Story and photos by Pam Gamble
Sterling Graburn was the visiting clinician for the Nashoba Carriage Association at Kimberlin Farms in Olive Branch, MS April 19-22. Sterling is a nationally recognized handler of sport horses and a rising star in the sport of driving. This year he was put on the short list to go to the World Championships after winning all three phases of the Advanced Horse Division at the Southern Pines Horse Show with his Dutch Harness horse, Ulano. The Single Horse World Championships will be in Portugal later this year.
The Nashoba drivers may have been a little “star struck” before they met Sterling. But after each driver was introduced to him, they were immediately put into their comfort zone as he focused on what issues they thought were most important.
The clinic consisted of three days of mostly private lessons with Sterling, but there was one group lesson on Saturday afternoon. People brought every type of horse and pony to the clinic. Jill Cox brought Bob Martin’s Friesian cross, Tango, whom she may show in the Single Horse class at the Germantown Charity Horse Show this June. She wanted to polish her presentation, so, among other things, Sterling had Jill working on her bends with Tango.
Bending a driving horse is even more difficult than a riding horse. The whip must replace the inside leg. The horse must not over-react to the whip, but he must respect it enough to move away from it.
Half-halting the driving horse is different from the riding horse as well. Sterling’s main lesson to the majority of drivers was, “Don’t sacrifice the bend for the corner!” In other words, use your inside rein to establish the bend and be steady with it. Then, through a series of half-halts with the outside rein only, put the horse into the corner. If you let the horse counter-bend, it is difficult to reverse.
Joanna Wilburn commented on her lesson, “Sterling has taught me how to drive a circle and push to the outside rein, which means no counter bending in the turns.” She also jokingly stated, “I think we all learned to drive a circle. Not sure any of us thought the thing should be round. Square, oblong, egg shaped, whatever, but not round. Go figure!”
Sterling also had clinicians run through the cones, working on being smooth and fluent. He emphasized that being smooth through this timed event often makes for a faster run than quickly accelerating and decelerating and making harder choices in your turn radius. Many times the driver must decide which route to take to get to a particular gate, much like show jumping. Most of the drivers knew their horses’ capabilities, but Sterling had them asking for a little more, so the teams of horses with their drivers became very exciting to watch as they ran the cones course designed by Joanna Wilburn.
Sterling shared a wealth of technical knowledge in all things driving. At one point he started listing the various axel and fifth wheel ratios of many brands of marathon vehicles. He then explained why someone would choose one over the other.
He made bitting adjustments and tack adjustments. He sometimes drove participants’ horses, but not always and only after asking permission from the driver.
Nashoba Carriage Association held a fund raising dinner Saturday night at “Kimberlin Café” to raise money for Sterling’s trip to Portugal. He spoke about “What it takes to get to the world.” Visitors and Nashoba regulars alike really enjoyed Sterling’s lecture. Nashoba was happy to participate and really felt like part of “Team Sterling”.
Sterling has been involved with horses all of his life. His mother, Sally Eastman Graburn, was a well established dressage trainer, continuing a family tradition that began with his great grandfather. He grew up in south eastern Pennsylvania, and spent his early childhood competing in combined training, in part, with the Radnor Hunt Pony Club. In his teen years he started in combined driving.
Nashoba Carriage Association’s next clinic will be with Sherri Lower on May 11-13 at Kimberlin Farms. For more information about carriage events contact Bob Martin at captbobmartin@aol.com. To follow Sterling Graburn’s trip to the Single Horse World Championships check his Facebook page or visit: www.gayladrivingcenter.com.
Sterling Graburn was the visiting clinician for the Nashoba Carriage Association at Kimberlin Farms in Olive Branch, MS April 19-22. Sterling is a nationally recognized handler of sport horses and a rising star in the sport of driving. This year he was put on the short list to go to the World Championships after winning all three phases of the Advanced Horse Division at the Southern Pines Horse Show with his Dutch Harness horse, Ulano. The Single Horse World Championships will be in Portugal later this year.
The Nashoba drivers may have been a little “star struck” before they met Sterling. But after each driver was introduced to him, they were immediately put into their comfort zone as he focused on what issues they thought were most important.
The clinic consisted of three days of mostly private lessons with Sterling, but there was one group lesson on Saturday afternoon. People brought every type of horse and pony to the clinic. Jill Cox brought Bob Martin’s Friesian cross, Tango, whom she may show in the Single Horse class at the Germantown Charity Horse Show this June. She wanted to polish her presentation, so, among other things, Sterling had Jill working on her bends with Tango.
Bending a driving horse is even more difficult than a riding horse. The whip must replace the inside leg. The horse must not over-react to the whip, but he must respect it enough to move away from it.
Half-halting the driving horse is different from the riding horse as well. Sterling’s main lesson to the majority of drivers was, “Don’t sacrifice the bend for the corner!” In other words, use your inside rein to establish the bend and be steady with it. Then, through a series of half-halts with the outside rein only, put the horse into the corner. If you let the horse counter-bend, it is difficult to reverse.
Joanna Wilburn commented on her lesson, “Sterling has taught me how to drive a circle and push to the outside rein, which means no counter bending in the turns.” She also jokingly stated, “I think we all learned to drive a circle. Not sure any of us thought the thing should be round. Square, oblong, egg shaped, whatever, but not round. Go figure!”
Sterling also had clinicians run through the cones, working on being smooth and fluent. He emphasized that being smooth through this timed event often makes for a faster run than quickly accelerating and decelerating and making harder choices in your turn radius. Many times the driver must decide which route to take to get to a particular gate, much like show jumping. Most of the drivers knew their horses’ capabilities, but Sterling had them asking for a little more, so the teams of horses with their drivers became very exciting to watch as they ran the cones course designed by Joanna Wilburn.
Sterling shared a wealth of technical knowledge in all things driving. At one point he started listing the various axel and fifth wheel ratios of many brands of marathon vehicles. He then explained why someone would choose one over the other.
He made bitting adjustments and tack adjustments. He sometimes drove participants’ horses, but not always and only after asking permission from the driver.
Nashoba Carriage Association held a fund raising dinner Saturday night at “Kimberlin Café” to raise money for Sterling’s trip to Portugal. He spoke about “What it takes to get to the world.” Visitors and Nashoba regulars alike really enjoyed Sterling’s lecture. Nashoba was happy to participate and really felt like part of “Team Sterling”.
Sterling has been involved with horses all of his life. His mother, Sally Eastman Graburn, was a well established dressage trainer, continuing a family tradition that began with his great grandfather. He grew up in south eastern Pennsylvania, and spent his early childhood competing in combined training, in part, with the Radnor Hunt Pony Club. In his teen years he started in combined driving.
Nashoba Carriage Association’s next clinic will be with Sherri Lower on May 11-13 at Kimberlin Farms. For more information about carriage events contact Bob Martin at captbobmartin@aol.com. To follow Sterling Graburn’s trip to the Single Horse World Championships check his Facebook page or visit: www.gayladrivingcenter.com.
