September 2009

Pam Hess writes:  I thought I would share with the WRCA some pictures of our draft hitch
ponies at the Ashtabula County Fair! Curtis and I brought 4 ponies to that fair and 9
ponies to Geauga Fair, but don’t have any pictures from Geauga yet. I have been trying
for YEARS to get a good picture of our 6-up, and I finally got it!. The lead ponies are
Prissy and Ara, the swing ponies are two of my brother-in-law’s haflingers, and the
wheelers are our Vision and Jay. The unicorn is our Vision and Jay on the wheel and Ara
is the leader. Of course, Curtis is driving and I am sitting beside him on the wagon.



















August 2009

Kristin Sullivan writes:  "Caleigh made it into the Sun Courier paper with her win in the
mini obstacle class (at the Brecksville Kiwanis Horseshow- http://www.cleveland.
com/sunnews/index.ssf/2009/08/brecksville_kiwanis_horse_show.html    I drove at
Brecksville and won the cones class and the ladies to drive welsh class with my mare
Madoc Betsy Ross. We also went to the Portage horse show where we placed and had
lots of fun. Caleigh has been driving in the junior division and doing well. She mostly
rides in the shows, but I sometimes get her to show in the driving class.

We competed at our first CDE at Hale Farm. The Burrows did a great job at hosting this
event.  Everyone was so  nice and informative. There were so many volunteers at this
event. Thanks to all of them.  We had a great time. This was the first time ever for me and
for my pony. We drove a dressage test and we were not eliminated. Cones was great
fun. The  marathon was too fun. We were eliminated at our first hazard, but we kept  
going and finished. What an accomplishment I felt when it was over!"


June 2009

Margaret Shenker writes:   "I joined Western Reserve two years ago and had the good
fortune to become friends with Beverly Patrick from Beaver Falls, PA.  Since I am from
Mercer, PA we jokingly formed the Pennsylvania chapter of WRCA.  Bev loves, loves
driving in Combined Driving Events and she got me interested.  I usually ride an Arabian
saddleseat so I was such a novice that she started last fall by coming to my house and
explaining where the letters are located in the dressage ring!  I did some practice driving
with my Haflinger, Lily, and headed off to the WRCA clinic with Andy Marcoux in Licking
Park, Oh in September 2008.  We did ok there but Andy did remark that I drove the
dressage test like a Haflinger road pony class and to slow it down 1000 %!
This past May I went to the Gala Combined Driving Event in Georgetown, KY and had a
wonderful time, met great people and had the good fortune to be second in the Pony
Training class.  Just last weekend I once again set out to compete and went to the Elk
Creek CDE in Maryland.  This time we won our Pony Training class and had the thrill of
winning the training division dressage award.  Such fun!
Sure, I'm telling you this to brag a little because I am so happy and pleased but I also
want to encourage others to try this sport.  Bev was the speaker at one of our meetings
this spring and she explained the procedure and the rules to everyone.  I think she didn't
stress the fun and excitement quite enough!  


November 2008
Many WRCA members have been busy showing this summer!  See below for
first place ribbons won by our members in the Metamora Pleasure Driving
Show (as report in Driving Digest 11/08)

Marlene Badura - VSE Timed Competition, VSE Cross Country Obstacles, Dressage
Training Level 2 VSE
Mary Thomas - Novice Working, Novice Turnout
Stacy Giere - Small Pony Reinsmanship
Merideth Giere -Pair/Tandem Pony-Fault out, Pair/Tandem Pony Turnout

WRCA members:   Help us share your success and let us know how you did in shows,
CDE's etc this year!!.



October 2008

Donna Crookston and RG Cowboy's Black Cadillac were the winners of the
FEI single-horse division at the Lexington Combined Driving Classic.  Read
the article in the
October edition of the CAA Carriage Post

Other articles for this event along with photos can be found here


September 2008
Several WRCA Members traveled to Walnut Hill!
CLICK HERE for more info!


See video from the world singles championship in Jantrow, Poland.  WRCA's
Donna Crookston's marathon performance can be viewed on Click Marathon
part 1
Jantrow 2008 Video



August 2008

Congratulations to Donna Crookston with her Morgan gelding RG Cowboys
Black Cadillac for placing 44th in the  2008 FEI World Singles Driving
Championship  held in Jarantow, Poland August 28-31, 2008.  The US team
finished 11th.  Interested in reading more information about   Donna and the
US Team in Jantrow.  Click here   to read the daily blog!


Member News from Walnut Hill

Meryl Hossfeld and his pair of Welsh Ponies (Wild Wings Kentucky
Thunder and Wild Wings Summer Magic) showed in the Large Pony Pair
division at Walnut Hill.  They were first in their Presentation Pleasure Drive,
2nd in Reinsmanship, 3rd in their Turnout class, and 6th in their Cross
Country Obstacles.  Meryl also showed in the Old Guard class with his
Arabian Ebony Dreamweaver, earning a 5th.

Mary Thomas' reports on her experience at Walnut Hill:  "My pony,
Shepherd's Purse Sweet Gale (Dartmoor) was 6th in a large class of Small
Single Pony Turnouts.  We made it through the Cross Country Obstacles
without mishap, but were too slow to finish in the ribbons.  Gale is a four year
old and I haven't pushed her for speed.  We're still working on learning all
this new stuff.  I drove the cones wrong (driver error again) and there were
better drivers in our reinsmanship class.  I was thrilled to have placed in just
one class.  What a wonderful show!  I couldn't have planned a better
vacation."


July 2008 News

Betty Campbell  reports- "My horse "Red", Mikaela`s Above N Beyond,The
horse in the add to sell the cart is shown winning our first class A show.He
was the High point carriage horse winner at this years Morgan  Regional
Championship Gold Cup Horse Show with wins in Reinsmanship and
Gambler`s choice,2nd in times cones,and 3rds in turnout and working . I`m
so proud of him.He is making the transition from show pleasure driving to
carriage and we`re having a wonderful time.We still have much to learn.
Thanks go to Peach Schillmiller for all her training, help and encouragement,
and also to Lisa Singer for all those wonderful clinics,As well as to all the
members of WRCA for all your help."


JUNE 2008 NEWS

The opening act at the 2008 Equine Affaire Pfizer Fantasia was the amazing
Ohio Haflinger Assoc. Driven Drill Team!!  WRCA's own Heather Raw was a
member of this incredible team
Click here to see their performance!

WRCA Board Member Mary Thomas was featured on the WBGU-TV
program 60 Plus on April 10th. Click here to see Mary's interview  4/10/08 -
Riding Sidesaddle with Mary Thomas

Member Kristen Sullivan was interviewed by Channel 5's Alicia Booth.  
Kristen described how she cared for a one pound infant who was in the NICU
at Metro Hospital for 148 days
WRCA MEMBER NEWS!!