New Moon Carriage Classic Prize List Online

It's done! At last! Now I can move on to something else! Thank all the Gods I've been praying to!

http://www.hossbiz.com/New%20Moon/NMCC10.html

Go see for yourselves! Fill in the entry form! Send it to me! We are going to have a super spectacular show!

Also a big shout out to Theresa Burns for all her assistance on publishing the PL, converting it multiple times into a PDF for me because my antiquated software wouldn't.

And WELCOME to Theresa and Harley Weyer to the show committee! Hurray! And WELCOME to Howard Kietzke as NMCC Announcer!

I am so excited!

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Backstepping at Skunk River

One of my friends once commented that combined driving events looked like motocross with horses. This weekend at Skunk River Driving Trial it seemed like he was right on the mark. With all the rain we've been having lately, the Wellies worked overtime and Tim Maloy would have been in filming heaven. The horses, the vehicles and especially, the backsteppers were covered in mud, head to toe.

The course at 3G Farms is quite challenging and pretty, with lots of rolling hills, an idyllic water crossing and tight turns around trees. The hazards are well designed with interesting angles and complex gates. You can tell that a great deal of thought, care and work has gone into this course and it sits well into its surroundings with a very organic feel.

Gaining experience as a backstepper [OK: navigator. I just don't think that has as much kudos as backstepper] is a great way to get a perspective from the back of the vehicle. As a whip, it gives me a unique insight into how I drive or rather how I should drive. I also have even greater respect for those individuals who keep the vehicle on track and on the ground. Today, I did not want to end up on the ground, or rather in the mud. Thakfully, I stayed on the backstep.

Humidity was an additional trial, too. Some of the horses came in from the marathon puffing and all of them very hot. Bless them, with the muddy conditions, pulling the vehicles on a challenging course was even tougher. Slather on the humidity and it was hard going. Thankfully, there was a slightly overcast sky, a whisper of a breeze and cool showers to refresh all the equines. Not to forget to mention the bevy of volunteers it takes to put on a combined driving event, who have to sit in the sun or be eaten alive by mosquitoes to do their jobs.

The show was not without incidents, but these were handled with apparent seamlessness, which, of course is the hallmark of a really great show. So, a big "Thank You" and "Congratulations" to BITS [Best of Iowa in Traces Society], everyone at 3G Farm, and all the volunteers for their endeavors to make Skunk River Driving Trial a show of which we can be very proud.

Kind Regards,

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Ode To Columbus Carriage Classic

The 2010 Columbus Carriage Classic is now history and what a lovely show it was. Organizer Nancy Osterhaus and her team continued the tradition of excellence that is synonymous with the show. The pork dinner was sublime as always, the Caribbean pool party was a nice addition to social activities and highlighted the gorgeous pool that we'd never seen before, but sat at the edge of the show. Frey Carriage Company held their annual reception on Saturday night, which is ever a treat for the carriage driving fraternity with great vehicles, accessories and accouterments on display. The weather held for us and gave us excellent driving under sometimes sunny, sometimes overcast skies with a soft breeze.

But what must stand out above all else is the company. We were stabled with Milady Martha Stover [who could not win a ribbon that wasn't blue, and took Concours d'Elegance Honors with the superlative Lisa, her welsh pony] and the Zaettas, Marilyn and Jerry [who we are now energetic fans of], Vicki and Jim Bodoh and Micheal Scott. Reuben and Florence Franz were there to greet us and looked after my family who came to watch on Saturday by giving them their extra sponsorship passes. Lucy was on high social butterfly deportment and endeared herself into the hearts of many. [In fact, Lucy spent two nights in a hotel, while I camped.]

Laurie Renda and Harold Ault helped Don Pecos and I through the show with very respectable placings in an insanely hard Open Horse Division. It seemed everyone was at the top of their game and I think we did a fine job of impressing the Canadian judges with our Midwestern carriage horses. I know I was proud to be in such good company in and out of the show ring.

I spent a bit of time drumming up entires for New Moon Carriage Classic and the response was very positive. The date, one week after Villa Louis, is a sticking point, of course, but after giving my pitch to those who were dubious, they warmed to the idea. I certainly hope that I can put on as good a show as Nancy did last week. Between Columbus and Villa Louis, I have a high bar to achieve.

Thanks to everyone who made the Columbus Carriage Classic possible. Your hard work and determination are not lost on the Serendipity team. I look forward to returning next year. Alas, that is all the time I have for reminiscing on to Skunk River this weekend, North Star next week and Metamora the week after that. Blogs many be few and far between, but I'll try to write at least a couple.

Hope you are enjoying the summer so far.

Kind Regards,

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

The Road To Columbus

Lucy Fur at 2009 Columbus Carriage Classic

Wisconsin. To the Columbus Carriage Classic, which is this weekend. Don Pecos and I have been working very diligently to get ready for the highly competitive Open Horse Division. When I started showing in carriage driving, I always had time to get the horse supremely ready for the show. Nowadays, it seems not. I constantly say to myself, "I wish I had two more weeks."

Don Pecos is buff as he's ever been. His coat is like copper glass. Inside his little body, the big engine purrs. My one concern: he is stiff as a board in harness. I cannot get this boy to bend. And I know he can, because he is like a corkscrew when I ride him. And in the pair, he was, at times beautifully bending. I've gone over and over this in my mind to discover what is the problem and or the solution. I'm getting nowhere on this puzzle.

I call in the big gun, my dear Theresa Burns who tells me it is nowhere hear as bad as I make it seem and all will be well. I feel so sorry for people who don't have Theresa Burns in their lives. So, Lucy, Don Pecos, and I are off on Wednesday to Laurie Renda's to teach some lessons, meet Harold Ault and break up the long haul to Columbus. Then on Thursday in Columbus we will join my other dear friend Martha Stover, her glorious Welsh pony: Lisa, along with Vicki and Jim Bodoh, Micheal Scott and a host of other carriage friends.

Added bonus this year: my brother and his family along with my Dad [who is traveling up to Chicago from Kentucky-yeah, that is strange; but related to the Nut Farm business] are going to join the group and camp with us for the weekend. For the first time in many years, we will spend Father's Day with Dad. At a horse show. I'm sure Dad is thrilled. But I certainly am.

Columbus, Ho!

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Accidental Sagacity: Adult Riders

"No hour in the saddle is wasted." Winston Churchill

The days of summer, although longer in the sun's perspective are always too short from mine. The warm weather has brought several new clients to the Serendipity riding lesson curriculum and I've seen accidental sagacity at work. These women all have the horse love gene and have been riding for years. They found Serendipity through a desire to be better riders for their horses. What they discover about themselves out of the saddle is an added bonus.

Self awareness is the foundation of a good rider. Balance in the saddle, mental focus and an understanding of form and function are so important and seldom taught in riding lessons. How often have you heard an instructor say, "Heels down!" with no explanation? The most common result of this instruction is to push the foot forward to drop the heel, compromising the leg position under the rider's seat. "Shoulders back!" seldom opens up the solar plexus to improve coordination and balance between the rider and the horse.

So often I see riders struggling with their own bodies while riding. Their ankles are over extended, lower legs in front of the girth, pelvis tipped backwards, spine at a forty five degree angle in front of their hips, shoulders collapsing on the rib cage, with the whole shebang compromising the function of the spine. Yet, they labor on because of the horse love gene. They say to me with legitimate concern, "My horse is really stiff on this side/direction." "My horse won't step out at the walk/trot." "My horse has trouble bending."

When they begin to understand how to use their body to accommodate the physics of movement and participate effectively, the horse 'magically' supples, steps out and bends. At the end of the lesson the horse looks at me and lets out a big sigh. The rider is ecstatic. Whenever I am confronted with this, my heart goes all a flutter and I fall in love with my own life's work all over again.

This week, I got the equivalent of a dozen roses and a box of chocolates from my work. One of these gals sent me an email saying she was practicing good posture all day long and she had grown an inch since her lesson. [I'll bet anything her friends will secretly surmise that she's had cosmetic surgery.] Another wanted to cancel a lesson because she had a really bad day at work, but didn't. She left the barn after her lesson smiling, relaxed and said, "Wow. I was having a bad day. Now it is a good day."

That is accidental sagacity on its finest form.

Kind Regards,

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.

Promoting the Sport of Carriage Driving

When I tell someone I do carriage driving, the first thing that comes to their mind is a white Victoria parked outside a church waiting for the bride and groom. The second thing is an old Vis a vis parked outside the state capital or in Central Park. I've started saying that I do competition carriage driving and that seems to spark their imagination. But it seems that those of us who participate and are passionate about this sport need to get together and develop a marketing strategy to build awareness for carriage driving.

I was discussing this last night with Harold Ault, Theresa Burns and Harley Weyer over dinner and wine. [Always the best way to get an idea blooming!] It was a fascinating conversation, not simply because of the quality of the company, but also because of the diversity of driving experience around the table. Harold, of course is the carriage collector and has been parked out in front of the church and the capital on many occasions, in the typical person's knowledge of carriage driving. Theresa has been involved in carriage driving pleasure shows and combined driving events and has considerable experience driving multiples. Harley came to horses after a lifetime of wanting them and now has a team of draft horses that he uses to farm his land. [Which is probably about the coolest thing. Ever.]

We agreed that educating the public about the history, and the subsequent evolution of the sport was the key to bringing more people to it. Did we solve the problem of how to do it? Well, we have a start and that is the New Moon Carriage Classic to be held in Perry, IA on September 18 &19, 2010. Because the city of Perry has been so enthusiastic about hosting the show, we must take this opportunity to draw in the crowds and wow them. As organizers of a carriage driving event, there are so many details to attend to, that often the promotion to a wider audience is an after thought. Not in this case. We are dedicated to a bigger picture while putting on the finest show possible for exhibitors, for spectators, for Perry.

If you have special skills or talents that might help us achieve this end, please let us know. Come be a part of carriage driving history that is thriving today and striving for tomorrow.

Kind Regards,

Michelle Blackler

Serendipity

www.hossbiz.com

Serendipity is an Accidental Sagacity Corporation company.