Join us for the Tom O'Carroll Carriage Driving Clinic and Arena Driving Trial, April 5-7, 2013!

Nashoba Carriage Association is pleased to welcome Tom O'Carroll for a carriage driving clinic and ADT this coming weekend in at Bob Martin's Split Tree Farm in Moscow, TN.  Bob is past president of Nashoba and an avid supporter of new carriage drivers in the area.

Tom, originally from Ireland, is the owner and trainer at Good Hands Training Center in Navasota, TX, where he trains horses to drive and schools drivers in the art of proper reinsmanship and safe driving.  Tom emphasizes safety every step of the way.  Tom also has perfected the construction of the rein board, an apparatus that allows drivers to practice proper rein technique while at the same time seeing the bit as it rests (and works) in the horse's mouth.  Nashoba members are excited that we finally have purchased one of these boards so that we can make use of it year-round, and not simply when Tom is in town!

Tom will demonstrate use of the rein board at our Saturday evening potluck dinner.  He also will answer questions and discuss aspects of driving safety.

On Sunday, April 7, Tom will judge the dressage phase of our spring Arena Driving Trial (ADT).  An ADT is a one-day event with three phases:  dressage, timed cones, and timed obstacles.  Drivers will have the unique opportunity to drive the dressage portion with Tom and receive immediate feedback from him.  As time allows, drivers then will have the chance to drive the test a second time in order to work on areas for improvement while the feedback is fresh!

Join us for a fun and educational weekend of driving.  Please email us at nashobacarriage@gmail.com if you have questions about this clinic or any of our other upcoming events.

For more information about Tom, please visit his website at the following link:

 Tom O'Carroll's Good Hands Training Center

Joanna Wilburn Clinic, March 16-17, 2013

On March 16-17, Nashoba Carriage Association held a carriage driving clinic with Joanna Wilburn at Kimberlin Farms in Olive Branch, MS.   Joanna is part of the Wilburn family of Rollingwoods Farms, where she and her sisters breed and raise Welsh Ponies for riding, driving, and as they say, "Just plain fun!"  Joanna also is navigator for Paul Maye and his German Riding Pony, Markus, at combined driving events across the country. They are the current reigning USEF National Champions for Combined Driving Single Ponies.

Much fun was had by all at the clinic.  Joanna tailored her lessons to each individual, but every driver began their lesson by working on bending and suppleness.  Nashoba members set up three cones courses: two with 12 sets of cones to replicate a pleasure cones course, and a third course for "Pick Your Own Route," in which drivers must go through each set of cones but may do it in any order they choose.

Nashoba members Patty Wood and Pam Gamble

Members enjoyed the first weekend of spring weather (which has now suddenly disappeared!) while setting up the courses at Kimberlin Farms.

Ann Kimberlin is well-known for her hay hazard, which she so graciously sets up for Nashoba drivers every spring.  Nashoba members love it so much, they decided to have an impromptu party in the midst of the bales, and the last Friday of winter turned into a fun evening for all!

Nashoba member Anne Snowden planning some tricky patterns through the Hay Hazard!  

Nashoba members enjoying the evening light and good company.

On Saturday night, members and guests gathered at Kimberlin Cafe, as it is affectionately known, to watch a helmet-cam video of Paul, Joanna and Markus on course at a combined driving marathon.  Some viewers gripped the edge of their seats as they took a virtual ride on the back step with Paul through seven marathon obstacles.  Joanna shared details about good navigation on a marathon and what the responsibilities entail.

This clinic was the perfect way for local drivers to get back into the box seat before Nashoba's spring season heats up.  We have two schooling shows planned this spring, one of which is just around the corner.  The 2013 Tom O'Carroll Clinic and Arena Driving Trial will be held the first weekend in April, the 5th through the 7th, at Split Tree Farms in Moscow, TN.  Two days of lessons will be followed by an Arena Driving Trial (ADT) on Sunday, April 7.  

Tom will judge the dressage phase, in which drivers will drive their test twice in order to get immediate feedback from him and apply it directly. Tom is known for his instruction in using light, educated hands to guide the driving horse.  Tom is from Navasota, TX, where he runs his Good Hands Training Center. 

Sherri Lower of Williston, FL, will conduct a clinic May 10 and 12, and will judge a schooling Pleasure Show on Saturday, May 11.  This clinic and show will be held at Kimberlin Farms in Olive Branch, MS.  Sherri is an expert in turnout for the pleasure driving horse, and she will bring her mobile Hats Off Boutique, where driving and fashion enthusiasts can find many treasures and necessities.

Welcome to our new members!

March 6, 2010:

We had a great turnout for today's 'Learning to Drive' clinic at Rollingwoods Farm, and it was so fun to welcome new people to the sport we love so much!

We hope that our new friends will catch the 'driving bug' and join us for more clinics this spring. Welcome to our new members!

Carriage Driving Clinic this weekend!

March 4, 2010:

Don't forget our Introduction to Carriage Driving Clinic this weekend at Rollingwoods Farm in Olive Branch! The clinic is free and is a great opportunity to take the reins and learn what it is like to drive a horse!

Check this link for more information, or check out our events calendar:

http://www.midsouthhorsereview.com/articles/2010/02/12/news/news14.txt

Paul Maye Clinic Just Around the Corner!

March 1, 2010:

Nashoba Carriage Association is excited to invite drivers and auditors to our upcoming Paul Maye Clinic, March 19-21, 2010! Spaces are available, and we'd love to have drivers join us from all around the region!

Several Nashoba members first met Paul Maye at the 2009 National Drive and were impressed with his teaching and training style. Paul is a professional trainer and coachman, specializing in the Achenbach system of carriage driving. And he has a great English accent, according to Nashoba member Joanna Wilburn!

Paul has won the British Nationals with a single pony and has competed in combined driving with a tandem and four-in-hand in the U.K. He has won championships at major shows in the U.S., including Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania and Walnut Hill in New York.

Paul has been a clinician at many equine expos on the East coast. He now resides in Fairfield, VA, where he and his wife run the family business ‘Mayes Show Ponies.’ His website is www.mayeshowponies.com.

The Nashoba group always has a fabulous time together at our clinics, enjoying beautiful horses, expert training, and great food. Contact captbobmartin@aol.com for information on available spaces, and come join us!

Welcome to Nashoba!

Welcome to our blog at the Nashoba Carriage Association! We are looking forward to an exciting spring full of clinics, pleasure drives, and shows, and we hope you will come join us! You do not have to have a horse to join us, and we welcome volunteers for our Nashoba Carriage Classic driving show in the fall.

The Nashoba Carriage Classic will be held this year on October 22-24, 2010. We hope you can join us, either with your horse and carriage, or as a volunteer! We have a wonderful time together, always celebrate with great food, and are just generally a very friendly bunch of people who love horses!

Our spring season culminates in the Germantown Charity Horse Show in Germantown, Tennessee. This year it will be held June 8-12, 2010. As always, it is held on the lovely Germantown Charity Horse Show grounds on Poplar Pike. We hope you will come out and enjoy the show. This year we will have more carriage driving events at the Charity, so come have a great time watching our exciting driving events! Watch www.gchs.org for more information. The prize list will be available later in February.