Western Reserve Carriage Association

PRESIDENT, Jo Ann Murr VICE PRESIDENT, Ann Petersen TREASURER, Ann Petersen SECRETARY, Cathy Rhoades MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, Henry Rish. WEBSITE, www.wrcarriage.com

by Cathy Rhoades

Happy Holidays and New Year! 2022 ended with two nonWRCA clinics held by members. Barbara King and Dan Speese had a Desensitizing Clinic at Golden Horse Farm Nov. 5. There were a number of great challenges presented to the attendees and their horses. It was an extremely windy day which added a little spice to the environment. Inside the arena there was a mounting block, a bridge, posters on the wall, feed bags to walk over, a giant blowup horse, Clyde and an arch with a flapping tarp covering it to exit the arena. Throughout the farm there were other scary objects such as a flapping flag, blankets on a clothesline, a shredded curtain to walk through, big bouncing balls, a walk past barking dogs in a kennel and a creek crossing. It was interesting to see what bothered individual horses, not always what you expected! Some of the WRCA members participating were Heather Raw, Michele and Tim Stevens, Peggy Milburn, Jo Ann Murr, and Cathy Rhoades.

Stacey and Meredith Giere offered a driving clinic and derby Nov. 11-13 at Maple Crest Farms. International competitor Carrie Ostrowski was the clinician for the weekend. Private lessons were given over a two day period with lots of great instruction. Janet Yosay, Becky Salinger, Julianna Bedel, Linda Eick, and Shellie Kwikowski were just some of the WRCA members driving throughout the weekend. On Saturday morning there was a junior driving clinic well attended by around a dozen youth. It is wonderful that so many are taking an interest in our sport! Sunday there was a driving derby which is always a lot of fun. Stacey is planning another weekend of instruction with Sterling Graburn Jan. 27-29.

The new board has not been elected at this writing. When the results of the vote are available, the membership will be notified by email. The current board is working on events for early in the year. Sunday, Feb. 5, we will offer another educational Zoom meeting presented by Myrna Rhinehart of IVC Carriage. Details and link will be sent by email.

March 12 will be our fundraiser and auction. It will be held at Fieldstone Therapeutic Driving Center in Chagrin Falls. This will be a potluck and open to members, family and friends. We can use auction donations! Contact Ann Petersen if you have items or questions.

We also welcome new members, ideas for meetings or drives, new venues. Please share any ideas you may have.

Carlisle Driving Dates: Tuesday Jan. 3; Saturday, Jan. 7; Thursday, Jan. 12; Sunday, Jan. 15; Saturday, Feb. 4; Tuesday, Feb. 7; Thursday, Feb. 9; Sunday, Feb. 12.

Have a happy, healthy, horsey new year!

WRCA New Year Planning

Barb King with Misty meeting Clyde.

Deadline for the February 2023 issue is January 10.

Salsa

persnickety, detail-obsessed fashionistas like me. It’s not equitation, but Reinsmanship. Cones classes use tennis balls but no rackets. Gig classes don’t require guitars or musicians. The Picnic class is as close to bribing a judge as it gets, what with serving them champagne and crudité from your boot (the vehicle’s, not your feet, silly). So, don’t let the language dissuade you. Our Gambler’s Choice is legal in all 50 states.

Sarah Vas, a second-generation horsewoman, writes about her decades of adventure and mayhem among several breeds and disciplines, and countless equine educational endeavors both as student and teacher. Sarah owns and operates a continuation of her parents’ original business, Winfield Farm & Forge, Ltd., that which couldn’t currently exist without constant gratitude for Kevin, her very forgiving, ridiculously supportive husband. Together, they are quietly beginning to explore the Farm’s newest chapters, both in and out of the horse world. They are returning to Sarah’s family roots, this time as breeders of Arabian/Welsh Sport Ponies for dressage and carriage while husband and wife indulge their pent up creativity producing a variety of rustic décor and iron work.

MOVING? TAKE THE CORRAL WITH YOU! Place Mailing Label Here (from last issue)

New Address ________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State ____ Zip ___________ Mail to: Horsemen’s Corral, PO Box 32, Lodi, OH 44254 or email address change to: michelle@thehorsemenscorral.com