Bliss & Johnson Take Top Honors at Walnut Hill Pleasure Driving Show

Anne & Ned Bliss' turnout of Palomino Welsh Ponies took high honors at Walnut Hill (August 13 - 17). Due to recent surgery, Anne drove only one class, The Old Guard, which she won handily. Marc Johnson drove the Pony Unicorn/4-in-Hand and Tandem divisions, to take the Championship in both, as well as Concours d'Elegance and Best Gentleman's Turnout on the Sunday Drive.

Johnson explained the ponies, Midi, Kanga, Tommy and Echo, "were all wonderful to drive and made it possible to edge out Katie Whaley, who has set the standard for this show for many years."

On August 2 & 3, 2008, the Saratoga Driving Association hosted the Saratoga Carriage Classic at the Berkshire Equestrian Center (www.berkshireequestriancenter.com) in Richmond, MA. The pleasure show featured ring classes, cones classes, and an arena driving trial course. The show also served as a fund raiser for Robin Groves, who will be representing the US in the World Singles Championship in Poland this year. Myopia Driving Club Member Susan Koso officiated over the obstacle courses. Club members Letizia Peyla and Anne Burkhardt competed. For results, see the ADS website or the Saratoga Driving Association website.

For photos, go to http://www.shootthathorse.com/

For several Myopia Driving Club members, Waldingfield HDT marks the start of the combined driving season. On July 13, club members Alan Aulson, Kaylee Angstadt, Nancy Slombo, Sarah Green, Letizia Peyla, and Anne Burkhardt competed in the Waldingfield event organized by Holly Pulsifer. For a complete list of the competitors and the results, please refer to the American Driving Society website. Club members and potential club members fared well in the final standings. Some photos of participants are posted on the Myopia Driving Club website. Lisa Cenis of Shoot That Horse Photography was the official event photographer. You can access some of her photos from the event at her website..links.

The event proceeded smoothly (and safely, with no incidents!) and credit goes to Holly for her strategic planning and coordination of the many volunteers. Ah, the volunteers: an impressive group whose generous donation of time and effort deserve recognition. The following list reveals the complexity of running a driving event. Please give thanks to these generous people when you see them.

Volunteer Positions: Waldingfield Driving Trial, 2008

Office & Desk: Judy Gregg, Bunny Nutter

Awards: Bunny Nutter

Announcer: Bob Koopman, assistant - Diane Koopman

Dressage Steward: Fred Sullivan

Cones steward: David Smith

Marathon steward: Holly Pulsifer

Grounds: Nat Pulsifer, Lucien Locke, Will Griswold

Medical: Kit Gregg

Dressage Judge: Natasha Grigg, Holly Pulsifer (Intermediate)

Dressage Scribe: Katrina Hart

Dressage Scribe: (Intermediates Only): Terri Smith

Ring master: Dressage: Terri Smith

Alternate judge: Margot Clark

Cones Course Designer: Marc Johnson

Cones Judge: Susan Koso

Cones Scribes: Pam Biggi, Kathy Burroughs

Carriage Measurer: Fred Sullivan

Ring Master: Cones: David Smith

Cones pushers: Sara Jones, The Sprouse Family, Kayla Burroughs, Laurie MacAleer, Judy Thurston, Amy Paul, Jamou Howard, Amanda Smith, Alice Winthrop, Clare Williams, Will Griswold, John Greenbaum, Jake Carey

Score Runner: Holly Pulsifer, Kayla Burroughs

Judges picnic: Julie Frenz

ECTA Café: Kay Joseph, Sue McLaughlin

Start of E: Kathy Burroughs, & helper - green cards, time clock, pinneys

End of E: Amy Paul, Kit Gregg - green cards, timer, collect pinneys

Hazard 1: Waldingfield Wheel: (on the "croquet court") David & Terri Smith

Hazard 2: Arthur's Arboreutum (beside main show ring) Judy Thurston, Jim Libby?, Diane Koopman

Hazard 3: Cow's Chow (Int & Prelim only) (at Timothy Barn) Wayne Castonguay , Deb Logan

Hazard 4: Fannie's Monument (Prince of Wales Ave) Ernie & Nancy Botte

Hazard 5: Hemlock Hideaway (back corner polo field Bob Koopman, Jamou Howard

Hazard 6: Polo Pines (Intermediate only) (front corner, polo field ) Kayla Burroughs, Laurie MacAleer

Alternates: Pat & Sally Cheatham

Road Crossings: (2): Nat Pulsifer, Fred Sullivan (Prince of Wales gate, Smith's main driveway)

On July 19, a small group of Myopia Driving Club members and guests gathered at Bradley Palmer State Park for a picnic drive and ride. Pam Biggi was our coordinator for the event, facilitating access into the park AND access to a hose! Fred Sullivan and Ray Morang greeted participants in the parking lot. Letizia Peyla brought Baxter and was accompanied at first by Ray and then by Megan Mulray. Anne Burkhardt brought her pony Booger and was accompanied by Clare Williams. Sue Burek and her daughter Heather drove their pony Barkley. The mother/daugther team of Paula and Erica Stroud brought their horse Big Al, who towered over all the other equines. Joan Richards rode her Arabian/Andalusian Ana and was the picture of a plantation owner riding around her estate!

It was a warm day, but a steady breeze kept the temperature comfortable and deterred the insects. The post-drive picnic allowed the participants to mingle. Photos are posted on the site.

The Orleton Farm, Eden Hill Tenth Annual Pleasure Driving Show was held on June 21 & 22, 2008 at Harvey Waller's farm in Stockbridge, MA. Marc Johnson drove Echo (owned by Anne Bliss) HC in Single Pony, Training level dressage. This was Echo's debut and he handled the situation like a little pro. Anne Burkhardt competed her pony, Mr. W.B. in the Single Pony division and was accompanied by club member Letizia Peyla. In the Carriage Dog Class, Anne and Mr. W.B. were honored to support her niece Lindsey with her Yorkshire Terrier "Murphy" on their quest for the blue. In spite of the inclement weather on Sunday, the show was a great success and a great deal of fun!

Kayla Burroughs was recently accepted to the ADS Young Driver's Camp in Southern Pines. She is one of 7 campers chosen from around the US. At the Camp (sponsored also by Claire Reid and Kelly Valdes), she will work with several US drivers who compete internationally, including: Tracy Morgan, Shelly Temple, Suzy Stafford, Kate Shields, Jennifer Matheson, and Eleanor Gallagher.

In 2007, Kayla competed Holly Pulsifer’s pony pair at Waldingfield and the Carriage Classic. She also drove them at the Lisa Singer clinic at the Carriage Barn this winter. Not only does Kayla drive the ponies, she turns them out to Pony Club standard (she's a candidate for her "B" rating).

Kayla lives in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Kayla is in her first year at
the Equine Business program at Johnson and Wales, in RI. For the last few years Kayla has worked 6 to 7 days a week to support her education, and her horse and horse interests. She chose to enlist in the National Guard to help finance her college tuition, and after 6 months training last year, now attends "drill" at least one weekend a month. Kayla plans to make a career in the horse world. The camp is a great opportunity for her to see other drivers working, to drive singles, pairs, and teams, and to meet some of our top US competitors.

On May 17th, 2008 - The weather cleared, the sun came out and the Myopia Driving Club enjoyed a wonderful picnic drive in Bradley Palmer State Forest in honor of Carriage Driving Month. President of the Club, David Smith, was the organizer and "gate guard" for the event. Participants included: Pam Biggi (riding), Judy Gregg (riding), Judy Milano (driving) and Joe Dailey (riding). Other drivers and navigators included: Kat Trembley (w/ Martha Tattersall), Deirdre Pire (w/ Alice), Jackie Kane (w/Chico), Nancy Slombo (w/ Fred Sullivan), and Anne Burkhardt (w/Joe). A picnic followed the drive and Holly Pulsifer joined in at that point, bringing us up to date with news in the driving world. Consensus: we MUST do this again and SOON!

Club Member and Co-Founder Holly Pulsifer receives 2008 USEF Pegasus Award -- The United States Equestrian Foundation, at its annual meeting, awards celebration and dinner on January 11, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky, bestowed on our Club co-founder and member Holly Pulsifer the Pegasus Medal of Honor in recognition of her lifelong work to advance the sport of carriage driving. Congratulations to Holly!

Then in the Upcoming Events:

May 17, 2008
Myopia Driving Club Picnic Drive

The Carriage Association of America and the American Driving Society, both national organizations for the promotion and preservation of horses and carriage driving, have designated this May as the first annual observance of National Carriage Driving Month. The Myopia Driving Club will be holding a May picnic drive at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, May 17th to celebrate the occasion.

The Myopia Driving Club was formed in 1976 to promote the sport of carriage driving in the Myopia Hunt Club area of Massachusetts. The Club has over 80 members ranging in age from teens to 90’s. The Club sponsors a regular annual program of activities including local pleasure driving, clinics and demonstrations.

The picnic drive will be held on May 17th with the carriages leaving at 10:30 AM from the Main Entrance parking area off Asbury Road. On their return members will be gathering for a picnic lunch. Interested drivers or horseback riders may participate as guests of Club members. For more details on the May picnic drive or for membership information: please contact David Smith, President @ 781-307-2020 or davidbryansmith@comcast.net

 

At our Annual Meeting last month, the Myopia Driving Club voted unanimously to donate from the Club treasury $500 via The Trustees of Reservations to the Appleton Farm Carriage Barn Visitors Center project. Attached is a nice "Thank You" letter from the President of TTOR for our gift. So, "Thank You" to the club members who helped make this possible by their directed contributions and their dues.

 

More information about Appleton Farms

The USET Foundation was proud to award this year’s Moore Trophy to driver and MDC Member Alan Aulson of Bronson, FL. This was the first time that Aulson has won the trophy. Alan Aulson and his team of Morgans, Nordby Coalie Duke and Meddo's Chief George, won the 2006 USEF National Horse Pairs Championship on October 6-8, 2006, at the Shady Oaks CDE in Lodi, California. Another career highlight for Aulson was his participation as a member of Team USA at the 2005 FEI World Pairs Driving Championships held in Salzburg, Austria.