Final 2018 june wheelhorse

THE

NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN DRIVING SOCIETY, INC.

NL248

Representing Carriage Driving in the United States and Canada

IN THIS ISSUE: NOTES Member Benefits..................................... 1 ADS News • ADS Seeks 2019 Host Venues for North American Championships.........1-2 • 2019 ADS Rule Change Process is Underway ..........................................2 • Hickory Knoll CDE is Cancelled............ 2 • Submit Your Nominations for ADS Volunteer Award.................................... 2 DEPT News • Equine Industry Leaders Oppose Coastal Connector Routes.................... 3 OPINIONS • From Between My Blinders................... 4

June 2018

NOTES

Member Benefits

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he summer driving season is well underway across the US and Canada! In my travels I have opportunity to chat with competitors, organizers, and volunteers to get feedback on the state of the sport. Sometimes, in these conversations with non-members people ask me why they should purchase a membership. Aside from the obvious non-member fees in competition, ADS offers a number of member benefits.

As an ADS member, I hope you take advantage of our new Driven Dressage Awards, our Hours to Drive program, the ADS Youth Championships, and the ADS North American CDE Calculated Intermediate Championship. In addition, as an ADS member you get to participate in the ADS Rule Change Process. There are many other member benefits of maintaining an ADS membership, including our quarterly, glossy magazine The Whip and this newsletter.

We have some exciting news to announce to you. Beginning with the November 2018 issue, The Omnibus will be bound with The Whip twice annually (November and May).

That means that all ADS members will receive a bound copy of The Omnibus twice a year at no additional charge.

Happy driving, and I hope to see you this summer!

Abbie

ADS Executive Director abbie@americandrivingsociety.org

ADS News

ADS Seeks 2019 Host Venues for North American Championships Make sure to meet the August 15, 2018 deadline

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.

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ou can find the application criteria for the 2019 ADS North American Preliminary and Intermediate Championships by clicking Here. While there are not enormous changes from last year, please review carefully and contact Marc Johnson (obstacle21@aol.com) with any questions.

Keep in mind that these championships are for current ADS members competing in Preliminary and Intermediate ADS level competitions. The USE Preliminary and (continued on page 2) ADS – Wheelhorse June 2018

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ADs News Intermediate competitions will not count as qualifiers for the NACs, unless they have dual recognition.

Organizing committees interested in hosting one of the North American Championships are encouraged to submit

a bid before the August 15, 2018 deadline. The hosts to the championships will be announced shortly thereafter.

Submissions should be sent to the ADS office: info@americandrivingsociety.org

2019 ADS Rule Change Process is Underway

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are due June 1. Once Rule Change Suggestions have been id you know that ADS has a membership-driven rule submitted they go to the appropriate ADS technical committee change process? It’s a great way for our membership to for review, who in turn may recommend those suggestions as participate in the changing of rules. https://americandrivingsociety.org/Members/ChampiRule Change Proposals. The ADS Rules Committee will then Please visit the blog (linked on the front page of our onships-Award-Programs#tabbed-nav-21833=2018-ads website) to submit your rule change suggestions or to view post each Rule Change Proposal to the blog on August 1 for a -north-american-championships suggested changes from other members.

30-day membership review period in which the membership can comment on each proposal. The final proposals are presented to the ADS Board of Directors for approval at the The Process: fall board meeting.

Rule Change Suggestions are solicited from the ADS membership via the Rule Change Blog, and submissions

Hickory Knoll CDE is Cancelled

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e are sad to share the news of Hickory Knoll coorganizer Jeff Ramond’s death. All of us at ADS send our condolences to Jeff’s family and friends.

Please note that the Hickory Knoll CDE has been cancelled, which means the society is seeking a venue for the 2018 North American Preliminary Championships. We will announce it as soon as a decision has been made.

Advertise With Us!

Interested in advertising with us? We’re happy to design the perfect ad to for you to promote your products, celebrate an event, or thank a special person. Contact Abbie Trexler today to advertise in The Whip.

abbie@americandrivingsociety.org

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ADS – Wheelhorse June 2018

Submit your Nominations for ADS Volunteer Award

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riving shows and club events of all sorts, and the administration of the ADS would not be possible without the hard work and incredible dedication of volunteers. Our volunteers do everything from parking cars in blazing heat to obstacle judging in pouring rain, from office work to course construction, airport runs for officials and opening their homes to out of state competitors. We simply could not begin to run our organization, clubs, and our competitions without this cadre of capable and generous people.

All of our volunteers deserve to be recognized, but there are some that stand out for the extra miles they go and the efforts they make. Please take a moment to think of a standout volunteer, and submit a nomination with the following information: • The name and contact information of the volunteer.

• How was their contribution outstanding?

• A few words of praise – how has this particular volunteer

made your life easier? An event/show/clinic made better?

• What did they do that was above and beyond? Please

submit a high-resolution photo if available.

Please include your name and contact information on the nomination.

The recipient will be gratefully acknowledged at the ADS Annual Members Meeting in December and featured in The Whip.

Nominations should be submitted to: info@americandrivingsociety.org by September 1, 2018.

Dept News

Equine industry leaders oppose Coastal Connector routes Reprinted with permission from the Ocala Star-Banner

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he backlash against the proposed Coastal Connector project in Marion County continues to grow, including from some of the area’s major equestrian players, the nation’s governing body for horse sports, and the area’s transportation planning organization.

While the state indicated it is willing to take another look at the proposed routes for the road, which would cut through some of the iconic horse farms in northwest Marion County, some opponents want the entire project scrapped.

Samuel Reid, whose wife, Juliet, is the daughter of Live Oak Plantation owner and Campbell Soup heiress Charlotte Weber, is among that group.

“What we are really trying to communicate is we are demanding that these routes, proposed on April 26, are removed formally from consideration, immediately,” he said.

One of the routes would cut right through the Weber farm, which runs along State Road 40 and, specifically, through the showgrounds of the annual Live Oak International. The combined driving and show jumping event celebrated its 27th year this past March.

“We’ve spent 27 years developing a venue trying to make it a place for the best horse sports in Marion County for a weekend. It would be a real pity if the Coastal Connector went right through that,” said Chester Weber, the son of Charlotte Weber and one of the world’s top combined drivers.

The annual event draws top drivers and show jumpers from around the world and serves as the national championship for several driving divisions. More than 10,000 spectators attend the event.

“We understand that this proposal endangers the very future of Live Oak International. The loss of Live Oak and other horse shows in the area would have a detrimental and negative impact on equestrian sport,” wrote Murray Kessler, president of the United States Equestrian Federation, to the heads of the project last week.

Kessler went on to ask the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Turnpike Enterprise to reconsider the proposed routes.

The USEF not only oversees and promotes equestrian sports in the U.S. It also selects and funds the United States Equestrian Team, which competes in international events around the world, including the Olympics.

On Monday, a representative of the Roberts family posted a letter from R.L.R. Investments opposing the road project. The company, which is part of Larry Roberts’ substantial holdings, is developing the enormous World Equestrian Center Ocala, which will include multiple competition arenas, including climate-controlled indoor arenas, a hotel, retail and up to 300 equestrian estates.

The state’s plans for the Coastal Connector call for the road to cross U.S. 27 just west of the equestrian center, which is

By Carlos E. Medina under construction.

“We are not in favor of any of the proposed locations for the Coastal Connector,” wrote Donald DeLuca, R.L.R Investments’ vice president and general counsel.

The letter squelched those who openly speculated that Roberts was somehow involved in the project. Roberts’ core business is in the trucking industry, hauling freight. The road’s goal to provide a more direct route between Tampa and Jacksonville and open more freight traffic between the port cities was the leading reason for the speculation.

But prospective owners seeking the peace of an equestrian village of million-dollar homes may not like highway traffic buzzing nearby.

“Any of the proposed connector routes will destroy valuable horses farms and potentially affect the World Equestrian Center development,” DeLuca wrote.

George Isaacs, general manager of Bridlewood Farm, a thoroughbred stallion and breeding operation, said owners John and Leslie Malone are against the road, which could border two sides of the more than 1,600-acre property on State Road 326.

The Malones are the largest private landowners in the country, with more than 2 million acres in holdings. “They are protectors of land. They are not sellers or developers. They like to protect land, that’s why they were attracted to Ocala and Marion County,” Isaacs said. “They fell in love with Bridlewood and Ocala because of that town and country charm.”

John Malone made his fortune, estimated at $8 billion, in the media and cable business. He is the majority owner and chairman of Liberty Media.Isaacs said the Malones oppose any route that would cut through horse country. “Major highways and horses don’t mix,” Isaacs said.

On Tuesday, the Ocala/Marion County TPO, which among other things sets the priority list for road projects in the county, opened it meeting to those opposed to the Coastal Connector. More than a dozen spoke against the road, mirroring comments from other government meetings since the proposed routes were unveiled.

Representatives from the FTE also were at the meeting.

While the TPO, which includes representatives from the Marion County Commission, Ocala City Council, Belleview City Commission and Dunnellon City Council, could not take any action at the meeting, board members directed TPO Director Michael Daniels to work on a resolution opposed to the project. The resolution would join similar actions planned by the County Commission and Dunnellon.

State officials with the project said they would work with the county and take a fresh look at the routes. The project is currently in the feasibility study stage, the earliest stage in the timeline and decades from construction. The $3 million study is set to conclude in early 2019, but the opposition may delay that timeline. The study could recommend moving forward or killing the project.

Those who wish to comment on the project can do so at www.floridasturnpike.com/coastalconnector.html ADS – Wheelhorse June 2018

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Opinions

From Between My Blinders Talking Grooms

By Hardy Zantke

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f you read my last columns in The Whip you should now know that grooms may talk to their drivers in combined driving cones. That does not only change our sport but certainly is also welcome news for those of us who are a little longer in the tooth (with those pesky side effects also known by some of us as ‘brain farts’). Now our grooms can help us out in CDE Cones. And it is not only good for our older folks but certainly also makes it easier for newcomers to the sport.

The first group, the aging one, is a large factor: As I just learned from an informal survey of our wonderful treasurer

The 2018 ADS RULEBOOK IS HERE Spiral-bound Rulebooks are back!

Order yours now for $41 *($20* for ADS Licensed Officials).

Quantities of this year’s Rulebook will be limited.

Order now, quantities may be limited.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone! *Additional Shipping Charges Apply.

https://americandrivingsociety.org/EventsResources/Rulebook-Order

h Us! C me D rive W it 4

ADS – Wheelhorse June 2018

Dan Rosenthal - the average age of our membership is 68.7 years! And while we love to attract the next generation, or for many of us even the generation of our grandchildren, into our sport, even grandchildren and children probably appreciate some help as they start competing. So that newly allowed help in CDE cones is as appreciated as it already was on the marathon (But please do keep in mind, while they are allowed to talk, they must still sit in their proper place in cones and cannot stand up as on the Marathon!).

But what about in Dressage? Some of you have asked for allowing grooms to talk in Dressage and cones already some years ago, long before this rule change for cones came upon us.

I had suggested then before an official rule change suggestion to just get together with a few like-minded drivers and propose it as a special class for those who wanted it.

While my focus usually is just on combined driving, and the new talking grooms in cones rule only applies to combined driving (so far), I am happy to note that Jeff Morse, chair of our Pleasure Driving Committee and organizer of the Saratoga HDT & Super Day of Driving (Oct 6th in Akers Acres, NY) has added a new “Confidence Division” to that show where drivers can take along a groom or passenger who is allowed to assist the driver verbally. So this is intended to help aging drivers and newcomers.

Wonderful! I hope that class will get many happy entries.

Now back to combined driving and Dressage: While currently the penalty for a groom talking in Dressage is still Elimination in the ADS rules, it only is 10 penalty points under FEI and USEF rules. I have made a Rule Change Suggestions that the ADS should also go down to just 10 penalty points.

Let me note, too: The 10 penalties would apply only once during the entire test, no matter how often the groom talks. So, if you think you might need or want that assistance your groom could talk you through the entire test or, better yet, why not then just take your trainer along on your carriage? Depending on your driving ability and your trainer’s expertise you might actually gain more than the 10 points penalty.

Doesn’t this open up new possibilities for both ends of the spectrum - our older drivers as well as newcomers to the sport?

Both can gain, or re-gain, the confidence to participate and hopefully add to our wonderful sport.

So let’s hope the rule change suggestion goes through and then many added newcomers as well as many old timers continuing.

Safe and happy driving.

Hardy