Green Meads Farm

Horses with 8 Feet

2012-01-19T08:54:00.002-05:00

An 8 footed Arab. This apparently was a real horse.

Another 8 footed horse was Sleipnir, ridden by the Norse God, Odin

Troika Speed

2011-12-20T05:43:00.008-05:00

A troika, a three-horse drawn sledge, competes on the frozen Yenisey river during an amateur horse race near the settlement of Novosyolovo. The Ice Derby has been held in Novosyolovo annually at the end of each winter since 1969, drawing participants from the entire region.

How to train the young ones!

2011-11-14T07:07:00.001-05:00

Interesting way to train the babies from Hungary!

The Buggymobile

2011-09-27T08:23:00.002-04:00

A 1905 Columbus High Wheel Runabout. A perfect example of the transition from the horse and buggy age to the age of the auto mobile. This is "buggymobile" had a twin cylinder 10 HP air cooled electric motor under the seat. The hood is a false engine compartment. Notice all the 'artifacts' from the horse carriage construction. This vehicle will be auctioned off on October 7th in Hershey PA. It is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. It sold in 1905 for $750!

Update: Breeching Forces in the Extreme

2011-07-22T06:12:00.005-04:00

Update: Consider using tug stops on the shafts of single's vehicles to help disperse the load from breeching by using some pressure on the saddle to help slow and stop the forward motion of the vehicle. As potentially beneficial as it may be to have as little 'weight' on the saddle most of the time, it may also prove to be beneficial in the long run to share some of the vehicle stopping forces between the saddle and the breeching. Thank you, Elsie Rodney, for pointing my thinking in that direction. 9-1-11

Consider the stresses placed on the sacroiliac joint and pelvis of the single driving horse. These structures play a primary role in the transfer of the power developed from the hind legs to propel the horse and carriage and humans forward, they also perform the integral function of transferring the weight of the carriage and humans via the breeching to the horse for braking purposes. Breeching forces at the extreme moments of performance may take these structures to and beyond their limit causing compounding damage over time.

For some perspective, consider the single standardbred race horse. There is NO braking force occurring in their performance. It’s all forward. Now visualize the single combined driving horse with several hundred pounds of vehicle and human weight with the breeching forces shoving the horse from behind in the extremes of full gallop turns on a side hill in a Combined Driving marathon obstacle. These forces are not always symmetrical or predictable to the horse. Imagine yourself running on uneven ground (i.e with each foot on a different elevation) when, out of nowhere, you are shoved to the side from an angle from behind. Do this enough ties and your chances of injury are quite high. It's not hard to imagine the high toll that is taken on the pelvic structures of the equine.

While the following concerns the sacroiliac joint and pelvis, it is similar to the injury cycle of other structures of the horse.

THE INJURY CYCLE – Initial Sprain or over stretch injury Pain and inflammation • Powerful muscle spasm to protect or guard the joint during this painful stage • Pain and inflammation resolve • Powerful muscle spasm remains holding the joint in an abnormal position • Increased stress through the joint, because it is rotated or sitting in an abnormal plane • Arthritic changes set in • Another bout of pain and inflammation occur due to the arthritis and the cycle REPEATS.

Each time the cycle repeats the muscles get tighter, further affecting the function of the sacroiliac joint, pelvis and spine. In summary, the initial sprain leads to a pelvic rotation, which leads to a loss of function. The horse then has to compensate for this rotation at the pelvis, placing abnormal stresses on a whole new set of joints and causing further problems.

Goodbye, John Henry.

2011-06-29T08:36:00.005-04:00

So long my friend.

John Henry 1991-2011

Kathleen Conklin, “John Henry’s human”, knew she had to be part of his life the moment she laid eyes on him in an Amish mule dealer’s barn in Lancaster County, PA. on a cold winter night in 1994. The impressive force of his charisma is rare among equines. He usually wasn’t hard to notice. 1200 pounds of 16.2 hand, black shiny Percheron Mule with 12” ears. Hard to be wallflower. Plus he had the uncanny ability to launch a loud, clear, friendly bellow at the precise moment that doing so would have the most powerful effect in a crowd of people and horses. We smiled. Everyone knew who it was and they were glad to have met John Henry. He even gave the lucky ones a kiss.

John Henry began educating Kathleen about mules as a 3 year old. He knew only how to be tied and to be lead. He would not let anyone touch him. What an education he would provide! And what a fortunate mule he was to have Kathleen to work his magic on. She was receptive. Dedicated. Horse smart. Kind and fair. She always did everything the right way for John Henry.

His competition championships stretch from Shelbyville to Saratoga to Gladstone to GMHA to Lorenzo….and to Walnut Hill. The prestigious summit of carriage driving … Walnut Hill! A Mule at walnut Hill!?! Imagine that. Invited there, even. A barrier broken. John Henry was a champion or reserve champion at Walnut Hill 6 of the last 7 years. Few that saw him will forget the turnout: the restored royal blue butcher’s cart with bright yellow trim and Kathleen absolutely correctly appointed in her blue and white striped apron. Every detail meticulously researched and executed. But the joke was on Walnut Hill. A mule would never have been used to pull a butcher’s cart! Only fast horses like hackneys’ would be able to make the rounds before the meat spoiled. But still he won and won and won. Always loved that joke. It was impossible not to smile at John Henry.

Few know that it was John Henry that caused the United States Equine Federation to overturn a 50 year ban on mules in competition. Mules were banned because their exceptional skills beat society’s horses. They were reinstated because of the skillful ambassadorship of John Henry and Kathleen. It was hard to say no to John Henry. A barrier broken with a smile.

I taught John Henry and Kathleen to dance in preparation for an invitational musical Kur at a meeting of the American Driving Society in Fair Hill, Maryland. How could I say no? But what music to use? This had to be special. The choice? I knew it the second I heard it. Canned Heat’s “Too Much Giddyup (Not Enough Whoa)”. Look it up. It was perfect. And of course John Henry was his usual superlative self and made everyone smile again.

John Henry’s legend is larger than space allows to tell it all here. His magic broke down barriers too numerous to list, but…. and I speak for the horsemen that knew him… in a lifetime, we count on the fingers of one hand the good horses by whom we measure all the rest. John Henry will always be at the top of our list. A mule on the top of the list? Imagine that! We are truly privileged to have known the magnificent John Henry.

“Take this hammer, and carry it to the captain,

Tell him I'm gone, tell him I'm gone”.

A prison work song about John Henry, attributed to Leadbelly

Swimming in Cement: Sholokhov

2011-06-11T06:57:00.008-04:00

A monument of a herd of horses followed by the writer Sholokhov in his boat crossing a river made of cement celebrating the legacy of writer on Gogolevsky Boulevard, Moscow, Russia. Mikhail Sholokhov is known all over the world as the author of the novel “And Quiet Flows the Don”, perhaps the most widely read book of Soviet fiction. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for it. The monument was inaugurated on the 24th of May 2007, on the author's 102nd birthday anniversary. The complicated sculpture was created by Russian national artist - Alexander Rukavishnikov*; the architect, member of the International Architectural Academy - Igor Voskresensky, and sculptors Iulian and Philip Rukavishnikov. The author is depicted sitting in the fishing boat. At the background of the composition there is a high relief that depicts the flow of the imaginary river, horses are swimming in two different directions into eternity, symbolizing the split of the Motherland, “the white” and “the red”, during the Civil War.

Perhaps the greatest feud of Soviet literary history involved Sholokhov and Aleksandr Solzhenitzsyn, who despised one another. Sholokhov wrote a scathing review of Solzhenitzsyn's work, and Solzhenitzsyn accused Sholokhov of plagiarism. (The plagiarism charge was ultimately proven to be false.) Many Moscow residents dislike the monument intensely--Sholokhov had nothing to do with Moscow, they say, and should not be memorialized in the city--certainly not on the street named Gogol Boulevard, The underlying issue seems to be that he's a Soviet author, and these latter days are a problematic time for monuments to Soviet authors.

*The sculptor, Alexander Rukavishnikov, is known as the creator of the monument to Fyodor Dostoevsky set up in front of the Russian State Library, and the monument to Yury Nikulin in Tsvetnoy Boulevard.

Cacolets: Two men on a Mule

2011-04-30T06:26:00.000-04:00

Mules: "Cacolets - these are iron-framed adjustable chairs, intended for the conveyance of sick and wounded by pack transport. A pair of cacolets weighs 56 lb. They are interchangeable, i.e. they can be used either on the near or off side of the saddle by a simple transposition of the back strap and footrest."

Best kept secret in the horse world

2011-04-26T09:23:00.000-04:00

Morgan Ponies have earned 7 out of 8 USEF NATIONAL SINGLE PONY CHAMPIONSHIPS

......and the 8th one was a Morgan cross!

Why the Model-T replaced the horse

2011-04-21T09:07:00.000-04:00

Transitions

2011-04-06T13:53:00.004-04:00

Transitions begin with an ending and end with a beginning.

I ran across this idea as it relates to career changes (not mine, btw!) and I have been thinking about it in relation to the transitions we ask our horses to make while performing. This compliments the idea that verbal instructions are more about *changing* what is happening than about the end result. Saying "Trot" isn't as much about Trotting as it about changing ....transitioning ... to the Trot from something else. Something must end before something else begins. Maybe thinking of it this way will help organize all the micro events that must occur in the right order with the right timing to accomplish something seemingly so simple as a transition from one gait to another.

2011 Jeff Morse Driving Clinic Series @ Absolute Morgan Farm

2011-03-25T07:55:00.009-04:00

2011 Clinic Dates

April 16-17, May 7-8, June 24-25, Sept 8-9, Sept 30*, Oct 29-30, Nov 19-20
*The Sept 30 Clinic will be held at Green Meads Farm
Absolute Morgan Farm
139 Schoolhouse Road - Waltham, VT 05491
Contact Read More....

From the Horse & Buggy to the Ford Model T

2011-03-23T08:26:00.003-04:00

The wheel making sequence is particularly interesting. Also note how many bodies are involved in this assembly line process compared to today's assembly lines

What's Old is New

2011-03-10T08:52:00.004-05:00

Note the use of the carriage lamps, obviously state of the art at the time. The wooden spoke wheels and pneumatic tires look the same as many European carriages today. The seating is remarkably similar to Combined Driving vehicles of today as well. The top is a direct adaptation of a driving vehicle folding top. Gotta love the 'steam punk' dash! There are, no doubt, many other similarities if one could examine this car more closely.

Watch horses pull a tanker truck out of snow

2011-02-25T21:55:00.002-05:00

Watch horses pull a tanker truck out of snow

Joel Appleman was driving to work in Central Pennsylvania when he came upon an Amish horse team pulling a tanker truck safely out of the snow. Fortunately, he had his camera and captured the conquest of old technology over new.

It's Getting Deep

2011-02-04T09:29:00.007-05:00

"Trevor" tunneled out. I am wearing out my snow shovel.

It's Deep

2011-02-04T09:29:00.002-05:00

Trevor tunneled out. I am wearing out my snow shovel.

One Horse Open Sleigh

2011-01-17T11:21:00.004-05:00

Liz and Dave Herrick enjoying the ride!

Rum Brook Gallant Rhythm

(Br. 1999, Green Meads Galaxy x Rum Brook Promis Promises)
Owned by David and Liz Herrick

Mount Vernon, NH

Insulation by Mother Nature

2011-01-09T14:36:00.008-05:00

Mother Nature is pretty good at what she does. Think about the winter coat of the horse. When snow is piled up on their back, only a little over an inch underneath it the horse's body temperature is over 100 degrees! Turnout blankets crush the loft out of the natural coat and your horse may actually be *colder* while wearing one. These dogs are not so different. Their natural body temperature is 101.5 degrees.

The Colors Horses See

2010-12-15T19:49:00.005-05:00

This is how scientists think horses see color. If this is true, then imagine how our carriage driving horses see bright orange or yellow cones when placed on green grass. Look at the similarity of how horses apparently see the bright orange clothing of the two girls and the green grass of the field in the background.

Note also that horses see black and white much the same way humans do.

American Driving Society & Morgan Horses @ WEG

2010-10-14T05:30:00.012-04:00

SBS Risky Business ~ Jeff Morse, Driver; Jen Morse Navigator

American Driving Society Driving Derby
and
American Morgan Horse Association Breed Presentation
at the
2010 World Equestrian Games
Equine Village, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY

WEG Morgan Demo

2010-10-09T09:09:00.000-04:00

WEG: The Driving Nuns

2010-09-30T07:50:00.001-04:00

WEG Highlight
Well, this was unique! The Wisconsin Halflingers demo was the entire recreation of the Sound of Music. I have never seen a nun driving before......likely never will again.

We are off to the WEG!

2010-09-22T08:19:00.003-04:00

We're off to the 2010 World Equestrian Games!

SBS Risky Business, driven by Jeff Morse with Jen Morse as Navigator, will represent the Morgan Breed for the American Morgan Horse Association, September 29 - Oct 2 and then compete in a Driving Derby for the American Driving Society, Oct 3-Oct 6th, in the Equine Village at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Hope to see you there!

Chiro Anyone??

2010-08-30T13:08:00.002-04:00

This is why horses might benefit from chiropractic adjustment. Envision the curvature of the spine from head to tail and the muscles that attach and support it. Think what is going on in the pelvic area here.

Cart Saddle

2010-08-15T16:30:00.004-04:00

From: Moseman's Illustrated Catalog of Horse Furnishing's and Goods

Example of a Cart Saddle.
The Tug Chain is like a sliding back band and slides through a channel running over the back. These were used on cart horse that pulled very heavy loads. Click on the illustration for a larger view.

A Good Morgan Pair

2010-07-06T05:52:00.009-04:00

2010 Vermont Heritage Days Novice Carriage Driving Champions

Marle Hill Concert Master (Charlestown Symphonic x Marlehill's Anniversary, br 1996)
Rum Brook Gallant Rhythm (Green Meads Galaxy x Rum Brook Promis Promise , br 1999)

Driven by Jeff Morse
Owned by Liz and David Herrick, Mount Vernon, NH

Training Began in 1952

2010-05-27T08:09:00.004-04:00

From Generations

Jeff Morse began training horses in 1952

2010-05-27T08:03:00.003-04:00

From Generations

Summer Haircuts

2010-05-23T05:42:00.009-04:00

Jackson with Uncle J

Why not metric?

2010-05-06T12:24:00.004-04:00

GREEN = Countries which have officially adopted the metric system
GRAY = Countries which have not officially adopted the metric system (US, Myanmar, Liberia)

Graceful Locomotion

2010-03-30T15:33:00.006-04:00

"Always bow when meeting acquaintances on the street. A curtsy is not consistent with graceful locomotion." ~ Etiquette for Women - 1882

They had such a way with words. Unlike this fellow 100 years later.

Why Auto Racing is like Combined Driving

2010-03-05T16:14:00.006-05:00

Great quotes that may apply to how you view Combined Driving

If you’re in control, you’re not going fast enough. – Parnelli Jones

To finish first, you must first finish. – Rick Mears

Nobody remembers the guy who finished second but the guy who finished second. – Bobby Unser

The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car, it’s the one who refuses to lose. – Dale Earnhardt

You win some, you lose some, you wreck some. – Dale Ernhardt Sr.

Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death… – Hunter Thompson

I don’t know driving in another way which isn’t risky. Each one has to improve himself. Each driver has its limit. My limit is a little bit further than other’s. – Ayrton Senna

To achieve anything in this game you must be prepare to dabble in the boundary of disaster. – Sterling Moss

What’s behind you doesn’t matter. – Enzo Ferrari

When you win a race you’re on top that day, so take it for what its worth, have a good time and party, cause the next day when you get out of bed, the meter goes back to zero again. – Bobby Allison

If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. – Mark Donohue

Why worry about death, it’ll come sooner or later. – Jim Dunn

Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary… that’s what gets you. – Jeremy Clarkson

Auto racing began 5 minutes after the second car was built. – Henry Ford

You can tell that you’re in trouble when you feel the air on the back of your neck instead of in your face. – Buddy Baker

I got hit in the head pretty hard. My clock ran backwards for two years. – Buddy Baker

He ran out of talent about halfway through the corner. – Buddy Baker
After the third flip, I lost control………… – Don Roberts after crashing in the Jade Grenade at New England Dragway in 1975.

Just added: Clinic in New Mexico

2010-02-16T07:38:00.016-05:00

From the 2009 Clinic

Before/After

April 3 and 4, 2010
Carriage Driving Clinic at the home of:

Tom and Lisa Phillips
10916 N Valley Dr
Las Cruces, NM 88007

Contact:
twinpine@q.com
(575) 526-1028 - Home
575-644-5216 - Mobile

Upcoming Clinics

2010-02-13T09:22:00.001-05:00

Absolute Morgan Farm Clinic Series

Clinic Dates for 2010

March 6/7 ~ April TBA ~ May 1/2 ~ June 26/27
July 17/18 ~ August 28/29 ~ September 25/26

Absolute Morgan Farm

139 Schoolhouse Road -Waltham, VT 05491
Contact: Janet Yager at 802.545.2457

morgans@madriver.com

More....

Thank You for attending the webinar!

2010-02-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Over 700 people registered for the webinar: Harness, Bits and More, making it the most successful ADS webinar so far. Thanks to those of you who participated and we look forward to more of you next time. Check the ADS web site webinar link for updates on future webinars.

Thanks again! ~ Jeff

Free ADS Webinar: Harness, Bits and More

2010-02-05T08:56:00.002-05:00

AADS Presents a free webinar

Harness, Bits and More
with Jeff Morse

Join us for a Webinar on February 11

Jeff shares his extensive knowledge of harness and bits with the driving community. Whether you are a beginning driver or an experienced whip, this seminar will provide useful, practical knowledge on the most common equipment used for driving horses.

Jeff Morse has been a professional horseman for more 40 years. He currently serves on the USEF Morgan and Carriage Pleasure Committees and is the ADS Pleasure Driving Committee Chairman. He has been training horses since 1970, Specializing in Carriage Driving for horses, ponies and people since 1980. Currently training people and horses for carriage driving at Green Meads Farm, celebrating its 85th year, in Richmond, MA.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/809783306

Title:		Harness, Bits and More

Date:		Thursday, February 11

Time:		7:00 PM - 8:30 PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

Cost:		FREE

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Don't hook your horse like this!

2010-01-20T14:44:00.004-05:00

This is not fair to the horse or to the people involved.

All participants are SO fortunate not to have gotten injured in this episode.

Unfortunately, it is scenarios like this that make business for trainers.

It is so unnecessary to go about it this way.

I can hardly count all the things that are unsafe and just plain wrong with this.

I do NOT want to get the call to fix this horse!

San Francisco 1906: video on the street

2010-01-18T08:23:00.004-05:00

This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing but true! Music: "La Femme D'Argent " from the "Moon Safari" album by Air

Grand Canyon 'muled' in 1924

2009-11-16T07:57:00.008-05:00

My grandparents, Kate and Darwin Morse, 'muled' the Grand Canyon in 1924! At the bottom of the Canyon, they had to walk across a wire suspension bridge to the other side of the river and catch their mule that was sent across by the guides. If you didn't catch your mule, you had to walk back up out of the Canyon!!

Mule crossing the bridge over the Colorado River in 1926.

The bridge today.
More pix of the bridge

Driving to CA in 1924

2009-11-11T09:16:00.005-05:00

My Grandfather, Darwin Morse and my Grandmother, Kate Winthrop, eloped in 1924 along with my Grandmother's sister, Emily Winthrop, and her husband, Corey Miles. Darwin was working on Grenville Winthrop's estate, Groton Place, as an electrician and caretaker of the birds. Corey Miles was the family's chauffeur. They stole their father's car, got married in the near by Interlaken section of Stockbridge, Massachusetts and drove up to Montreal the same day. Shortly thereafter, they all drove to California in 1924. I believe that is Darwin at the wheel.

From Test Barn to Stable

2009-11-09T19:21:00.005-05:00

This what my stable looked like in the late 1940's when it was home to my grandfather's heard of Guernsey cows. It was known as the "Test Barn" where the best milking cows were milked. There is a room in my house known as the 'hired hand's room' where the head milker slept. He milked cows twice a day, 7 days a week, for ten years and never missed a day.

By the time I was old enough to actually remember anything, the Test Barn had been converted into a stable for horses. The stall fronts are where the gutter is on each side of the center aisle and there is a wide garage door at the far end.

The Bull that Made Green Meads Farm

2009-10-25T19:06:00.005-04:00

This is Langwater King of the Meads, born in 1931 from stock of the famous Guernsey cattle breeder F.L. Ames's Langwater Farm in Easton, MA. King of the Meads was the foundation sire for Darwin Morse's prize herd of Guernsey's here at Green Meads Farm. The photo was taken in 1935 by the foremost photgrapher of cattle in the USA at the time...and maybe ever...Harry Strohmeyer.

My grandfather noticed that Harry only took one shot of each cow he photographed. When asked to take photos of Darwin's horses, Harry replied that they were much more difficult to photograph. With cows, he said, he just waited for the skeleton to settle into place but horses had too much muscle covering the skeleton and were much harder "to see".

This bull sired almost all of the Guernsey cattle produced here from the 1930's through the 1950's. They were sold all around the world and the experience provided the foundation for both my grandparent's expertise as animal breeders. My grandfather went on to success in breeding Morgan horses and, believe it or not, canaries! My grandmother raised, trained and bred over 26 breeds of dogs in her life time.

Pair in Progress

2009-10-23T10:40:00.004-04:00

Marle Hill Concert Master and Rhythm owned by Liz and Dave Herrick
October 23, 2009

Higgins Rides His Pacific Dartmoor

2009-10-17T08:39:00.006-04:00

Higgins, our English Cocker Spaniel,
loves riding on the back of his Pacific Dartmoor carriage.
He is first on, last off.

His First Pony

2009-10-16T12:14:00.002-04:00

Joshua Morse rides The Wee One, a Welsh stallion.
Circa 1981 ~ Green Meads Farm, Richmond, MA

Small Boy Who Loves Ice Cream

2009-10-05T16:16:00.001-04:00

Jackson Morse

Summer 2009

We got married!

2009-09-29T14:53:00.002-04:00

Jeff and Jennifer

Wedding Day August 29, 2009

Prince Philip on the Dangers of the Sport

2009-08-23T08:22:00.000-04:00

Quoted from http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/entertainment/Prince-shows-garden/article-1176387-detail/article.html:

Prince shows off back garden
Alan asks Prince Philip about the dangers of the sport: "If you're playing billiards you can stick a cue in your eye. There's a bit of luck in it but it's not all that serious."

Upcoming Clinics

2009-07-13T21:11:00.001-04:00

Jeff Morse Clinic ~ September 12-13

Absolute Morgan Farm ~ 139 Schoolhouse Road -Waltham, VT 05491

One hour sessions on carriage driving for $60

Contact:

Janet Yager Absolute Morgans 802.545.2457 morgans@madriver.com

Upcoming Clinics

2009-06-30T06:46:00.001-04:00

CANCELED: Jeff Morse Clinic ~ July 18 and 19

Unfortunately this clinic had to be canceled due to so many participants having last minute things come up that caused them to be unable to attend.

Absolute Morgan Farm ~ 139 Schoolhouse Road -Waltham, VT 05491

One hour sessions on carriage driving for $60

Contact:

Janet Yager Absolute Morgans 802.545.2457 morgans@madriver.com

Jackson's 1st Annual Ramp Hunt

2009-04-12T16:10:00.019-04:00

Currier & Ives

2009-03-30T15:52:00.003-04:00

Images to inspire sleigh rally turnouts for the Currier & Ives Class.

Alt Driving

2009-03-19T07:25:00.002-04:00

Humans drive and have driven lots of other kinds of animals besides equines!

Prince Philip's Carriage comeback

2009-03-08T20:27:00.009-04:00

Prince Philip's carriage comeback

Royal Watch News - Feb 24, 2009, 10:50 GMT

Britain's Prince Philip has gone carriage driving for the first time since he injured his back doing it in January.

The 87-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth harnessed two horses and drove through the grounds of Windsor Castle, the queen's residence in Berkshire, south east England, yesterday (23.02.09).

The prince was in high spirits and appeared to be in good health, chatting and laughing with a female groom as they drove around the chilly grounds.

Philip has missed a string of royal engagements since pulling a muscle in his back while carriage racing at the queen's Norfolk estate Sandringham in January.

Fears for his health increased when he was seen with two black eyes.

The prince was reportedly ordered to "take it easy", and was even forced to miss three of his beloved royal shooting parties.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman has said: "A lot of engagements involve standing for quite a long time and they can often last anything up to an hour.

"He's making a decision on a day-to-day basis about whether he's going to attend engagements. His advice has been to rest his back for a period of time and he's doing that each day. He's been advised to rest as long as possible and avoid standing for too long."

As good a reason to go carriage driving as any:...."to avoid standing for too long"... thereby missing out on some bloody boring engagements. No wonder he was laughing with his female groom. Good thinking, Phil!

Posted using ShareThis

The Transition from Horses

2009-03-07T11:29:00.005-05:00

Trevithicks steam carriage, world’s first vehicle designed for carrying passengers.

"A steam carriage intended for passengers was built in England in 1803 by Richard Trevithick. A replica of it was built recently and has been touring Europe. It was basically a carriage stuck on top of a crude steam tractor, the passengers were a good height above the ground. It was also a commercial failure but had the distinction of being the first self powered land vehicle in the world designed to carry passengers." source

Note the steering mechanism. Pre-steering wheel!

"Big Wheel " Chairs

2009-03-06T07:21:00.008-05:00

Copy of a postcard found at the New Lebanon , NY Flea Market, Sunday Oct 27, 2002

A 3 Wheeler designed by Eliphalet Nott
1773-1866, American educator, inventor, and clergyman, b. Ashford, Conn. In 1804, Nott became president of Union College, a post he held for 62 years; he initiated an extensive building program and introduced a scientific course as an alternative to the traditional classical curriculum. He published a number of pamphlets on slavery, temperance, and education and contributed to science by his experiments with heat. Nott was granted over 30 patents and was the inventor of the first anthracite coal base-burner stove. (The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001)

Recently I conducted a clinic in New Mexico and my host, Tom Phillips, had been in a motorcycle accident and broken his leg. He was wheel chair bound and got lots of kidding about still being able to drive and maybe he should hook his minis up to his chair.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Queen Victoria

The Use of the Parked Stance

2009-03-04T16:23:00.010-05:00

The Parked Horse with kicking strap and mud guard on the wheel

From: Moseman's Illustrated Catalog of Horse Furnishing Goods published in 1893.

The horse in this illustration has been asked to assume a "Parked" stance, making it less likely that it will move at the halt. It was important that the horse not take a step as the Lady dismounted from the carriage. Not only would her clothing be soiled, she could have been knocked to the ground which would have been a terrible social event for both her and her gentleman friend. Note the wicker wheel cover on the rear wheel used to protect her clothing.

Today's carriage drivers are taught to *always* be the first to mount and last to dismount from a vehicle so as to remain in the best position to control the horse(s). This driver is on the ground assisting his Lady friend and has left a passenger seated in the carriage, yet another reason to have the horse assume the "Parked" stance and be less likely to step forward. It is interesting that there was so much care taken to protect the Lady while mounting and dismounting yet the other lady passenger (perhaps she's even a child) has been left in a situation considered unsafe by today's standards.

Many of today's drivers assume the "Parked" stance is not traditional and should not be used by today's carriage horses, particularly in those in competitions. Carriage drivers will train their horses who have learned this "Parked" stance to never assume that position when asked to halt. The acceptability of the stance is more a matter of when it would be useful. Halting at X in a dressage test or standing in a line up in a carriage ring class in the "Parked" stance would not be appropriate since it is expected in those situations that the horse be capable of moving off in any direction immediately by instruction of the driver! It is a disobedience for the horse who knows how to stand in the "Parked" position to assume the stance without being instructed by the driver to do so. However, if a driver had a Lady passenger entering or exiting a vehicle, it might be quite appropriate - and traditional - to ask their horse(s) to stand in a "Parked" stance. This action is not seen with much frequency today in carriage driving because it is not called for in competition. Passengers and drivers are not usually called on to mount and dismount in a ring class or any of the other tests used in carriage competition.

Easy Digital Course Maps

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Need to draw course maps for cones courses? Diagrams of CDE Obstacles? Tired of messy, hand drawn, inaccurate maps? The online diagramming tool www.gliffy.com will enable you to quickly and easily produce clean, clear, legible, accurate diagrams like this:

This is a scaled down version. A printed version can be as large or as small as you wish.
This is a course map of a local class called "Reverse Hazardous Cones".
Drivers complete obstacles 1-10, then drive the lettered obstacle in the center in the correct sequence,
then drive the numbered obstacles in reverse order and direction.

There is nothing to download. You can sign up for a free 30 day trial of their premium account. If you do not upgrade to their premium account, which costs as little as $5 per month, your account will automatically revert to their basic free account and cost you nothing. The free account offers enough bells and whistles for most carriage driving applications.

Carriage Dogs from Britain

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David and Denise Taylor show Dalmatian carriage dogs at South of England Carriage Fair March 2008

More Coach & Carriage Dogs

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Add your photo to this slide show!
1. Photo must contain at least one dog and at least part of a carriage. It need not be taken at a show.
2. Address your email to: greenmeads.carriagedogs@picasaweb.com
3. Attach your photo as an attachment
4. Type just " More Carriage Dogs " in the subject line (without quotes and it IS case sensitive).
5. Leave the message area blank unless you want to CC your email to me and include a message with more info about your photo.
6. Click "Send"

Your photo should be automatically added to the slide show in under a minute!
If you have trouble, just email us.
TIP: Use your name and your dog's name to name your photo file to help identify the photo. Something like this: jmorse_toto.jpg or kconklinandcracker.jpg Most common image file types are supported.
We reserve the right to edit your photo by cropping, minor editing etc.and to delete inappropriate photos. The photos remain your property and will not be used by us for any other purpose without your permission.

Carriage and Coach dogs

2009-03-01T08:56:00.007-05:00

Add your photo to this slide show!
1. Photo must contain at least one dog and at least part of a carriage. It need not be taken at a show.
2. Address your email to: greenmeads.carriagedogs@picasaweb.com
3. Attach your photo as an attachment
4. Type just " Carriage Dogs " in the subject line (without quotes and it IS case sensitive).
5. Leave the message area blank unless you want to CC your email to me and include a message with more info about your photo.
6. Click "Send"

Your photo should be automatically added to the slide show in under a minute!
If you have trouble, just email us.
TIP: Use your name and your dog's name to name your photo file to help identify the photo. Something like this: jmorse_toto.jpg or kconklinandcracker.jpg Most common image file types are supported.
We reserve the right to edit your photo by cropping, minor editing etc.and to delete inappropriate photos. The photos remain your property and will not be used by us for any other purpose without your permission.

The Carriage Dog and The Coach Dog

It is difficult to find a horse owner who does not love dogs as much as they love horses. We almost all have at least one dog as a constant companion in our stables. It is only natural that we want to take our dogs with us when we drive. Consequently the Carriage Dog Class, described in ADS Article 44, has become increasingly popular at Pleasure Shows.

The purpose of this class is primarily to judge the suitability of the dog as a companion. It is meant to be a fun and entertaining class but there are real judging criteria that should be understood and followed by officials and competitors. The performance of the horse counts for 30% and the overall impression of the turnout, including the dog, count another 10%. The suitability of the dog counts for the remaining 60%.

Out of safety concerns, under ADS rules, only one dog is allowed per entry in this class. The dog may be of any breed or combination of breeds. The intent of this class is to showcase the companion talent of your carriage dog. If you "accessorize" your canine, do it in such a way that your entire turnout is enhanced.

The dog may ride in the vehicle, either standing, sitting or lying down. He should be quiet, well behaved and appear to enjoy the ride. The dog may wear a leash but the dog must not be tied to the driver, passengers or to the vehicle.

The dog may be held by a passenger in their lap or by a leash. The dog may also run behind, beside or at the axle of the vehicle. While the current rules do not specifically prohibit passengers from leading a dog by a leash from the vehicle, this should only be done with great care so it does not become a safety issue. Training the dog should take place outside of the ring!

The driver must be free to perform the task of actually driving the horse. This means the dog should in no way interfere with the driver; nor should the driver be distracted by the actions of the dog.

What is preferred is a well trained companion dog that politely and calmly accompanies the turnout, either riding in the vehicle or obediently traveling on the ground in close proximity to the turnout .

In the interest of safety, judges should excuse from the ring entries with a dog clearly not in control . Dogs that are running well ahead of the turnout, lagging far behind, visiting with other dogs or spectators or officials in the ring are not considered to be in control.

The Carriage Dog should not be confused with the Coach Dog. The Coach Dog is a working dog with the very specific job of guarding the vehicle, equipment and the horses, He uses his training, innate intelligence and affinity for horses, his sense of pride and duty to keep everyone out of trouble.

The Coach Dog runs on the ground with the horses. The Coach Dog would never ride on the vehicle unless injured or stressed. Nor would he want to for he has a duty to perform and is proud of his work. The Coach Dog remains on the ground to guard against theft or interference when the vehicle is parked. Although some leeway is allowed, the most proper position for the working Coach Dog is running behind the heels of the horse and in front of the fore axle or, even better, between the horses and directly under the pole!

The Carriage Dog, on the other hand, is first and foremost a companion and is welcome to ride with the driver or passengers on the vehicle. On the ground, the Carriage Dog may roam a bit further than the Coach Dog but should still remain in close proximity. Its only task is to stay with the turnout, keep out of trouble and remain under control....and of course, to look very cute! ~ Courtesy of the ADS Pleasure Driving Committee

Welcome!

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Welcome to

Green Meads Farm

I hope you enjoy the ride!