Sandtracks

PO Box 282
Southern Pines, NC 28388 

MCDC's Jacob Arnold named by USEF
Young Equestrian of the Year!

from a USEF announcement:

Jacob Arnold has embraced the sport of combined driving with maturity beyond his years and has quickly become a young force with which to be reckoned. From the age of eight, Arnold immediately took to the sport - one that traditionally boasts an older demographic. Today, he is already producing top results and represents an exciting future for his sport.

He started his combined driving competition career driving the family's Morgan mare, Spring Hollow Dark Shadow, in the Training Level Single Horse division, when he was 14. He progressed through the ranks to the FEI level in February 2010, two weeks after turning 17. One year later, he won his first Single Horse CAI (International Combined Driving competition) two weeks after turning 18 at the CAI-B Little Everglades International CDE at in Dade City, FL. He has had a meteoric rise in a sport that takes decades to master.

Arnold spent part of the past summer in Europe gaining valuable experience while competing at the CAIO in Hungary and serving as groom at the World Pony Championships in Slovenia. Through the USEF/USET training sessions, he has been afforded instruction from some of the world's top drivers. His hard work and determination has earned him an invitation to compete at the Arctic Equestrian Games International Single Driving Challenge in Oslo, Norway, in February 2012. USEF Driving Coach Michael Freund described Arnold's Cones driving as "unbelievable," adding, "You won't hear me say that very often."

Continuing in his pursuit of excellence, Arnold is now working toward his goal of being a member of the U.S. Team for the FEI World Singles Driving Championship in 2012. 

Saturday, December 10th
Christmas Carriage Parade

Bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine favored the Moore County Driving Club Christmas Carriage Parade on Saturday, December 10, 2011.  Twenty-three turnouts joined the festivities, ranging in size from a multi-passenger sleigh to a "Driver in Training" on foot, long-lining a miniature horse.  Cindy Reilly's elf vehicle took the prize for "Best Carriage," but there were many remarkable turnouts, including an appearance by Pat Belskie and her Santa's Workshop rig, last year's winner, and Abby Shultis with Lina as an equine Santa Claus. 

Observers crowded both sides of Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines, listening to Larry Martin announce the approaching turnout and showing their appreciation with applause and calls of Merry Christmas.  After 2010's rainy drudgery, 2011's parade was nothing but a pleasure to drive.

And though the particpants didn't need drying out this year, they were again offered the opportunity for food and fellowship afterward as Tom and Eleanor Gallagher once again opened their home for a post-parade brunch.  Delicious food and drink and a gracious setting--inside and outside!--made for a perfect cool down after the hard work of getting ready for the event.  Thanks to the Gallaghers for their welcome hospitality!

From very large... 

 Jacob drives four in hand in the Southern Pines Christmas Parade.

December Meeting
and Christmas Party

The 2011 MCDC Christmas Party was held at the Little River Country Club on December 11, 2011. 

Talk of the carriage parade the day before filled the room.  Cindy O'Reilly took the honors for "Best Carriage" while Kathy Nekin got an honorable mention as the "Driver in Training" entry with her mini Pistachio.  The judges decided they really couldn't count her in the contest because technically there was no carriage.  But she was clearly a crowd favorite.  It was obvious that all the participants put in a lot of time conditioning and decorating their carriages, an effort which was much appreciated by the large turnout of townspeople watching.

Bob Cook passed the hat for donations to the Sandhills Food Bank and collected a total of $401 dollars.  Mr. Cotton, director of the food bank, was thrilled about the donation and confirmed that for every dollar given to the food bank, they could provide 8 dollars in food or four meals; in other words, a total of $3208 provided by MCDC members that night.

Mary Ellen Bailey displayed the full line of club clothing at the party, with lots of new items available for Christmas presents.  Contact her at 910-245-3546 if you would like to do some shopping.

The evening owed its  success to the hard work of Floreen Maroncelli and her committee.  Over 100 people enjoyed the room, the service and  the food.  Thanks go to all involved for doing such a great job!

Somewhere...Somewhere in time's Own Space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some Paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.

Stanley Harrison

...to very small. 

Calendar

Jan 1
New Year's Fun Drive
Mike and Ilene Keatley's (910-245-2915)

DTM Frostbite Series

Fun Drive Spring Series

May 5-6
Carolina Carriage Club HDT
Windridge Farm, Rutherford County, NC
Alicia Henderson, windridge@ioa.com

May Pleasure Show
The Carriage Classic in the Pines
May 18, 19, 20
Big Sky Farm  

Carolina Carriage Club
HDT

May 5-6, 2012

The 2012 CCC HDT is going to be as great as our HDTs have been in the past but this year with some twists.  Our new date is May 5-6, so we can get away from the heat in early June.  We will be between Southern Pines CDE and the Gayla CDE, so you can still do all your favorite events. 

Our new location is Windridge Farm in Rutherford Co, NC.  There are nice housing options about as close as the Days Inn in Columbus, and all of the resturant chains and big box stores for whatever you may   need.  Windridge Farm is a beautiful established farm with rolling old turf footing everywhere.  No gravel road, no overpass, no road crossing.  We at CCC have been enjoying the use of this lovely facility at our Mini HDT and our recent ADT. 

Our other change is due to the change in date.  Margo Savage who had been our secretary for years, has   had to bow out because of a conlict in date with her HT.  Our new secretary is Carol Ann Burns, 2806 Metric Rd, Laurens, SC 29360 and she is looking forward to receiving your entries. 

We are also thrilled at ADS has approved the new rule for single small ponies, under 11.3h, to go on the marathon without a navigator.  We are looking for lots of small pony entries to show ADS what a great move this was and what these little go ponies can do. 

Feel free to contact Alicia Henderson, windridge@ioa.com, Price Story, p_story@bellsouth.net or Carol Ann Burns, cabooh@aol.com with any questions.     

Laurels at Landhope CDE Ends Its Run

from the Carriage Association of America Newsletter 

After twenty-five years as a featured equestrian event on the Delaware Valley fall schedule, the Laurels at Landhope is ending its run. Led by Jamie O'Rourke, of Unionville, Pa., for much of the last two decades, the event grew from its roots as a small schooling driving trial to international recognition by the FEI and to its selection as the site of multiple USEF National Championships. In 2002, the event moved from Unionville to Landhope Farm in West Grove, which was designed specifically for combined driving events.

There is still strong interest in continuing to host a driving event at the site on the same dates. A committee headed by Lisa Stroud, Lisa Singer, and Newt Brosius is planning a new show called the Willow Glen Combined Driving Event, which will be open to preliminary-, intermediate-, and advanced-level competitors in 2013.

Stroud said, "We plan to use 2012 to make a fresh start. The new committee will use the time to plan a competitor-friendly event and to try to generate the enthusiastic support that has made the Laurels at Landhope such a great success for so many years. We will hold a driving event on the same dates in 2012 but as yet we're not sure what format it will be." Stroud went on to say that everyone associated with the Laurels owes O'Rourke a huge thank you for his dedication and leadership.

During its tenure, the Laurels at Landhope has donated more $260,000 to its beneficiaries: the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, the Large Animal Protection Society, the Brandywine Conservancy, and the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy.

Next Up...

Paper Chase Drive
January 1, 2012

Nubbin Ridge Farm
Vass, NC

9 am -- 1 pm

Start out the new year with a fun morning's drive at Mike and Ilene Keatley's Nubbin Ridge Farm.  The format will be the same as last year: a 5-6 km drive during which each carriage will gather pieces of candy to mark their course.  Every turnout completing the drive will receive a certificate of achievement.  Emphasis in this event is on good cheer and a good time with horses.  No dressy carriage is required; the terrain is cross-country style.  Parking is available along Causey Rd. in front of Doug and Linnae Spence's farm and on Nubbin Ridge Rd.  So set your alarm clock and get yourself and your rig to Nubbin Ridge for a drive through the fresh, frosty woods on New Year's Day!

Spring Flings

Abby Shultis and the Board would like to offer a series of fun drives this spring, to be scheduled after the Frostbite Series and before the Carriage Classic in the Pines.  These events would range from a day of games for horse and carriage to a mock pleasure show designed to give inexperienced drivers a chance to learn the ropes.  A pot-luck meal/cross country drive is also a possibility.

This is a call for volunteers to help plan and execute the spring drives.  The Frostbite volunteers put in a lot of effort, often in cold conditions, to make their events successful and educational for participants.  We would like a different set of folks to work on the spring drives to give the Frostbite crew a well-deserved rest.

If you would be willing to work on these purely fun excursions, please call Abby Shultis (910-245-7850) as soon as possible, so plans can begin to take shape!

Tom Gallagher deals with parade details. 

MCDC Officers and Board Members

President: David Frump           
 910-902-1296
davidf618@aol.com