blinders Championships Galore!

By Hardy Zantke

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s you read this in the beginning of December we should have just completed the ADS North American Preliminary CDE Championships at the Grand Oaks CDE in Florida (Dec 1-3).

I hope we’ll have results up on www.drivingnews.com.

So then we can prepare for next year. There we’ll have two more new CDE championships coming up, as now USEF has also entered the game and will offer their own USEF CDE Championships for the lower levels: Intermediate as well as Preliminary, in addition to their usual Advanced Level National Championships and in addition to the ADS North American Championships.

I see this with mixed feelings, but am willing to embrace the new ideas. Hey, they say competition is good! So then, let’s hope the USEF Intermediate and Preliminary Championships will do well, have many entries, and will only add more interest to our sport.

The USEF Intermediate Championships for horse and pony singles, pairs and teams are scheduled to be at Live Oak, Ocala, FL March 15-18, together with their Advanced Four-in-Hand.

The ADS North American Intermediate Championships are planned for Katydid, Windsor, South Carolina Nov. 1-4 together with the USEF Advanced Pony Championships (Singles, Pairs & Teams). I think that’s a good spread to have one in the spring and the other in the late fall.

The USEF Preliminary Championships, also for horse and pony singles, pairs and teams are planned to be at the FEI World Equestrian Games Test Event in Tryon, North Carolina April 1922. The ADS Preliminary Championships are scheduled for The Hickory Knoll CDE at Fitchburg, Wisconsin July 20-22. That looks like a good spread too, both in time as well as location with one in the East and the other in the Midwest. Tyron is perhaps a

Hardy 5

2017 ADS Donation Form Yes, I want to help sustain and grow the ADS! Please recognize my donation at the following level:

LEVEL

Coachman: $5,000+ Wheeler: $2,500 - $4,999 Leader: $1,000 - $2,499 Four-in-Hand: $500 - $999

Tandem: $250 - $499 Pair: $100 - $249 Single: $25 - $99

Amount of Donation: ______________________

$_________ Of my donation to be added to the ADS investment fund $_________ Of my donation to support ongoing operations $_________ Of my donation may be determined by the needs of the ADS $_________ Total

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Your Name: __________________________________________________________ Business name, if preferred for recognition: ___________________________________________________________ Billing Address:______________________________________________________________________________________ City:_________________________________ State/Province:_______________________ Zip Code:_________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________ PAYMENT Pay by Check (payable to The American Driving Society, Inc.): Pay by Credit Card:

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Card number:_______________________________________________ Amount Authorized: $________________ Exp. Date: _______ /_______ CVV: ____________ Cardholder Name:_________________________________________________ Billing Address:__________________________________________________________________________________ Billing City:________________________________________ Billing State:_________________________________ Billing Zip Code: ______________________ Please return to: ADS, PO Box 278, Cross Plains, WI 53528 You can donate directly online at www.americandrivingsociety.org.

The American Driving Society, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c)3 organization.

Donations are tax deductible to the extent allow by law. Please contact your tax advisor with respect to individual circumstances.

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A Letter of Thanks and a Request Dear ADS Members, As 2017 draws to an end, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank you, the carriage driving faithful, for your dedication to carriage driving. Whether you’ve spent the year driving recreationally or competing in pleasure shows or combined driving, volunteering or officiating events, we salute you for your ongoing support of our great sport.

As you know, the ADS’s responsibility is to develop, enhance and sustain the sport of carriage driving.

Looking toward the new year, we have many fresh ideas for promoting everything that encompasses this lifestyle and pastime about which we are so passionate. Advertisements, demonstrations, and educational materials are important tools in promotion, but they are also expensive. At ADS we strive to find cost effective avenues through which we can promote the many facets of carriage driving, but to reach our target market we do need to spend money. And we need your help!

We’re honored to license officials, publish regular newsletters and quarterly glossy magazines, and maintain an informative website, among other things. We take pride in being the licensing and educating body for carriage driving.

As stewards of carriage driving, we are all charged with educating and recruiting new carriage enthusiasts. We need you! The ADS Directors and staff are asking for your support in any amount to make 2018 a success. Please consider make a donation during this holiday season. Your contribution is vital in allowing the ADS and carriage driving to thrive.

You can mail in a check with the form on the facing page, or donate directly through our website on the main page at http://americandrivingsociety.org/AnnualAppeal.aspx.

Thank you in advance and happy holidays from our family to yours.

Sincerely, Kelly Valdes, Development Committee Chair

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The American Driving Society, Inc. P.O. Box 278, Cross Plains, WI 53528

Phone: 608-237-7382 • Fax: 608-237-6468 E-mail: info@americandrivingsociety.org www.americandrivingsociety.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Happy Holidays FROM ADS