56/ MARCH/APRIL 2014 THE RIDER The Joy of Carriage Driving


of my life since I was a young buck on the dairy farm back home. I started carriage driving about 10 years ago because, at the time, it became apparent to me that my balance was deteriorating and riding was getting more and more difficult. Add this to the fact that most everyone will agree as one ages the ground becomes much harder, the impact signifi- cantly increased and the recovery time longer. What could I do that allowed me to enjoy my horse and not risk falling off with the resulting injuries?11 Carriage driv- ing!


so I started practicing. Now you have to under- stand that I have been around horses for all of my life and I have driven rac- ing horses so in my stub- born bull-headed way I just moved forward - no coach! Probably not the best plan as getting a coach is the best way to go but what the


opportunity to audit a driv- ing clinic at Kirsten Bruner’s farm for my birth- day so I went. It was great! I met some wonderful peo- ple and decided that this is what I was going to do. From here on I did things backwards but managed to survive. First I bought a carriage, a used Meadow- brook, then I bought a used driving harness and finally I bought a horse. One should really get the horse first then the carriage and harness to fit the horse so I did have a little adjusting to do. The horse was a warmblood cross that had been a Ladies Driving Horse within the Mennon- ite community so she was very safe and as brave as all get out. If you are just learning to drive or just starting to drive get an older horse that is safe and well broke. You have a lot to learn and you do not want to be teaching a horse while you are learning. My objective was CDE


Standardbred, a used racing harness and a metal two wheeled carriage from Greenhawk that I drove for relaxation. Initially my purpose was to have a car- riage to give my grandkids a ride when they came but after two years the horse was lame and I could not drive it. The big question was - Where do I go from here? My son gave me an


I was presented with the Horses Ass Award at the COPDA/OCDA annual meeting which is a picture


class and ended up one place behind where I thought I should have been. On the way out of the ring I saw Vicky Cork watching the class so I asked her what I was doing wrong. Not enough presence in the ring she replied. Fine, next class I ‘sharpened’ my mare before going in and placed where I thought I should have. Never fear I have made my mistakes so many of them in fact that a list would be much longer than this article but the unfortunate fact is one learns only by making mis- takes. Do not be embar- rassed or shy get out there and try! That’s how to have fun! Then there was the year


helpful. If you forget to bring some important piece of equipment do not worry someone will have an extra to lend you for the day. If you are wondering what you and your horse did wrong in the ring no need to worry ask a coach that was watching the class and they will readily give their opinion of your perfor- mance. I was showing in a


I started with a retired


rejuvenation to a tired and worn out old body? Car- riage Driving - nectar from the Gods! Horses have been a part


day’s work and am rather tired. The urge to go home and lie down for a short rest before tackling any- thing else is just about overwhelming but I know that if I can drag myself to the barn everything will get better from that point on. When I am finished an hour or two later I feel completely renewed and ready to tackle the world. What is it that offers


By Ken Armstrong I have just completed a


to four or five shows and had a great time. I did not have a truck or trailer so I always had to arrange to borrow one, get up extra early, get the truck and trailer, load the horse and carriage, load all of the pic- nic stuff and head off. Now my wife is not partic- ularly fond of horses but she likes to cook so she always made a large picnic for the shows. We would invite people over for lunch with a little rose wine and have a great time. This showing thing was fun! Most important of all were the people that show as they are so friendly and


hell I wanted to have fun! We worked and worked. I loved it! Finally near the end of the season I entered a schooling show to see how we compared against the other neophytes. We did well. Very encourag- ing. Let’s keep at it and next year we will be ready for competitive showing. The next year we went


Grais’, we arrived at the hotel where we would spend the next few nights and I started to drive under the portico over the front


of several horses standing side by side facing away from you. The stimulus for receiving this award started when we decided to com- pete in the CDE event at Metamora, Michigan. First we arrived with tree branches stuck all over the roof of the horse truck - I decided to take a short cut which was a little more country than I had antici- pated. Then I took down a power line in the hostesses farm driveway - went in the wrong driveway and on the way out another driveway I forgot that we had lashed my wife’s bicycle to the top of the truck and the handle bars caught a low hanging power line. Snap! Fortunately I only broke the suspension cable and not the actual power line so repair was straight forward. Finally the ‘Coupe de


asked to sit on the Board of TCCA and later OCDA and it must be noted that the people who volunteer their time to organize the events are extremely dedi- cated, enthusiastic, helpful and committed. The indus- try would not be able to function without these peo- ple and I can say that no one that is thinking about starting to drive should hesitate to contact either of the clubs for help and advice. I have many times! It doesn’t matter whether you win or come


the shows, the people driv- ing and caring for the hors- es and the people attending the shows are GREAT! They’re friendly, they’re helpful and most of all they make the shows a lot of fun! I have met a lot of people at all the shows we have attended and of all the aspects of horse showing or racing that I have been exposed to over the years these are the best. As time went on I was


Driving grandchildren in the Burford Centennial Parade My first schooling show.


door to let my wife off. I did notice the large sign that said ‘No Trucks’ but I decided that my truck was just a small truck and did not qualify. As we crept ahead there was a crunch- ing sound so I backed up and went to park in the parking lot. When I emerged from the truck there was a car behind me, the driver was laughing uncontrollably and point- ing. I looked up and there in all its glory was the sign still draped across the top of my truck. I had to get up and get it down. My wife and I walked across the parking lot and into the hotel carrying the suitcases and me carrying the large sign. There was no actual damage to any of the struc- ture and a lot of laughing by the hotel crew. I think it was the high point of their day!


years we have attended many shows in Ontario and even ventured into Michi- gan and New York State for shows and have not been disappointed at any of them. The people running


earned the ‘Horses Ass Award’ and I was very proud to hang it on the wall in my office for the year. During the past few


Anyhow, I think I


ing the course so I said to my son you check out the course and I’ll warm the mare up. Not a good Idea! I concentrated on getting through each hazard and then he told me where the next one was. Apparently you should know before going into a hazard where the next one is so you can set the horse up for the next one on the way out of the current hazard. That didn’t work as well for us. But! You get two rounds so I was ready for the next one. All I remember is charging through the hazards on the gallop, the cart sliding all over the place, my son yelling slow down and me


last I can guarantee you will have a good time. One year I was asked if I would like to compete in the Rockton Fair Carriage Derby. Sure I said it sounds like a great idea so we showed up at the appointed time ready to compete. Well, to our sur- prise everyone had a marathon cart and was con- siderably more experienced than my son and I. We had our Meadowbrook and, as helmets were required, we borrowed two Standard- bred driving helmets which we proudly wore. Then it came to learn-


be made here is that we had a great time and want to go back this year. Everyone whether rich or poor was especially friendly. The show staff was outstanding in making sure that I knew what was going on and when I had to show. More important I met people


severely lost and being on the wrong side of south Rochester we made it to the show grounds only to see a mul- titude of large fancy horse transportation rigs and an array of neatly curtained horse stalls. There we were with our old truck and a trailer with all of the equipment piled on. My wife commented that we looked more like we had just emerged from the Ozarks for this show. The important point to


went to Walnut Hill with the truck and a tow behind flat trailer piled high with all of our equip- ment tied on with various ropes and bungie chords. By the way the trailer had yet to be painted so there was just the under coat of anti-rust paint. After


getting


decided to go to Walnut Hill Carriage Show just outside of Rochester New York. Walnut Hill is cur- rently the largest carriage show in North America. My mare, by the end of the 2012 season, had gotten so lame that I felt I needed a new horse. My friend found a 4 year old gelding whose sire is a Friesian and dam is a Standardbred Welsh Cobb mix. He is a good mover and presents himself well but was terri- bly inexperienced. We worked with him and I even had some lessons (first time) from Morris Kerr and then Louise Annett who are both very, very good at driving and giving lessons. So off we


saying “ hell no”. We made it but came last in the class. Nevertheless we had a great time and someone has to be last. This past year we


from all over both Canada and the US. It was well worth the drive and no one thought any less of us because we did not have all of the fancy accouterments. It is a place to show your horse or pony to the best of your ability and enjoy the camaraderie of people in the industry. We are very fortunate


in this part of Ontario because we have Carriage driving Clubs like OCDA or TCCA run by people who are very dedicated to the sport and would help anyone. We have both pro- fessional and amateur coaches as well as various clinics being offered for all aspects of carriage driving. Most important though is the fact that we have a number of shows all of which do there best to accommodate the specific needs of the neophyte driv-


response) and you never know what you animal will interpret to be a dangerous situation. I was showing at East Aurora N.Y. and while sitting on my car- riage with my horse har- nessed and hitched waiting for my turn to go into the ring for a cones class was run into by a 17 year old very quiet horse that all of a sudden saw something it thought of as danger and ran directly into my car- riage breaking 8 to 10 spokes in one wheel. The man driving the horse was a large man and he was attempting with all his strength to pull his horse in a different direction but to no avail. Accidents hap- pen! I have truly embraced


the ‘Joy of Carriage Driv- ing’. I love it, the people involved and the opportu- nities to have fun while


Sue and I at Walnut Hill for turn out class er.


VSE as well as your har- ness and carriage do not have to be new but do have to be safe. All clubs have a safety inspection by an experienced driver before you are allowed to show and your unit must pass. Special consideration is often given very inexperi- enced drivers so that they can show in the ring by themselves. A horse, no matter how


quiet, is an animal that escapes danger through flight (running away as part of the flight or fight


safety is paramount. Your horse, pony or


Please note though that


enjoying working with a horse, pony or VSE. I have an inexpensive horse, a used harness, a used car- riage and a used truck with a used horse box on the back of it. I can compete where ever I want and I know that I am among friends. What more could one ask for in this competi- tive, intense and complicat- ed life we lead. The ‘Joy of Carriage


Driving’ is what makes everyday living worth while!


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