WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY DRIVING A CARRIAGE HORSE? HERE’S YOUR OPPORTUNITY
The question is how to get started, how to put a foot in the water without jumping in over your head!
To try the carriage driving experience we invite you to attend a weekend beginner clinic sponsored by the Saratoga Driving Association in cooperation with the American Driving Society. The clinic will be held July 17 and 18 at Green Meads Farm in Richmond, MA. Jeff Morse, who has 30 years of experience in training carriage horses and carriage drivers, will supervise the clinic. Jeff currently chairs the Pleasure Driving Committee of the American Driving Society.
This clinic is especially designed for older participants (>55 years) with time and resources to consider this sport. A past history of horse experience is a plus, but not essential. The clinic will be limited to six individuals, so each person has a chance to drive multiple times, experiencing a range of horses from 16 hand Morgans to ten hand minis. All drivers will start out with Jeff, and later an experienced assistant will drive with them.
Between driving lessons, discussions will be held on:
Recreational driving at home or in organized groups. - Pleasure driving competitions - Combined driving events Distance driving - Sleigh rallies
Shelter – feeding – exercise - feet trimming and shoeing - veterinary care
A safe driving horse - a working harness - a suitable start-up carriage
American Driving Society - Regional driving clubs - Useful publications and websites
The costs of this sport will be frankly discussed. They obviously vary tremendously between recreational driving and competitive driving. At the end of the clinic every effort will be made to outline the appropriate next step for those participants who want to go further.
The cost of the clinic is $200. This includes Saturday night accommodation and all meals. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please contact:
Jeff Morse Green Meads Farm - 236 Perry Peak Rd. - Richmond, MA 10254 Home: 413 698 3804 Cell: 413.822.9462 greenmeads@gmail.com
Lyn Howard 8 Sluyter Rd. - Poestenkill, NY 12140 Home: 518 674 8582 Cell: 518.577.4939 Jalexa56@gmail.com DOWNLOAD: Registration Form |
Many folks, especially those with a strong equestrian background, turn to carriage driving in their later years. Driving extends the opportunity to work and compete with horses, and perhaps because they tend to be older, horse drivers are very friendly and helpful to each other.