January 2010 - Connecticut Valley Driving Club

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DUE DATE FOR
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NEXT LONG LINES:
JANUARY 10th.
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Long Lines Editor
Krista LaBella
[email protected]
Web and E-Alert Editor
Andrée Duggan
[email protected]
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CVDC Officers
President
Jan Frick
[email protected]
Vice President
Jaye Winkler
[email protected]
Treasurer
Erica Robb
[email protected]
Secretary
Marguerite Hayber
[email protected]
January 9 CVDC Meeting
Ridden Musical Freestyle
East Haddam Grange
6:30 Potluck, prompt!
January 2010
Ann Guptill of Fox Ledge Farm has accepted our invitation to talk with the CVDC about
the “ridden musical freestyle”. We will start our usual pot luck at 6:30PM PROMPTLY
because Ann will present her power point demonstration at 7 PM sharp.
Interest in the application of music to Driven Dressage is rapidly gaining momentum in this
country. If our membership shows interest in “driven musical freestyle” after seeing Ann’s
presentation, we may plan a “driven musical freestyle” clinic later in 2010. So, if you are
interested, please attend! Our meeting will be open to other driving clubs so feel free to
extend an invite to other drivers. Let’s hope for good weather so all will come to this very,
very special meeting.
Equine Arts Productions:
Creating the Musical
Freestyle
(From the Fox Ledge Farm
Websitehttp://www.foxledgefarm.net)
“…In the musical freestyle
dressage movements are
performed to music. In fact
dressage is now the fastest
growing equestrian sport in
the United States, being
pursued by riders and horses
of all levels and the musical
freestyle is rapidly becoming
the most challenging,
exciting and fun aspect of
dressage for both the
amateur and professional
alike.
Ann Guptill riding Bijan, a Hanoverian gelding
Ann Guptill and her husband Ed Iarusso own and operate Equestrian Arts
Productions, a musical freestyle company. Ann is a US Dressage Federation
Certified Instructor and serves as a faculty member for USDF Instructor
Certification, conducting workshops throughout the US. As a committee member of
the USDF, Ann has served as chair of the Certified Instructors Committee, the Test
Writing Committee, and currently is chair of the Musical Freestyle Committee. She
is also an "A" graduate of the US Pony Club, and has mentored many young riders
in their progress through the Pony Club ratings. Ed is professional musician with
over 30 years experience in the field…Pairing their riding and musical talents the
couple produces musical freestyles for all levels of dressage. In 2003 Equestrian
Arts Productions sponsored and produced an educational and promotional video for
the USDF ‘Introduction to Freestyle’.”
2010 Calendar of Events
January 9 – CVDC 6:30 PM Potluck/Mtg @ Grange-Ann Guptill ‘Ridden Musical Freestyle’. Please be prompt.
January 9 – GMHA Sleighing Combined Test, So Woodstock, VT. www.gmhainc.org
January 9 – What to wear at a sleigh rally & sleighing safety, potluck meeting, Mansfield MA. www.ridrivingclub.org
January 10 – Winter Classic Sleigh Rally at Orleton Farm Stockbridge MA (no-snow date 1/17). [email protected]
or 413-298-3119. www.colonialcarriage.org for more info.
January 15-17 – Sleigh Rally & Carriage Maintenance Clinic weekend, Temple NH. www.ponyfarm.com
January 16 – Ski Joring Clinic. Horses, skiers, snowboards, jumps, gates. Jousting rings. Rochester, NH.
www.myhreequine.com/NewsPage.htm
January 19 – ECDHA Monthly Meeting, 7:00 PM at Blue Slope Farm, Franklin, CT. www.easternctdrafthorse.com
January 24 – Wilbraham Sleigh rally, Wilbraham MA (no-snow date Feb 6). Please pre-register for this event. Melissa
Graves at [email protected] or 413-596-2800, ext 119.
January 26 – Training a Young Horse to Drive – David Bradham. Middletown Agricultural Science Center (860) 7044599 x4594 or e-mail Megan Nesci at [email protected]
January 30 – GMHA Sleigh rally, So Woodstock, VT. www.gmhainc.org
January 31 – Horse & Sleigh Parade at the Chautuaqua Institution. No classes or judging, this replaces the annual
sleigh rally. Meet at 1 pm in the South parking lot.
February 2- The Role of the Therapy Horse – Holly Sundmacker, Equine Operations Director at High Hopes
Therapeutic Riding Center, will demonstrate how therapy horses have the “power to change lives” through therapeutic
riding, driving and vocational programs. Middletown Agricultural Science Center- Phone (860) 704-4599 x4594 or email Megan Nesci at [email protected]
February- 6 CVDC 6:30 PM Potluck/Mtg @Grange, High Hopes then Dianne Ciano- Ct. Horse Council
February 7- GMHA Sleigh Rally, So. Woodstock, VT
February 9- Natural Horsemanship - Kristin Elliot-Leas of Equine Insight, LLC, will compare and contrast traditional
lunging and natural horsemanship techniques to improve a horse’s training and fitness. Voice commands, in-hand
work, training exercises and equipment will also be discussed. Middletown Agricultural Science Center- Phone (860)
704-4599 x4594 or e-mail Megan Nesci at [email protected]
February 14 - Saratoga Driving Association ~ Get Ready for Spring Mid-Winter Conference, Voorhies (Albany), NY
February 14-15 - North East Ski Joring Race at Parlin Field Airport in Newport NH
February 14-15 - New England Region Carriage Association of America Annual Meeting NH
February 21- GMHA Sleigh Rally Combined Test, AM Dressage & PM Cones, So. Woodstock, VT
March 6- CVDC 6:30 PM Potluck/Meeting-Clipping your horse- location TBA
March 13-14 – The Driving Forum! See page 4
March 13 - RIDC 7pm Coachman's Delight, 206 East Main Street, Milford, MA RSVP Andy Marcoux (508) 782-1720
www.coachmansdelight.com
March 21- Jeff Morse Clinic @ High Hopes Therapeutic Center. Entry flyer in this newsletter.
April 10- 6:30 PM Potluck/Meeting @ Laurie and John Allegra’s Farm- “Restoration/Antique carriages”
April 12 - RIDC Borderland State Park Recreational Drive 259 Massapoag Ave, North Easton, MA
www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/borderland/ Contact John Frost
April 19- Frostbite Arena Driving Trial III 19 - Colonial Carriage & Driving Society Schooling Clinic at Orelton Farm
Stockbridge MA. “Do’s and Don’ts in the show ring”
May 1- 6:30 PM Dr. Chip Becket- “Equine Acupuncture” Location TBA
May 9-10 - Green Mountain Horse Association DRIVING TWO-PHASE & ADT South Woodstock, VT Contact: Karey
Manner, W: 802-457-1509 [email protected]
May 16-17 - Northeast Recreational Drive & Campout at Arcadia Wildlife Management Area, Escoheag Hill Road,
Escoheag, RI Contact: Cat Luce (508) 384-5198
May 22-24 - Champlain Valley Morgan Horse Association Open Horse Show, Driving division includes: Pleasure,
Dressage, Cones, Combined Test, Super Reinsmanship, Town & Country. Plattsburgh, NY www.cvmhany.org
June 5- 6:30 PM @ Grange Potluck/CVDC Elections and Final CVDC Trial planner meeting
June 7 - Northampton Driving Society 23rd annual Pleasure Driving Competition NY
June 12- CVDC Driving Trial
June 13- CVDC Fun Day/Lessons
June 13-14 - Eden Hill Pleasure Driving Show, Stockbridge, MA www.colonialcarriage.org
June 20-21 - RIDC Two-Day Carriage Driving Clinic with Craig Kellogg at Mitchell Farm in Salem CT contact Dottie
Billington [email protected]
June 27-28 - Muffy Seaton Pleasure Driving Clinic, Chur Equestrian Center, East Aurora NY
[email protected] East Aurora Driving Society
Page 3
Long Lines
2010 Calendar of Events Continued
July 17- CVDC 6:30 PM-Potluck/Meeting-Geoff Goodson Round Pen Demonstration @ Cow Hill
July TBA - VT Morgan Heritage Days, Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, VT Open Carriage Show on Sunday
July TBA - New England Morgan Horse Show, MA
July 18-19 - Lorenzo Carriage Driving Competition, Cazenovia, NY.
July 26 - Colonial Carriage & Driving Society Fun Day at Orelton Farm Stockbridge MA
July 25-26 - 34th annual East Aurora Carriage Drive & Competition, Knox Farm State Park East Aurora NY
[email protected] www.eastauroradrivingsociety.org
August 1-2 - Saratoga Driving Association ~ Saratoga Classic Pleasure Driving Show, Berkshire Equestrian Center,
Richmond, Mass.
August 7- CVDC 6:30 PM Location TBA- Fran Hornick-“Awl for the Horse”
August 12-16 - Walnut Hill Pleasure Driving Show, Pittsford, NY
August 20-23 - Weekend of Coaching in Newport RI www.newportmansions.org
September 5-6 - Rhode Island Carriage Days Pleasure Driving Show, Celtic Cross Farm, Dudley, MA
September TBA - Morgan Mile Trotting Races, Brookfield, VT www.morganmile.com/
September 11- CVDC 6:30PM Location TBA-High Hopes Program
September 12 - Lenox Massachusetts Tub Parade / Colonial Carriage & Driving Society
September 20 - Genesse Valley Riding and Driving Club Driving Show, Geneseo NY
October 2- CVDC meeting TBA
October 10- Lord Creek Ride/ Drive Pace
November 6- Safety Panel - Lessons from Accident and Runaway Survivors
December 4- Christmas Holiday Party
Follow the Leader (Reins) Submitted by Erica Robb
The following article was found at the Coachmen’s Delight website. Winter is the time to improve our skills. Thanks to
Andy Marcoux! (This article, and others, can be found at http://www.coachmansdelight.com )
Horseless Learning Opportunities
… [With a partner,] sit facing one another, each of you at opposite ends of a pair of reins…, put your feet on the floor
with a slightly open hip position. Hold the reins as you would if you are driving… and decide who the horse is and who
the driver is.
The person who has agreed to be "the horse" should close their eyes and begin the back and forth movement that a
horse makes on the reins as they are walking. The "horse" should try to maintain this motion while the "driver" works
through the exercises below. The horse should observe and verbalize the differences to the driver as they make the
changes. Sometimes the horse will feel that the reins are heavier, or lighter, stiff or sloppy. Sometimes the horse
instinctively stops moving the reins all together when the driver stops following.
The "driver" should follow the reins, trying to maintain contact without limiting the motion of the horse. The driver
should pay attention to what the horse says, and try to make changes to improve what the horse feels. You'll feel that
in certain positions that's easy to do, but other positions it's very difficult to get positive feedback from the person
playing the horse. Don’t get frustrated with your "horse" if they aren't telling you what you want to hear. If anyone
(horse or driver) says something like "You're pulling really hard," avoid the temptation to say "No I'm not!" Check to
see what you are doing, and take this as an opportunity to learn.
Rotation of the forearm.
One thing that has a profound effect on contact is the rotation of the forearm and position of the elbows. Try following
the contact with your forearm in different stages of rotation. Start with the palms facing the ground. Move along for
five or ten "strides" then rotate your hands 90 degrees. Ask the horse if they feel something change. Go back and
forth between the two positions to see which feels softer to the horse.
Continued on Page 4
Long Lines
Page 4
Email News
Hello,
Please let your members know about the 5th Driving Forum
coming this spring: March 13 & 14, 2010
The Driving Forum, The Premier Carriage Driving Conference &
Tradeshow The Courtyard by Marriot, Nashua, NH
www.driving-forum.com
Two days of educational driving classroom sessions and driving
related vendors onsite for all of your driving needs. Learn, shop,
network - get ready for the driving season ahead.
New this year is a combined conference and tradeshow floor with
one low entry fee of $14 a day including parking, kids under 18
are free! Topics will include driving on a shoestring budget and
local driving opportunities. Hope to see you there!
-The Driving Forum
Here is something new to do
with your horse!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqVLY8YfbEo
&NR=1
Available: TB gelding available, healthy,
sound and barefoot, no special needs. Looking
for companion or pleasure home. Retired show
hunter. Gets along very well with others. Can live
in run-in situation. 860-460-3603
Follow the Leader
Continued From Page 3
Now take this to the next level. When you face
your palms towards the ground, put your elbows
out like chicken wings. When the hands turn 90
degrees, drop the elbows, so they point to the
ground. The difference should be even clearer to
the person playing the horse now.
More subtly, change between holding the reins in
a fist, with a closed thumb, to holding them well
out on the fingers, with an open hand and the
thumb not touching the hand or reins at all.
Next, let's see how hand height affects the feel of
a rein. Start with your hands very low, close to
the lap as near to the belly as you can without
touching it (for some this may be further away
than others!) From there, keep your hands low,
but move them far forward, even in front of the
knees.
From there, experiment with the hands higher,
about even with the diaphragm, close to the body
then farther away. Then raise them high, even
with your collar bones. Again, experiment with
how the distance from your body affects how the
person on the other end of the reins perceives
your contact.
Cart Decorated for the holidays! Submitted by Michael Axelrod
Members, please send in your stories, events,
photographs, and other news for the January newsletter!
Send in anything about the club, horses, driving or
members! If you have an idea for a mini series or
something else, let the editor know. Don’t be shy! All
submissions can be sent to
[email protected].
Last, but certainly not least, change your body
positions to see how that affects things. Try
leaning forward, and back. Roll your shoulders
up and back, then slump into a deep hunch.
Even the amount of weight you press into one
foot or another can affect the quality of your
contact.
Trade between being the horse and the driver
with each new exercise you do. Talk about the
changes you feel, and even see if you can trick
one another into doing something different as
they try to follow or lead. You'll be surprised how
much you can learn in this simple exercise. If
nothing else it will lead to a few good laughs!
Page 5
Looking Ahead at the Long Island
Museum
Contact: Julie Diamond
631-751-0066 X248 / [email protected]
Submitted by Anne Albee
Stony Brook, NY …December 16, 2009 … The Long Island
Museum in Stony Brook will close its doors for the months
of January and February in preparation for all new galleries
and exhibitions coming in March. Museum education
programs will continue through the renovation period and
the administration building will remain open Tuesday
through Friday. All museum staff will continue on a regular
schedule.
“Traditionally January and February are slow attendance
months for the museum,” stated museum President and
CEO, Jackie Day. “Temporarily closing the museum to
visitors will allow us the time we need to complete gallery
renovations and facility upgrades to the Carriage Museum.”
Plans for the Carriage Museum include two new galleries:
The Gentleman’s Coach House and European Vehicle
Gallery. Exhibition designers will recreate the interior of a
th
19 century Coach House with typical period vehicles, a
fully equipped tack room and sleeping quarters that would
have been occupied by stable boys and groomsmen.
Many of the carriages driven by wealthy Americans during
th
the 19 century were styled after the luxury vehicles of old
world Europe. Most of the vehicles that will be on display
in the European Vehicle Gallery were used by aristocrats or
high officials. Four were owned by Prince Adalbert of
Bavaria. The Long Island Museum acquired them in 1966
and they have not been on display for many years.
Additional changes at the museum include relocation of
exhibition activity to one side of Route 25A, enabling
visitors to experience the entire museum on one side of the
road. This cost cutting measure is the result of a boardapproved budget plan last spring that will reduce operating
expenses during challenging economic times.
Finally, a new exhibition on America’s Kitchens, tracing 200
years in the evolution of the American kitchen will be on
display in the Art Museum. This exhibition will open in
early March and continue, with several related programs
and events through October of 2010.
Located at 1200 Route 25A in Stony Brook, the Long Island
Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate, dedicated to American
history and art with a Long Island connection. The museum
is open Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Sunday from noon to 5. Regular admission is $9 per
person, $7 for seniors and $4 for students ages six to 17.
The museum will be open during regular hours through
December 27. For information about other exhibitions and
programs please call 631-751-0066 or visit
www.longislandmuseum.org.
Long Lines
Photos from the 2009 CVDC Holiday Party!
Submitted by Marguerite Hayber
A special Thanks to Marguerite and Bob for hosting and
also a special thanks to the members for attending!
JEFF MORSE
CVDC Spring Tune-Up
CARRIAGE DRIVING CLINIC
Sun., March 21, 2010
8:00am – 5:30pm
High Hopes, Lyme, CT
Photo: Denlore Photo
SBS Risky Business ~ 2006 New England Morgan Horse Show ~ Jeff Morse, whip
Jeff Morse is a nationally known competitor, trainer, clinician, author and Morgan Horse breeder, with
over 30 years of experience. He specializes in training horses and their people for carriage driving. Jeff
works with all levels of drivers to make driving a safe and enjoyable experience. The American Morgan
Horse Association named Jeff ‘Man of the Year’ in 2004.
At the clinic Jeff will teach on an individual basis, one horse at a time for 45 minutes. During your clinic
time you can choose what you would like to work on:
•
•
•
Harness fitting and hitching to perfection
Ground driving and improving communication
Regular driving for pleasure or competition



CVDC Members $60, first dibs through January 20th
Non-members $80 on a first come, first serve basis after January 20th
Auditors: CVDC members $5 or a potluck lunch contribution, non-members $10/day
High Hopes has a spacious indoor arena with non-dusty footing and a heated observation suite with
seating. Bathrooms, vending machines, and large center aisles for grooming and harnessing are some of
the features -- just a lovely facility with easy in-and-out and parking for trailers. Stalls are @ $35/day if you
would like one. A complimentary potluck lunch for auditors and particpants will be served around noon.
We expect the sessions to fill up quickly, so reserve your spot early: Send check made
out to CVDC, Coggins and Rabies Certificate to Marguerite Hayber, 109 Chittenden Rd., Amston, CT
06231 // 860-267-6552 / [email protected]
This is a non-profit educational opportunity sponsored by the Connecticut Valley Driving Club.
Directions and additional instructions will be supplied upon registration. Thank you!
Our Major Gifts Donor
8
Dressage Ring Sponsor
Cones Course Sponsor
9
Sponsor of Obstacle 1 – “Garden Party”
Sponsor of Obstacle #1 VSE – “Gnome Home”
10
Sponsor of Obstacle 2 – “The Barnyard”
Obstacle 3 – “The Maze” – Trinity Carriage
11
Obstacle #4 Sponsor – “God Bless the USA”
Best Dressage Score Sponsor
12
Official Grounds Vehicle Sponsor
13
Long Lines
January 2010
www.cvdrivingclub.com
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