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General Meeting
April 27, 2008 Sagebrush, Clemmons
We had a great turnout with 18
people. Faith opened the meeting at 6:00pm, the megaphone gift to the club
did not seem to be working, (it did later on when given to Hayden to try).
Congratulations were given to Nancy Faller & her “Team Faller” for
their win at the Southern Pines CDE. See story in previous Newsletter.
OLD Business: Tommy
said the Mocksville Winery we talked about for our Christmas party was going
to cost $50.00 per hour and would only accommodate 20 people! Needless to
say Tommy will be looking for someplace else for our party.
Faith said we cannot get an insurance
quote until 30 days prior to it’s expiration, she and Tommy will work on
that. Insurance is due May.
I have not had any luck contacting
decal manufacturers about quotes for decals to put on mugs, to sell and use
as gifts for Volunteers. I did find out I do not have an art program
compatible with the 2 companies I did get information from.
Faith said she has a video camera if
someone is willing to work it at our events, then at our Christmas party we
could view our shenanigans. I believe Carlette or David Moser volunteered to
use the camera. Polly Hixson said her son could also put together a power
point slide show from photographs. Penny Brandon will get her (Polly) the
pictures from the Kodak website where I have been posting them for all to
see.
Faith talked about doing a Pot Luck
Dinner at Blowing Rock for those who are planning on camping. You will need
to E-mail Linda Harbison harbisonranch@alltel.net if you want to
participate. June 28th Saturday if you are just coming for the day.
Linda talked about our upcoming
Leyland excursion July 12th, 10:00am. It will be a day of driving on Jim’s
trails and or driving in his arena.
The new form for handling $ at events
was passed around.
Faith remembered to have all the
members introduce themselves since we had a few new people.
NEW Business: Since
Nancy was on her way back from GA Tommy talked about the HDT at Paradox next
month. If you are competing you need to PRE Register by May 14th
using the ADS form (Tommy passed them out to those wanting them). Schedules
will be e-mailed to participants May 16th. If you are competing you need to
be there by 9:00am to do the course walk and we will start at 10:30. The
Judge will be Barbie Black and will be available to talk to afterwards.
There will be 2 levels for dressage, Training (Test #2) and Preliminary
(Test # 1) The marathon will be 3.5 miles with 5 hazards. A Volunteer sign
up sheet was passed around, if you want to volunteer call or e-mail Nancy paradoxfarm@yadtel.net
336-284-6581. Volunteers need to be there by 10:00am. Cost is $35.00
for the HDT. If you only want to come drive you can BUT you CANNOT be
out on the trail while the Marathon is in progress! Cost
to just come & drive $15.00.
Before the meeting began Linda had us
put our names in a bucket and at this point in time, drew three names for
door prizes. Penny Godbey won a bag of Horse Treats, Jim Godbey won a jar of
leather cleaner and Polly Hixson won a curry brush.
It was decided that September 13th we
will hold a clinic, if there is something SPECIFIC you want to work on,
e-mail Faith faith@salisburyblueprints.com. We will try to find the
appropriately experienced member to work with you. We had not decided on a
place, Tommy offered TLC Farm. This would rotate events from him to
Nancy’s for Halloween in Oct, then back to Tommy’s for the Turkey Trot
in Nov.
Linda briefly talked about the
Tanglewood Horse meeting (see previous newsletter). There will be another
meeting Thursday May1st at 7:00pm in Walnut Hall just past the red barn at
Tanglewood. It was mentioned that at Southern Pines there is a Carriage
parade before the steeplechase. In May of 2009 the steeple chase will return
to Tanglewood, Linda ???? Is going to check into the possibility of us doing
a carriage parade. Polly was nominated to check into our group receiving $
if we volunteer to work at the festival of lights (after she mentioned this
possibility).
June 7th There will be a Percheron
Field day at Robert Cells(?) farm in Walkertown, call Faith for more
information.
Polly asked about having a banner
made with the club’s logo on it to display at any events we hold or
attend. Larry DuPont will check into costs for us since he just had a sign
done for his farm, I will e-mail him our logo.
Minutes from our last meeting were
accepted as written in the January newsletter. Pat reported a balance of
$1671.02 in the treasury before writing a check tonight and collecting more
dues.
Our next General Meeting will be at
Doug Prevett’s Farm when we have our Luau August 23rd.
Just prior to adjourning Linda had us
check under our chairs, Veronica DuPont had her dinner paid for by the club
since she found the bow under her seat!
The meeting adjourned about 7:15pm.
What’s so hard about Driven Dressage?!
By Reba Wagner
Before I drove my young pair into the
dressage ring at the Paradox Farm HDT (a
one day Horse
Driving Trial) held on May 17th, I had already taken two runs
through the dressage ring; the first by golf cart. At 8:30am before the
day’s competitions started, Joan Schisler picked
up competitors by golf cart and carried them like royalty for a private tour
of the dressage ring and the cones course. She generously shared her special
tips learned the hard way from many trips through CDE courses over 38 years.
Competitors were able to familiarize themselves with the course without
distractions from friends or horses. I’m told not to expect this special
treatment from anywhere else except at Paradox Farm.
The day was cool enough to keep the
bugs away, there was not a hint of wind, and the clear blue Carolina skies
made for an absolutely perfect day for driving. At the 9:00 am Whips
meeting, Nancy Faller introduced Barbie Black, our judge for the day, gave
instructions, assigned driver’s times, explained CDE standard rules and
then rewrote a few exceptions to make this first time experience for many of
us much easier and less stressful, thus creating for the first time;
“Paradox Farm Rules”. Afterall this was supposed to be an informal way
to try driving at a competitive CDE event.
A good showing
of drivers attended including Tricia Hardy with Precious, Latina Raville,
Debbie Drenten, Chris Peckham with her VSE (very small equine), Faith
Bradshaw and Doug Prevette with the white Percherons, Ellie and Crescent,
and Reba Wagner with her black Percherons, Lewis and Clark. While the new
competitors listening to the instructions were quiet and nervous, the
overall atmosphere was good humored, educational and fun.
Several Preliminary Level drivers
came to the event to tune up for their upcoming competition in two weeks at
the Carolina Carriage Club Horse Driving Trial
on May 31 -June 1 held
at the Foothills
Equestrian Nature Center, Tryon, NC. Driving
in the Preliminary Level were Gloria Ripperton from Pittsboro, and Boo West
from Abingdon Virginia, Joan
Schisler, Claudia Galup, and Susan Emmert.
Tommy Cope had a Preliminary Level entry number and an assigned
driving time, but we learned his priorities suddenly changed to hay when the
forecast included possible rain.
My second trip through the Dressage
Ring that day was as navigator for Faith Bradshaw and her experienced
Percheron pair. I knew the test so well that I couldn’t help myself from
discreetly whispering and reminding Faith about the next movements; thinking
somehow that she needed my help. She didn’t need my help; but I just
couldn’t contain myself. I knew this pattern from studying all week. Her
test was very short, maybe only about 10 minutes of driving in the ring. She
drove effortlessly, and her horses responded beautifully to her light touch
on the lines.
I keep reading CDE articles and
noticing that even the top competitors with years of experience still
consider Dressage their nemesis. One would think that Marathon was the more
challenging event. And so I wondered as I drove into the ring what was the
big deal? On this third trip into the dressage ring, Faith sat on my left as
navigator. We were all smiles thanks to the secret code we use to bring on
an instant, giant smile. Works every time, but I am sworn to secrecy on that
one.
I trotted straight in towards the
judge, halted and gave my best salute. The judge, seated at the end of the
ring in a presentation carriage looking very grand in her large brimmed hat
and driving apron, returned my salute.
After that, I remember very little; my mind went completely numb, my
mouth was so dry and parched I could barely speak, and all real time
stopped. Even though I was shaking my nervousness directly down the lines to
my horses, at least my hands seemed to remember to keep contact on the
lines. I had decided long ago that I didn’t like driving with a
whip in my hand so this test was actually the first time I had to maneuver
lines while balancing a whip. At the turns, the lines got quite messy. Note
to myself: start carrying a whip during driving practices at home.
About halfway through the first 40
meter circle, Faith sensed that I was going to move on to the next movement,
and whispered in my ear. She gently asked as if speaking to a psychotic
patient, “Don’t you want to drive a complete circle instead of just
half?!” Unable to speak, I
made a quiet response with my hands, and was able to make the correction. Later I noticed the judge had only taken points off my score
for noticing an “inaccurate circle”.
I drove on hoping to conceal the fact
that my horses and I only know two speeds, walk and trot. At some point in
this test when we are asked to show the unknown gears; working walk and
working trot, my deception will be unveiled. My nervous hands continued
pulsing the electric sensation down through the lines and the off horse
responded accordingly by jigging much more than usual as he took direction
from the driver’s hands. A few more lost points for jigging. More lost
points for no working trot.
Now again at the halfway point
through the second 40 meter circle, Faith anticipated my continued out of
body experience and temporary loss of memory, and reminded me to complete
the circle. This time she suggested “Don’t you think you should take a
breath; and maybe start breathing?!”
The inside horse showed his lack of
experience at bending. More lost points for not bending. I guess I’ll be
practicing driving large circles in both directions and getting my horses to
bend better at home.
After what seemed to take ten hours
driving across a hot dry lifeless desert, and all the while this heavy
weight pressing on my chest from being studied like an intruder, I finally
finished the Dressage test. I accomplished my meager goals for my first HDT:
I didn’t die, didn’t have an incident, I was not eliminated, I
completed the test without embarrassment, and best of all, I received a
written score from a judge with good constructive comments for homework to
practice for my next trip into the ring. I drove home that day with a huge victory smile on my
face!
The others who left with victory
smiles included Tricia Hardy who won Overall best Training Level and Best in
Cones. Boo West won for the
Preliminary Level overall best.
A special Thanks to our hostess Nancy
Faller for putting on this ambitious event, to Barbie Black our judge who
was more lenient than she will be the next time she sees us, and to ALL the
many volunteers who made this learning day possible. Another thanks
to Alan Raville and Jeff Hardy for sharing with us their wonderful
photographs of the day.
Paradox
Mini HDT May
17th
by Tricia Hardy
What a beautiful day for an event,
the weather was perfect, we had a great group of volunteers and with the
exception of an hours delay due to a crisis at the barn everything went off
with out a hitch (at least from my point of view)! Our Judge Barbie Black
was very helpful with her comments when we each completed our dressage test.
From the dressage arena we went on to the cones course. Gate 3 was very
exciting for quite a few of the competitors. As many times as Precious has
crossed over plywood at Tommy’s or in my training area, she tried to
refuse it as did many others. I saw Faith demolish the left side cone and
Reba got the right side when she had her turn through the course! Precious
took one look at the cones and literally flew through them, I had to keep
her from cantering at gate 8 & 9! After the cones we went back to the
trailers to have lunch, then at 2:15 we started the marathon. We had to
traverse 7 km and had 5 hazards to complete. This was a very leniently
run marathon, if you felt you
couldn’t handle a hazard or your horse wasn’t able to go the distance
you could pull out at any time, after all this was for fun and training
purposes to get a feel for how a real HDT or CDE is run. Training level only
had to do 3 gates in each hazard and Preliminary had 4 or was it 5? Precious
was at least a minute and a half ahead of time through the first 3 km but by
the time we hit 4 km she was on schedule, but from there on she started
loosing steam. When we were in the last hazard the next competitor had to
wait for me to finish before she could enter, I do apologize for that., I
did not expect Precious to do nearly as well as she did in the Marathon part
since she was not in condition for it. RESULTS: Tricia Hardy & Precious
won overall best, and best in the cones course, Boo West won for the
Preliminary Level overall best.
As usual Nancy did a wonderful job
hosting our first (I hope of many more) HDT’s
Thank you so much for allowing us to share your beautiful farm.
Ouch! I’ve Been Bitten Again!
by Bev Duval
I attended my first HDT at Paradox
Farm on May 17 and I am hooked! I have to admit that the pre-event tour of
the marathon course on golf carts made it look a little bit scary and I RIDE
everywhere and never give it a second thought! I guess two wheels elevates
my “pucker factor” more than I realized…
I guess all of you know this stuff,
but dressage was interesting, cones proved challenging as there was a
“bridge” on course which un-nerved a few participants. The marathon was
after lunch and we were FIRST to go! Always scary! Anyway, what hills? What
scary places? Once you get going it’s too exciting to be worried, the only
thing you watch is the clock which seems to move at double speed! MP
(Precious) showed just how much heart she has and how much she loves her
Mommy as she was clearly having as much fun as we were even though she was
getting a bit tired.
I would like to thank Nancy Faller
and her volunteers for a wonderful event and especially Trish and Precious
for a WOW! Time. On the way home I called Pat about her old easy entry cart,
and once I pay for Rudy’s trainer, hay for all and the Vet summer work, I
plan to buy it!
Other
Equine Items of Interest
submitted by Bev Duval
Trail News
A meeting was held with the Trail
Consultants to continue our plan to develop a “report card” for trails
as well as a draft “Memorandum of Understanding” with State Parks and
DHENR. An initial survey instrument has been developed to seek information
on trails and trail users. Trail advocacy continues as the Friends of Hill
Forrest are working with NCSU to purchase recreational use rights in the
Forrest. Attending NCHC sponsored Trail Schools are part of their on-going
discussions. In addition, the FOHF are discussing with us how to purchase
liability insurance for their riders.
Equine Industry Directory
As noted in the last issue, the North
Carolina Horse Council is working to put together an Equine Industry
Directory that will be posted and updated on the website. Local businesses
are welcome to submit their contact information to the Horse Council to be
included in the Directory. The cost per listing is $12 per year for NCHC
Members or $24 per year for Non-Members. Categories that will be listed in
the Directory include the following:
Apparel
Art
& Photography
Barn
Equipment/Supplies
Boarding
Facilities
Breeding
Registries, Associations & Clubs
Consulting
Services (Appraiser, Business Development, Horse Show
Management)
Equestrian
Construction (Architecture, Arena Builders, Barn Builders)
Equestrian
Education
Farriers
Health
& Veterinarian Info
Horse
Owner Services (Blanket Repair, Dead Stock Removal, Embroidery)
Horse
Transportation Services
Real
Estate
Rescue
and Adoption Organizations
Tack
& Supplies
Training &
Instruction
Trucks & Trailers
Don’t get
left behind—list your business in the Directory and reach out to the horse
community. The Directory will be up and running soon. Visit the
website for the on-line registration form.
Specialty License Plate
The Horse Council has designed a specialty license plate
that will be available for purchase, hopefully, next year. By purchasing
this plate, you will be exhibiting your pride in the equine industry. The
North Carolina DMV requires that we have 300 license plates pre-sold before
they will produce the plate for us. The specialty plate does require action
in the legislature, which we are working towards next session. Watch for
more details on how you can show your support of the Horse Council and the
equine industry.
Equine
Economic Impact Study
The Equine Economic Impact Study is
now under way. The Study will assess the equine industry statewide economic
impact and identify opportunities for growth. The Study seeks to be
all-inclusive; participation is being sought from all members of the
horse community, from horse owners
and stable operators to feed and equipment suppliers. The outcome of this
Study is critical to all of us.
The study will include three parts:
(1) Survey of horse owners, farms,
veterinarians, suppliers, and other horse-related operations and businesses.
The survey will help determine the value of equine assets and the number of
people involved in equine activities.
(2) Analysis of the economic impact
on the State. This analysis will examine the exhibition facilities, support
programs, and services offered by public and private institutions.
(3) Action plan to maximize the
industry's contributions to North Carolina's economy. This will include
identifying growth opportunities, recommendations for facilities, an
evaluation of laws that may hinder or enhance North Carolina's
attractiveness
as a center of equine activities.
Based on the results of the Study,
there are several possibilities that could occur:
-- Preservation of land for
equestrian use
-- Protection of water supplies
-- New public or private investments
in equine facilities
-- Enhanced communication between
buyers and suppliers
The survey will be distributed
between May 1st and July 30th, with data being analyzed during August. The
Economic Impact Analysis will occur between September 1st and October 31st.
Development of Policy Recommendations will be made by November 30th. The
final report goes to the North Carolina General Assembly in early 2009.
Everyone connected to the North Carolina horse industry is important to this
effort. Please take the time to complete the survey if you are selected.
Tanglewood Equestrian Meeting #2
By Tricia Hardy
May 1st Beth Cox held another meeting
to discuss Equestrian ideas for the improvement of Tanglewood.
Sixteen people attended this meeting with 4 representing carriage
drivers, Marilyn Colvin, Penny Brandon, Bev Duval and myself, 1 trail rider
Bill Messick, Ted Kaplan the commissioner, Cynthia Holbrook, a Retro Rider
member, Eventing and Combined Training, Ryan Murphy & 2 others
representing Polo Cross (sounded exciting), Kim King an Eventer, Mike Dowd
and another lady who run the stable at Tanglewood, Damon the assistant
County commissioner, Meridith Smith a hunter Jumper wants a show facility
and Leslie Bergman another Eventer. We all introduced ourselves and talked
about what we desired for Tanglewood and what we would be willing to do to
help. Beth said from the previous meeting, the most desired and loudest need
was for the trails to be improved, expanded and widened for carriage use.
It looks like first and foremost the
Steeplechase is going to be the first thing that is the center of
concentration even though everyone at the first meeting was not really
interested in that. The date
for the Steeple Chase is May 9, 2009. Kim
insists trails are not money makers, events like the steeple chase,
polo cross events and B & C shows are. The Polo Cross people need
a field 160 x 60 yards and it looks like they don’t need much else to get
started, Kim said get them down there to check out the field and let them
organize something.
Someone questioned where the money
would go from the Steeple chase or any other Equestrian Events held at
Tanglewood. Mr. Kaplan said this is a VERY BIG money maker which WILL help
fund all the other things we would like to see done at the park, WE will get
to decide where the money goes, not the commissioners. Beth is talking about
forming a non-profit Equestrian group to handle moneys raised and to
distribute it to the groups who are working to improve the park. She would
like people to volunteer to chair committees to work on the things that they
want done, for example a trail committee, a Polo Cross committee etc. The
fact that Tanglewood is very close to 2 interstates and in the center of the
state make it perfect for a world class Equestrian center. It was mentioned
that we could do a benefit for Victory Junction to raise money, the TDA
(Tourist Development Authority) will be responsible for all marketing of any
events. Beth’s personal goal is to see ALL disciplines represented at
Tanglewood. She has lawyers, architects and police all willing to do pro
bono work. She also has someone who is going to design a web site where all
the work going on at the park can be monitored.
As people who want to do things at
the park WE should be willing to volunteer at the Steeple Chase to receive
Money raised there. At this point I mentioned the Carriage Parade that
precedes the Steeple Chase in Pinehurst and the idea was VERY well received.
Any one wishing to be part of these meetings or to volunteer should
E-mail Beth Cox at: bethcox22@yahoo.com.
After the meeting broke up I asked
Beth if we are willing to work on the trails and get them wide enough for
our carriages to drive on, ARE
WE going to be allowed on them with the carriages!? She said she will make
that a priority on her list of things to do. I personally am VERY willing to
go out and work on the trails if we will be allowed to drive on them but I
DO NOT want to chair the committee to work on the trails. Is any one in our
group willing to be the chair person? Penny Brandon and I discussed the
possibility co-chairing a committee to put on a Driving event at Tanglewood.
This is very exciting and we can get in on the ground floor of planning what
happens at Tanglewood, we need to show how much we care and get involved.
NOTE: On May 7th, Bev & I
Volunteered to be co-chairs on the trails committee
Member Update
Those of you who remember when we
bought Flash two+ years ago as a 7 year old stallion will remember how
flighty he was. Having spent 5 years prior in a stall with 4 inch high
pads on his front hooves, meant he was never allowed to pasture due to the
risk of tearing a front shoe off. I didn’t know anything about
horses back then and bought him because of his pure black coat and his 16
hand high impressive looks. My neighbor stabled him and said he was a great
horse and I took his word for it. I quickly learned that he spooked at
anything and everything. The first 3 months under saddle riding outside of
the ring was like riding a lightening bolt when he saw something that scared
him. We put him in a keg shoe and spent the past two years getting him
to adjust his gait and get smooth as silk. Now he is a dream to trail
ride and will cross water, ride amongst our neighbors Mastiffs, ride on the
road in traffic and is immune to gunfire. Hayden rides him and he has
the softest mouth of any horse we have. Tapping your pinky on the reins is
all it takes to turn left or right.
This week I started line driving him with a harness and hooked the traces to
my chain link drag for the riding ring. We worked a couple days at
that and he got used to things rubbing his side and legs.
Today we hitched him to the carriage for the first time and drove for about
30 minutes. It was uneventful and he had a relaxed head and much forward
impulsion with his front legs.
I just had to share this because he has become the sweetest and most eager
to please horse this past winter. I never would have believed it if I
didn’t see it myself and I am sure Charlie, Jim, and Santiago will agree.
That’s 4 out of 4 horses that we have now trained to drive in under 4
months…..
Larry DuPont
Correction/Additions
Paradox HDT May 17th:
These
were the Participants:
Joanie
Schisler
Tricia Hardy
Faith Bradshaw
Latina Raville
Gloria Ripperton
Susan Emmert
Claudia Galup
Reba Wagner
Chris Peckham
Winners:
Training
– Tricia Hardy
Preliminary – Boo Fitch West
Cones – Tricia Hardy
Dressage – Susan Emmert
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