by Pam Gamble, photos by Nancy Brannon
The venue of the Germantown Charity Horse Show is the ideal spot for showing the traditional and elegant carriages. Although attendance in the evening classes has been down the last couple of years, in most cases, the carriage classes have grown - so much that twonewclasses were added for the 2012 show: the Scurry and the Carriage Dog Class. Both were well attended.
The two new classes differ from the "working" classes, which are judged predominantly on the performance of the horse,with some consideration given to "turnout" or overall impression of the horse, carriage,and attire of the driver.
One new class was the Scurry, a speed class through a series of ten pairs of cones. The route the driver might take was a "pick your route." The route chosen depends on many things, but mainly, the manuverability of the horse or pony and the willingness of the driver to risk a difficult turn in order to mark a shorter time.
The Scurry was open to all vehicle types and levels of drivers. Seasoned drivers took the coarse directly after juniors with their ponies. Some drivers chose to have a "navigator" and some did not. One of the highlights was Nora Land driving Ann Kimberlin's pony Lyric. 2012 Nashoba Carriage Association Princess, Mary Grace Greer navigated on the back of the speedy marathon carriage in her floral strapless princess dress with her helmet and boots. Princesses can be tough!
Dr. Ruth Wilburn and Rollingwoods Cookie Thief won the Scurry. Reserve was Nora Land driving Ann Kimberlin's pony Bush Farm Lousiana Lyric with the floral dress clad Mary Grace Greer on the navigator's step.
The Carriage Dog Class was judged mostly on the appropriateness and cuteness of the dog,with some consideration given the horse and turnout. The class had the crowd cheering as they picked their favorite pooch. The winner of the dog class was "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Molly, a Shepard mix, like many of the dogs in the class, is a lucky rescue taken in by horse owners.
Molly's owner, Chrissy Saylor, brought her horse Cosmo to his first show. Cosmo can be found three evenings a week pulling a commercial carriage in downtown Memphis. Chrissy explained, "We like to show our horses' versatility. Especially since Cosmo will be retiring soon; this experience will help to give him a new career."
Second place in the Dog Class was Sparkle, owned by Wanda Chancellor, who drove Rollingwoods Movin On Up. Wanda found Sparkle, her Shihzu, on Hack’s Cross Road. Sparkle had been hit by a car and left with a broken pelvis. Many of the dogs in the dog class were rescues.
The winner in the single horse class was Coco Chanel, owned and driven by Robin Bates. This was the second year in a row for this Morgan to win the class. Reserve went to Medici, a Friesian owned and driven by Rebecca Walden.
The single pony class was won by Dr. Ruth Wilburn and Rollingwoods Cookie Thief. Cookie Thief is owned by Rollingwoods Farms. Reserve in the single pony class was Rollingwoods Movin On Up. Uppity is owned and driven by Wanda Chancellor.
The Junior carriage class was won by Northstar, who is owned and driven by Keith Ellis Prest. The reserve Junior entry was Spur Run Chantilly Lace, driven by Kelli West. The reserve entry is owned by Rollingwoods Farm.
The Pairs or Multiple Division was won by the Welsh pony team of Rollingwoods Berry Last One and Rollingwoods Back in Black driven by Joanna Wilburn. Reserve was the Friesian team of Claire and Arius driven by Robert Martin.
The Championship was won by Coco Chanel and Robin Bates. Reserve was Rollingwoods Cookie Thief and Dr. Ruth Wilburn. Third place was Medici with Rebecca Walden. Fourth place was Rollingwoods Movin On Up with Wanda Chancellor. Fifth place was Cosmo driven by Chrissy Saylor. Sixth place was the team of Rollingwoods Berry Last One and Rollingwoods Back In Black driven by Joanna Wilburn. Seventh place was Flying Diamond Twist and Trot driven by Brooke Ballenger.
Nashoba Carriage Association is currently seeking volunteers for their October, American Driving Society rated show. This would be a great way for interested parties to learn more about the fun sport of driving. If interested please contact Bob Martin at captbobmartin@aol.com.
The venue of the Germantown Charity Horse Show is the ideal spot for showing the traditional and elegant carriages. Although attendance in the evening classes has been down the last couple of years, in most cases, the carriage classes have grown - so much that twonewclasses were added for the 2012 show: the Scurry and the Carriage Dog Class. Both were well attended.
The two new classes differ from the "working" classes, which are judged predominantly on the performance of the horse,with some consideration given to "turnout" or overall impression of the horse, carriage,and attire of the driver.
One new class was the Scurry, a speed class through a series of ten pairs of cones. The route the driver might take was a "pick your route." The route chosen depends on many things, but mainly, the manuverability of the horse or pony and the willingness of the driver to risk a difficult turn in order to mark a shorter time.
The Scurry was open to all vehicle types and levels of drivers. Seasoned drivers took the coarse directly after juniors with their ponies. Some drivers chose to have a "navigator" and some did not. One of the highlights was Nora Land driving Ann Kimberlin's pony Lyric. 2012 Nashoba Carriage Association Princess, Mary Grace Greer navigated on the back of the speedy marathon carriage in her floral strapless princess dress with her helmet and boots. Princesses can be tough!
Dr. Ruth Wilburn and Rollingwoods Cookie Thief won the Scurry. Reserve was Nora Land driving Ann Kimberlin's pony Bush Farm Lousiana Lyric with the floral dress clad Mary Grace Greer on the navigator's step.
The Carriage Dog Class was judged mostly on the appropriateness and cuteness of the dog,with some consideration given the horse and turnout. The class had the crowd cheering as they picked their favorite pooch. The winner of the dog class was "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Molly, a Shepard mix, like many of the dogs in the class, is a lucky rescue taken in by horse owners.
Molly's owner, Chrissy Saylor, brought her horse Cosmo to his first show. Cosmo can be found three evenings a week pulling a commercial carriage in downtown Memphis. Chrissy explained, "We like to show our horses' versatility. Especially since Cosmo will be retiring soon; this experience will help to give him a new career."
Second place in the Dog Class was Sparkle, owned by Wanda Chancellor, who drove Rollingwoods Movin On Up. Wanda found Sparkle, her Shihzu, on Hack’s Cross Road. Sparkle had been hit by a car and left with a broken pelvis. Many of the dogs in the dog class were rescues.
The winner in the single horse class was Coco Chanel, owned and driven by Robin Bates. This was the second year in a row for this Morgan to win the class. Reserve went to Medici, a Friesian owned and driven by Rebecca Walden.
The single pony class was won by Dr. Ruth Wilburn and Rollingwoods Cookie Thief. Cookie Thief is owned by Rollingwoods Farms. Reserve in the single pony class was Rollingwoods Movin On Up. Uppity is owned and driven by Wanda Chancellor.
The Junior carriage class was won by Northstar, who is owned and driven by Keith Ellis Prest. The reserve Junior entry was Spur Run Chantilly Lace, driven by Kelli West. The reserve entry is owned by Rollingwoods Farm.
The Pairs or Multiple Division was won by the Welsh pony team of Rollingwoods Berry Last One and Rollingwoods Back in Black driven by Joanna Wilburn. Reserve was the Friesian team of Claire and Arius driven by Robert Martin.
The Championship was won by Coco Chanel and Robin Bates. Reserve was Rollingwoods Cookie Thief and Dr. Ruth Wilburn. Third place was Medici with Rebecca Walden. Fourth place was Rollingwoods Movin On Up with Wanda Chancellor. Fifth place was Cosmo driven by Chrissy Saylor. Sixth place was the team of Rollingwoods Berry Last One and Rollingwoods Back In Black driven by Joanna Wilburn. Seventh place was Flying Diamond Twist and Trot driven by Brooke Ballenger.
Nashoba Carriage Association is currently seeking volunteers for their October, American Driving Society rated show. This would be a great way for interested parties to learn more about the fun sport of driving. If interested please contact Bob Martin at captbobmartin@aol.com.
