Arizona Driving and Carriage Society

Upcoming Events and Review

Lynn Simpson driving Westslope Willy B Red (6 yr old Morgan gelding) in the Preliminary Single Horse dressage test at the Pegasus CDE in Grantsville, Utah June29- July 1, 2001. They placed second, missing first place by 0.3 points, in a very competitive division

August 18th is the next Fun Drive in the cool forests near Happy Jack. Happy Jack is centrally located in the Rim Country, between Clint's Wells (to the south) and Mormon Lake. The drive will be on good forest roads of gently rolling hills. Go north out of Payson on 87, past Pine and Strawberry. Turn left onto Lake Mary Road at Clint's Well. After passing Happy Jack Lodge (on the left) and after mile marker 295 (it's marked), turn right at Clear Creek Pines subdivision/FR 136. Go approximately 2 miles then turn right on FR 136A. The Forest Service does not allow signs to be put up so please call for exact directions. Interested parties could come up for the day or camp overnight in the forest and drive the whole weekend. Happy Jack also has a great lodge and restaurant. Contact Brenda Steelman at 520-476-0809 for more information, map, and directions.

Our Annual Drive in the Pines at the Gorees' (in Mountainnaire), scheduled for September 15-16 has always been a great drive. This month, it still will be cool but probably without the threat of thundershowers. So all participating can drive as long as they like and not be afraid of becoming wet toast. Bob and Marybeth Goree are superlative hosts allowing everyone to camp on their property and spend the entire weekend there. The driving on the forest roads with pine and aspen trees will make you feel like you're in a Courier and Ive's picture and the food and conversation afterward always is refreshing. Call Linda Speranza at 623-386-1029 or Marybeth Goree at 520-723-3718 for info and directions.

The July 14-15 Driving Clinic with Hardy Zantke at Peter and Mary Jane Atonna's place in Paulden was very successful. Hardy had a full contingent of students and worked tirelessly both days to instruct on many levels. People from across the state attended bringing everything from draft horses, to a mini, and even a mule that was newly set to cart. Hardy also was very helpful at explaining his methods to the many auditors who were watching. Saturday evening was capped with a nice potluck dinner and driving videos with a chance to talk to Hardy more informally. Our hope is to bring Mr. Zantke back for another clinic in October.

Congratulations to the ADCS members, who traveled the 1500-1800 miles round- trip to attend the Pegasus CDE June 30 through July 1st in Grantsville, Utah. The 10 competitors from Arizona represented nearly 1/3rd of the 34 entries, with other competitors coming from Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, California, and six from Utah. Arizona competitors did very well in awards with five placing First in their class.

The Pegasus CDE was hosted by Carol and Gary Buhler on their property, The Pegasus Event Center, located about 30 miles west of Salt Lake City (in the town of Grantsville) on the southern border of the Great Salt Lake. As in the past two years, the marathon, which meandered around their property and consisted of numerous jumps designed for combined training, was very interesting but challenging. A couple of small hills to climb, a ditch hazard (appropriately named "Death Valley"), and a very inviting water hazard to drive through were among the seven hazards designed.

The event offered Training, Preliminary, and the rare Intermediate Level classes for ponies, horses, pairs, multiples and even Very Small Equines (VSE's). Ilene Davis from Prescott brought her pair of minis as well as Joan Stearns from Cave Creek who brought her single mini to compete Preliminary Level. Both won their respective classes.

Ponies are regaining ground in CDEs as respectable competitors and Mary Anne Boyden, from Cave Creek placed first with her Haflinger in the Single Pony Training Level Class. Also, Arizona duked it out in the Preliminary Level Single Pony as Drew Callahan, from Phoenix, driving Cathy Steel's (from Scottsdale) Haflinger, placed first, besting Mike Dellas, from Phoenix, who placed second driving his Mustang pony mare. Drew also won the Best Dressage, and Best Turnout, while Mike won the Western Zilco Preliminary Pony Challenge for this event giving him a shot at the Championship, which will be held at Lodi, California in October. Carol Stearns, from Phoenix, moved up to Intermediate Level with her Arab/TB pony and was doing well until eliminating at the water hazard by going through a gate backwards. Carol was just happy that her Arab went into the water that she missed noticing a gate change. Carol recouped the next day by having the only clean round in the Cones course for the Intermediate Level.

In the hotly contested Preliminary Single Horse class, Lynn Simpson from Chino Valley placed second with her Morgan, and Dana Moore, from Mesa, placed a very respectable fourth with her Quarter Horse. Josh Rector, from Scottsdale, blew away the Intermediate Level Single Horse competition with his Gumby-like Perchron. Josh had a fantastic score in dressage, then flew through the marathon and even though dropped a few balls in Cones, handily placed First overall. Josh's father, Walt Rector, who also competed Intermediate with his pair of Holsteiners, was first after Dressage, when he eliminated in the Marathon putting him in fourth place. However, Walt, conscious of father-son competition, also recouped when he "beat Josh in Cones".