Our first show of the season is behind us. Little Everglades CDE in Dade City, Florida, was held on a large and beautiful property with a large steeplechase track and the greenest dressage ring I have ever seen. It looked like it had been spray painted hunter green. There was lots of room for stabling and parking and great spectator areas on the steeplechase track itself right next to hazards.
Dressage day went fairly well. We had the best FEI score of the show, and had increased suspension, elevation and collection during the test, but a few mistakes, too, which cost us some points. Overall I was very pleased with the feedback I got from Cooper's performance but have things to work on at home. I like to have a bigger point cushion after dressage :)
On Friday morning, the long listed drivers had cones practice with Michael Freund. The course set up for us had many twists and turns. Michael had useful information for each of us. Cooper was quite good, and our speed was good, too.
The weather stayed pleasant all weekend, but was hotter on marathon and cones day than our South Carolina horses were used to. A frequent breeze helped, but many horses came in a bit hot at the end of the marathon. Thanks to help from Aikenites Dottie Paul and Barb Mettle at the vet check, Cooper started the hazards cool and calm.
The marathon went well, again some small mistakes added points to our score, but most hazards were quite technical, tight and very long and we were pleased with how it all went. Hazard number three had a steep hill in the middle that we had to go up and down three times, pretty tough for single ponies and horses. Cooper was game even as he got tired toward the end of the course and his temperature was very good at the end.
We were a close fifth in the marathon, and ended Saturday in second place. There was less than one point between first, second and third places in our class. Suzy was in first, me, then Randy.
Cones day ran efficiently and our class was held just before noon. Janelle Marshall was first to go (she scratched the marathon on Saturday as her pony had an outbreak of hives and bumps all over his body) and posted a double clear (I think) so it was definitely doable, but the top three of us in the class failed to get it done. I was too slow and had two balls, and fell to third place, a point behind Suzy. Randy ended up in first. Thanks to Dottie for riding with me as groom in cones!
Results will be posted later today on Drivingnews.us.
I think we got the rust off at this first show of our season, most others in our class did Sunshine State a few weeks ago. I am going to try a four wheel carriage for dressage and cones instead of the road cart, thinking that might make Cooper's job easier. We'll experiment with that and see how it goes. Cones practice is surely in our future while we prepare for Live Oak in a month. Live Oak is holding the USEF National Championships for Ponies and Pair Horses this year and I'd really like to keep my title :).
Thank you to the organizers, land owners and volunteers that made this show happen, we will look forward to competing next year. Wildlife sightings: A snake on section E, an alligator in a pond next to the marathon course, and lots of cranes and egrets.
Ranch website: www.littleevergladesranch.com
photo by Diana Rowland
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Salute to Driving
A well deserved pat on the back to the organizers of the Salute to Driving, a fundraiser for the driving programs of the USET.
Held this past weekend in Windsor, South Carolina, the three days were jam packed with all types of things to see and do. Saturday and Sunday were clinic days, with Michael Freund, the new US driving coach, working with the long listed drivers, and Larry Poulin working with developing drivers. Auditing was free and there was a good turnout of people watching and listening to the lessons. Thanks to a good sound system, all could hear the clinicians work with their students. Also during those days were clinics on cones driving, chosing hazard routes, a fun hazard to explore, and a carriage display. On Monday there was a combined test with training, preliminary and advanced levels doing dressage and cones under the watchful eye of Martha Hanks-Nichol, Michael Freund, and Craig Kellogg. Nancy Tomlinson served as judge for the tough cones course.
During the lunch break, Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton riding Isabella and me driving Cooper did a Pas de Deux to Earth, Wind and Fire's I Like The Way You Move. It was the first time I have done a drive to music and it ended up being a lot of fun. Thanks to Phillip to being a good sport, he seemed to enjoy our enthusiatic audience as much as I did.
Saturday evening was a fundraising party hosted by Wendy O'Brien at her beautiful Trout Walk Farm nearby. There was a raffle and live auction with many wonderful donated items.
This event was the brainchild of Lisa Singer and Bev Lesher, and hard work by many hardworking volunteers and sponsors made it a huge success. I can't wait until next year!
On a personal note, I got a lot out of my lessons during the clinic, Michael took both Cooper and me out of our comfort zone and asked for more, which was reflected in moments in my test as well as moments of miscommunication between pony and driver. It will take some practice on my part to make to make things smoother and more flowing, but I loved watching the video and seeing more expression and elevation from Cooper. He worked hard and willingly all weekend and I am proud of him. He got to have some fun in the Pas de Deux, too.
We are on our way to the Little Everglades CDE as I type (Fran is driving). Wish us luck!
Results for the Salute to Driving and for Little Everglades will be posted on www.drivingnews.us.
Held this past weekend in Windsor, South Carolina, the three days were jam packed with all types of things to see and do. Saturday and Sunday were clinic days, with Michael Freund, the new US driving coach, working with the long listed drivers, and Larry Poulin working with developing drivers. Auditing was free and there was a good turnout of people watching and listening to the lessons. Thanks to a good sound system, all could hear the clinicians work with their students. Also during those days were clinics on cones driving, chosing hazard routes, a fun hazard to explore, and a carriage display. On Monday there was a combined test with training, preliminary and advanced levels doing dressage and cones under the watchful eye of Martha Hanks-Nichol, Michael Freund, and Craig Kellogg. Nancy Tomlinson served as judge for the tough cones course.
During the lunch break, Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton riding Isabella and me driving Cooper did a Pas de Deux to Earth, Wind and Fire's I Like The Way You Move. It was the first time I have done a drive to music and it ended up being a lot of fun. Thanks to Phillip to being a good sport, he seemed to enjoy our enthusiatic audience as much as I did.
Saturday evening was a fundraising party hosted by Wendy O'Brien at her beautiful Trout Walk Farm nearby. There was a raffle and live auction with many wonderful donated items.
This event was the brainchild of Lisa Singer and Bev Lesher, and hard work by many hardworking volunteers and sponsors made it a huge success. I can't wait until next year!
On a personal note, I got a lot out of my lessons during the clinic, Michael took both Cooper and me out of our comfort zone and asked for more, which was reflected in moments in my test as well as moments of miscommunication between pony and driver. It will take some practice on my part to make to make things smoother and more flowing, but I loved watching the video and seeing more expression and elevation from Cooper. He worked hard and willingly all weekend and I am proud of him. He got to have some fun in the Pas de Deux, too.
We are on our way to the Little Everglades CDE as I type (Fran is driving). Wish us luck!
Results for the Salute to Driving and for Little Everglades will be posted on www.drivingnews.us.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sunshine State CDE, the first selection trial
Results at www.drivingnews.us for Sunshine State CDE, the first of five selection trials in North America (some are in Europe) for the Ponies and Pair Horses for their respective World Championships this year.
Driving News has all kinds of interesting links for all types of driving - Thanks, Mike Arnold for keeping everything current!
We sat this one out but will be at the next one, Little Everglades, in a few weeks.
Driving News has all kinds of interesting links for all types of driving - Thanks, Mike Arnold for keeping everything current!
We sat this one out but will be at the next one, Little Everglades, in a few weeks.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Salute to Driving, February 2011
Click here to read about the Salute to Driving, a fundraiser for the USEF Driving Program, to be held in Windsor, SC in February:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/salute-driving-benefit-support-uset-foundation
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/salute-driving-benefit-support-uset-foundation
USEF Invitational Clinic with coach Michael Freund
January 31, 2011:
I just returned home from an United States Equestrian Federation (USEF.org) Invitational Clinic with the new USEF driving coach, Michael Freund, very kindly hosted by Alan and Maureen Aulson at their Black Prong Equestrian Center (www.blackprongequestrian.com) in Bronson, Florida. The plan, as I understand it, is for Michael to the be the coach for ponies, single horses, pair horses and four in hands for the next four years. This is the first time since I have been involved with driving (starting in 1996) that we have had the same coach for all driving groups, and in the opinion of many, a better qualified person could not be found. Michael seems very enthusiastic about the opportunity and is planning a comprehensive program with the goal of winning team medals at the World Championships.
The World Championships for Pair Horses is in Conty, France in August, 2011, and the Pony Driving World Championships will be held this year in Slovenia in September. Next year will be the single horses and four in hands turn for the World Championships.
Michael explained to us that this first clinic was not really a clinic, more an evaluation, so he could get a sense of the drivers, their experience, their horses/ponies, and where they were in their training.
Day One and Two: Michael Drives
Michael drove all the singles and pairs of horses and ponies himself. I think everyone found these days interesting (although challenging with torrential rain throughout the first day) with a chance to see their animals driven by a master. My pony, Cooper, went early in the first day, and we lucked out with only a few raindrops to dodge during our session. Michael interviewed me while I rode along on the back of the carriage, while he drove Cooper through all his paces and figures with one hand as he puffed on a cigar at the same time. Talk about multitasking! Cooper went wonderfully under his guidance and it was a thrill for me to see how well he responded. He was happy about Cooper’s training and willingness to work.
Michael worked his way through 23 drives in the first two days!
Day Three and Four: We Drive
Our second session was shared with another driver. Michael asked to see how we warm our horses up, asked questions and commented as needed, then asked us to drive figures from our dressage tests, again offering advice and evaluating the quality. He set up some cones at X and watched our accuracy on the center line and halts and got a feel for our driving. He had a scribe to write down his observations and comments in his ever present notebook.
Day Five: Dressage, Cones and Vet
We each did the dressage test for our division. Alan and Maureen were nice enough to let us use their show ring, which was lush and green, and Michael was our judge for FEI Driving Test 9. I went fairly early, early enough that the morning fog made it difficult to see X when I turned to do my first extension! I was very pleased with how Cooper went, as we hadn’t been training the test and were a bit rusty. Again Michael had a scribe and took notes, and gave us a score based on his observations. Cooper got the best score of the day which pleased me greatly!
A brutal cones course was laid out on the rolling terrain (with lots of trees) at the Black Prong Cones field. Michael later told us that is was a cones course for July, not January, in other words, a course for later in the season. It was a good test of where we all were that day, and the bottom line was that everyone was rusty and needed practice. There were many times faults and many balls down (and cones flying in some cases). As Michael pointed out, some scores were as much as dressage scores! The course had many difficult elements and figures but was driveable and fair. I had my share of time penalties and balls down and made a vow to get to work on cones.
We met with a veterinarian that is working with the USEF, and she evaluated our horses, and gave recommendations on their care, feeding, shoeing and preparation for the season.
Day Six: Walk Section and Hazards
The last day was a one kilometer walk section that was timed and judged, then a rest stop, then three hazards. I helped time/judge in the morning and it looked like everyone was making their time on the walk without a problem. The three hazards were marked so he could see some tight turns and some more open ones. He asked that we not go too fast as he didn’t want any accidents. Cooper was feeling a bit footsore and muscle sore so I opted out of this phase, Michael will observe us at Little Everglades and Live Oak. I found him very understanding about this, as he knows Cooper is an experienced pony, and said the goal is to keep him fresh and happy in his work. I watched quite a few drivers in the hazards, and saw some good performances. There was one turnover leaving a hazard, which was quickly contained, the horses back driving and in the hazard before they knew it, no one hurt and all was well.
The Meeting
After the hazards were finished for the day, we each had a short meeting with Michael, Chester Weber, the acting Chef de Equip, and Lizzy Staller, the USEF Director of Driving. Michael went over our results for the weekend, his observations, asked about our show plans for the spring, and vet’s recommendations. Things look promising for Cooper to be part of the team, but the year is young and it’s a long way until September and Slovenia!
Many thanks to Dona Love for putting us up at her house just around the corner from Black Prong, I really appreciated that comfy bed in her guest room!
Our Plans: Practice cones two times per week, both in our local Windsor group of drivers and on my own. Walk each day myself and get fitter. Work on Cooper’s overall fitness and suppleness.
I’m looking forward to our first show which will be Little Everglades in Dade City, Florida in the third week of February.I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Michael and to be part of a program gearing toward improving our performances in each phase. Michael will be coming to give a clinic as a part of the Salute to Driving in Windsor, SC.
I just returned home from an United States Equestrian Federation (USEF.org) Invitational Clinic with the new USEF driving coach, Michael Freund, very kindly hosted by Alan and Maureen Aulson at their Black Prong Equestrian Center (www.blackprongequestrian.com) in Bronson, Florida. The plan, as I understand it, is for Michael to the be the coach for ponies, single horses, pair horses and four in hands for the next four years. This is the first time since I have been involved with driving (starting in 1996) that we have had the same coach for all driving groups, and in the opinion of many, a better qualified person could not be found. Michael seems very enthusiastic about the opportunity and is planning a comprehensive program with the goal of winning team medals at the World Championships.
The World Championships for Pair Horses is in Conty, France in August, 2011, and the Pony Driving World Championships will be held this year in Slovenia in September. Next year will be the single horses and four in hands turn for the World Championships.
Michael explained to us that this first clinic was not really a clinic, more an evaluation, so he could get a sense of the drivers, their experience, their horses/ponies, and where they were in their training.
Day One and Two: Michael Drives
Michael drove all the singles and pairs of horses and ponies himself. I think everyone found these days interesting (although challenging with torrential rain throughout the first day) with a chance to see their animals driven by a master. My pony, Cooper, went early in the first day, and we lucked out with only a few raindrops to dodge during our session. Michael interviewed me while I rode along on the back of the carriage, while he drove Cooper through all his paces and figures with one hand as he puffed on a cigar at the same time. Talk about multitasking! Cooper went wonderfully under his guidance and it was a thrill for me to see how well he responded. He was happy about Cooper’s training and willingness to work.
Michael worked his way through 23 drives in the first two days!
Day Three and Four: We Drive
Our second session was shared with another driver. Michael asked to see how we warm our horses up, asked questions and commented as needed, then asked us to drive figures from our dressage tests, again offering advice and evaluating the quality. He set up some cones at X and watched our accuracy on the center line and halts and got a feel for our driving. He had a scribe to write down his observations and comments in his ever present notebook.
Day Five: Dressage, Cones and Vet
We each did the dressage test for our division. Alan and Maureen were nice enough to let us use their show ring, which was lush and green, and Michael was our judge for FEI Driving Test 9. I went fairly early, early enough that the morning fog made it difficult to see X when I turned to do my first extension! I was very pleased with how Cooper went, as we hadn’t been training the test and were a bit rusty. Again Michael had a scribe and took notes, and gave us a score based on his observations. Cooper got the best score of the day which pleased me greatly!
A brutal cones course was laid out on the rolling terrain (with lots of trees) at the Black Prong Cones field. Michael later told us that is was a cones course for July, not January, in other words, a course for later in the season. It was a good test of where we all were that day, and the bottom line was that everyone was rusty and needed practice. There were many times faults and many balls down (and cones flying in some cases). As Michael pointed out, some scores were as much as dressage scores! The course had many difficult elements and figures but was driveable and fair. I had my share of time penalties and balls down and made a vow to get to work on cones.
We met with a veterinarian that is working with the USEF, and she evaluated our horses, and gave recommendations on their care, feeding, shoeing and preparation for the season.
Day Six: Walk Section and Hazards
The last day was a one kilometer walk section that was timed and judged, then a rest stop, then three hazards. I helped time/judge in the morning and it looked like everyone was making their time on the walk without a problem. The three hazards were marked so he could see some tight turns and some more open ones. He asked that we not go too fast as he didn’t want any accidents. Cooper was feeling a bit footsore and muscle sore so I opted out of this phase, Michael will observe us at Little Everglades and Live Oak. I found him very understanding about this, as he knows Cooper is an experienced pony, and said the goal is to keep him fresh and happy in his work. I watched quite a few drivers in the hazards, and saw some good performances. There was one turnover leaving a hazard, which was quickly contained, the horses back driving and in the hazard before they knew it, no one hurt and all was well.
The Meeting
After the hazards were finished for the day, we each had a short meeting with Michael, Chester Weber, the acting Chef de Equip, and Lizzy Staller, the USEF Director of Driving. Michael went over our results for the weekend, his observations, asked about our show plans for the spring, and vet’s recommendations. Things look promising for Cooper to be part of the team, but the year is young and it’s a long way until September and Slovenia!
Many thanks to Dona Love for putting us up at her house just around the corner from Black Prong, I really appreciated that comfy bed in her guest room!
Our Plans: Practice cones two times per week, both in our local Windsor group of drivers and on my own. Walk each day myself and get fitter. Work on Cooper’s overall fitness and suppleness.
I’m looking forward to our first show which will be Little Everglades in Dade City, Florida in the third week of February.I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Michael and to be part of a program gearing toward improving our performances in each phase. Michael will be coming to give a clinic as a part of the Salute to Driving in Windsor, SC.
2011 - Beginning the Journey
The goal - To make the US Team for the Pony Driving World Championship in Slovenia in September, 2011.
Our team - LR Ami B-Line, aka Cooper, a 13 year old Morgan gelding, driver Shelly Temple, and navigator/groom, Fran Doto.
We couldn't do it without our friends and supporters - Lynn and Jeff Legg, Irene Schoen, Irene Gillis, Jack Wetzel, George and Nina Masek, to name just a few.
MANY, MANY THANKS to our Corporate Sponsors!!!
Kentucky Equine Research (www.KER.com),
Omega Fields (www.omegafields.com),
Kombat Boots (www.kombatboots.com),
Thin Line (www.thinline-global.com),
Charles Owen (www.charlesowen.com),
Leather Therapy (www.leathertherapy.com),
Sheetz (www.sheetz.com)
Sponsor, Public Relations and Press contact: Dr. Jeff Legg (jlegg@vcu.edu)
Website: http://www.catalystdriving.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Catalyst-Driving/143320132367691
Our team - LR Ami B-Line, aka Cooper, a 13 year old Morgan gelding, driver Shelly Temple, and navigator/groom, Fran Doto.
We couldn't do it without our friends and supporters - Lynn and Jeff Legg, Irene Schoen, Irene Gillis, Jack Wetzel, George and Nina Masek, to name just a few.
MANY, MANY THANKS to our Corporate Sponsors!!!
Kentucky Equine Research (www.KER.com),
Omega Fields (www.omegafields.com),
Kombat Boots (www.kombatboots.com),
Thin Line (www.thinline-global.com),
Charles Owen (www.charlesowen.com),
Leather Therapy (www.leathertherapy.com),
Sheetz (www.sheetz.com)
Sponsor, Public Relations and Press contact: Dr. Jeff Legg (jlegg@vcu.edu)
Website: http://www.catalystdriving.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Catalyst-Driving/143320132367691
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wonderful Windsor, South Carolina
We've moved, lock, stock and barrel, to Windsor, South Carolina. There are many things about the area that make me think it's great. First, there is the footing - sand. The footing is perfect for riding or driving 365 days of the year. Second are the dirt roads in Windsor. Not much traffic, and when you do encounter a car or truck, they tend to be polite and slow down when they see a horse.
Windsor is near Aiken, SC, and about the same distance from Augusta, GA (home of the Masters Golf Tournament) and Columbia, SC. Both Augusta and Columbia have nice airports and have lots of amenities. Aiken itself is a beautiful old southern town with a long history of horses in all disciplines, and a number of good restaurants and stores, including some good tack shops.
Aiken features a 2000 acre park in the center of the town, Hitchcock Woods. Riders, carriage drivers, and hikers with or without their dogs are welcome (well behaved dogs can be off leash). See http://www.hitchcockwoods.org/ for more info. There is a good map and many of the trails are marked with signs. There are jumps in the woods for riders and the area is foxhunted this time of year.
A number of carriage drivers either live in Aiken county full time, part time or are visiting this time of year. The local driving club, http://www.aikendrivingclub.com/, is very active and welcoming. There are a number of activities both on the weekends and during the week, for pleasure drivers, recreational drivers and combined drivers. There are many instructors, trainers and clinics to choose from if you are here to improve your driving.
The weather here is not as warm as Florida, cool at night but usually warms to the 50's or 60's during the day this time of year. The horses do not get all the skin conditions that seem to be prevalent in Florida. Horses that live here often go barefoot all year round.
If you'd like to learn more about the area, see:
http://www.aikenhorsesonline.com/ lots of information about horse life in the area
http://www.theaikenhorse.com/ a print and online newspaper that has news on what is going on in Aiken
Windsor is near Aiken, SC, and about the same distance from Augusta, GA (home of the Masters Golf Tournament) and Columbia, SC. Both Augusta and Columbia have nice airports and have lots of amenities. Aiken itself is a beautiful old southern town with a long history of horses in all disciplines, and a number of good restaurants and stores, including some good tack shops.
Aiken features a 2000 acre park in the center of the town, Hitchcock Woods. Riders, carriage drivers, and hikers with or without their dogs are welcome (well behaved dogs can be off leash). See http://www.hitchcockwoods.org/ for more info. There is a good map and many of the trails are marked with signs. There are jumps in the woods for riders and the area is foxhunted this time of year.
A number of carriage drivers either live in Aiken county full time, part time or are visiting this time of year. The local driving club, http://www.aikendrivingclub.com/, is very active and welcoming. There are a number of activities both on the weekends and during the week, for pleasure drivers, recreational drivers and combined drivers. There are many instructors, trainers and clinics to choose from if you are here to improve your driving.
The weather here is not as warm as Florida, cool at night but usually warms to the 50's or 60's during the day this time of year. The horses do not get all the skin conditions that seem to be prevalent in Florida. Horses that live here often go barefoot all year round.
If you'd like to learn more about the area, see:
http://www.aikenhorsesonline.com/ lots of information about horse life in the area
http://www.theaikenhorse.com/ a print and online newspaper that has news on what is going on in Aiken
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