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Indiana Whips & Wheels <http://www.iwwi.org/> is a driving club here in Indiana. When John & I moved here in 1999, we did not know anyone who could help us start into the driving world. We attended a horse related event up at the Hoosier Horse Park and saw a flier for a driving clinic put on by Gina West and Celeste Pitts of the IW&W club. I drove up and took plenty of notes. It was a very good clinic. We joined the club that winter.
At that time we had 9 Morgans. Our old “Grandma mare” (Steppin Jessica) and Kit were the only ones broke to drive. Jessica was old and too stiff and Kit was young inexperienced. Our club members took us in and shared information, trainers, articles, books, videos, demonstrations, equipment, carts and an endless amount of support. For years the club had participated in the Hoosier Horse Fair. We would hire a clinician with club funds and put on at least three demonstrations for the public as well as a Parade of Carriages. Those interested in the driving world could meet club members and their horses at the IWWI booth. Unfortunately the HHF became more expensive and restrictive and we did not participate this past year. Every April, Julia Oliver works her hard to put together a Spring Schooling Show. This is held to create a safe and comfortable place to introduce beginners and first timers to the world of Combined Driving with a Dressage, a Cones Course and Marathon including Hazards. Julia has been successful at getting wonderful judges as Jack Marakian from Michigan and Debbie Banfield from Kentucky. Of all the events the club puts effort into, this is the one that we have appreciated the most. Last year and again this year, Linda Copeland has hosted a three day Super Clinic over the July Fourth holiday. It is three days of intense learning on how to improve your driving skills. She has managed to have Hardy Zanke as the clinician in 2005 & 2006 and Mike McKlennan in 2008. Those auditing the clinic (observing) has an advantage over those bringing their horses because they get to sit and listen and watch each participant. July is the Play Day at Hoosier Horse Park. We gather and practice and play. There is not a clinician or judge, just all of us helping each other. Julia Oliver will critique your dressage pattern and give pointers to help. Our last event is a grand one! The Indiana Combined Driving Event. Once you have participated in a CDE like this your life will be changed! In my opinion, part of the reason this sport is so successful is the horses themselves are happy. They are not going around in circles in an arena doing the same thing all the time. They are outside on a large open grass area bending and relaxing then collecting in different driving patterns all developed for the mental and physical well being of the horse. Then they are driven through a flowing cones course which the horse gets to stretch out a little and play. There isn’t a horse (or driver) out there that doesn’t love the marathon! A horse gets to fly through the county side with a purpose! The previous Dressage and Cones course has prepared them well. |
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Indiana Whips & Wheels |
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May 2005 Schooling Show John with Laura Clarahan and Kit, Gene and Nancy Rebman with Angel |
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TWIN RIVERS MORGANS |
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September ICDE 2005 Kit in the water hazard. Kitty driving & Laura Clarahan navigating. |
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Twin River Morgans |