HACA

What is a Swap Drive?

2007-05-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

There have been quite a few questions regarding the Swap Drive on May 26, so thought i would post the answers to all.

This is a FUN day. To be entered by the greenest of green and the most experienced driver and horse. This is the event to move up to prelim if you are training, and want more of a challenge, or move back down to training to perfect a move or relax your horse. This is the best introduction to competition, as there will be lots of experienced folks .to help. This event will give you a taste of competition without the pressure. Let you experience all the elements of a CDE, but in a relaxed setting.

And by switching out and judging a hazard or cones, it lets you observe all sorts of driving styles and techniques. This is a learning/sharing day. It's also a day to get to know other drivers. So, come and have fun, this is a great opportunity to learn and find out what you need to work on for the the fall Plum Creek CDE and Haven Hill Driving Trial. And even if you don't want to drive, come out and have fun, learn, watch and volunteer...

Terry

Distance Driving Speaker

2007-05-07T06:28:00.001-07:00

Distance and all drivers - come to the meeting Wednesday, May 9th. This is an educational meeting presented by the Distance Driving committee, but good information for all drivers wanting to get their horses in condition. I have secured Del Pueblo Mexican Restaurant in Montgomery for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. At the Southeast corner of 105 and 149 in Montgomery. There is a strip center behind the McDonald's. Del Pueblo is back in there in the corner.

This is so people can go early for supper. They will have an area set up for us under my name. Darolyn will speak, beginning at 7:15ish; hopefully, she can be there ahead of time also. I really hope that everyone will take advantage of this opportunity, whether or not they ever plan to do a distance drive. Darolyn has spoken at many affairs and is highly sought after. We are lucky to have her in our area.

Thank you very much.

Stella Gordon
pinkjohnclyde@yahoo.com

Busy Spring

2007-05-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

There are loads of fun driving opportunities during the next couple of months. Highlights include freestyle dressage, CDE schooling and volunteer training, distance drive without roads or traffic and a fun/educational show day.

Check out www.texasdrivingclubs.com to get all the details.

Thanks from Plum Creek

2007-04-28T06:13:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone:

Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all the support you have offered to the recent Plum Creek CDE. Course, I especially want to thank the people who made the drive up to volunteer. I can’t thank enough those who were here all 3 days. And, the weather cooperated, which was amazing! Tuesday evening we had quite a bit of damage done to the Lockhart area and Chuck was out yesterday accessing the damage at the ranch. Yep, more puddles and mud.

We’re already getting ready for the October event, which is scheduled for October 13-14, 2007. Yep, it’ll be a 2-day event. We look forward to you competing, but if you can’t we always love to have you volunteer. We’re going to be posting some work/fun days at the ranch here soon, so watch your email.

Again, thanks for all you have done to bring CDE’s back to Texas.

Lisa H. Cox
Tai-Pan Station
6546 FM 1854
Dale, TX 78616
Phone: (512)601-1181
Mobile: (512)923-8674

Cinco de Mayo drive in Round Top

2007-04-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

Preliminary information about the Drive:

Don't forget, Sat. May 5 is our Cinco de Mayo celebration ride/drive on a 1,000 acre ranch in Round Top. Dress festive. We'll start at 10 am and drive until lunch at 12:30. Our hosts will serve sausage wraps for us! Everyone please bring a side dish to contribute. I'll have cones and miles of trail marked. I may set up one hazard in the trees. Do as you please please drive. Varied terrain, some open, some hills, some trees, etc. Drive again after lunch. I'll post directions and a release on Tues for everyone. Please RSVP by Tues so our hosts can plan lunch.
Mary Ann Swim 979-278-4000 or theranch@industryinet.com.

Board Meeting tonight

2007-04-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder for the HACA meeting tomorrow evening, April 24th at the Denny's at 290 & 1488 @ 6:30 in the eve...........come join us, have a voice in the club and help us plan this years activities.............
Send all suggestions for agenda to Lew Smith, HACA president.........{newly retired, from Mon-Fri work}....... ..liebchensranch@aol.com or you can just reply here and i will forward.

come join us, Terry

Plum Creek CDE entries still open

2007-04-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, all you procrastinators! Entry deadline has been extended for the Plum Creek CDE in Lockhart Texas. This is a chance to participate in a first rate event close to home!

Contacts are listed in the previous post.

Calling is better than email. Smiles.

Linda

Plum Creek Contacts

2007-03-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

Plum Creek CDE
April 20-22, 2007
Lockhart, Texas

Entries: Jamie Leshikar 512-376-2602

Volunteers: Lisa Cox: taipanstation@ev1.net
phone 512-601-1181, cell 512-923-8674

Silent Auction: Cathy Merritt: jmhomes@gvtc.com
830-755-8708, cell is 210-364-7602

Plum Creek CDE

2007-03-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Plum Creek CDE , April 20-22 is only 5 weeks away. I know that there are are couple of events before this one that has your attention, but Plum Creek needs your entries or if you are not going to compete, consider volunteering for the event.

It's a fun event, in a unique old western town setting. The Leshikars are great hosts and outdid themselves last year with a great venue, hospitality, and great food. The Leshikar family and friends worked tirelessly to pull this event off last year and will do the same this year.

Last year, i think they had 17-18 entries, this year, it would be great if that doubled........Last year several of you volunteered for part or all of the event and it would be great if you could do that again this year.

If you want to enter, call Jamie Leshikar 512-376-2602, if you want to volunteer, email Lisa Cox above. If you want to donate to the silent auction, email Cathy Merritt above.

thanks

From Candy Smith

2007-03-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

NOT JUST ANOTHER Saturday in Brenham, Texas. First, today was glorious weather. Perfect conditions for any season. Second, I caught up on my rest and didn't rush like my normal mad weekday dash. Phoenix time is my time, and one to enjoy. Through the kindness of Anna Perkinson (and her hubby-gator Dennis), I was invited to join the Houston Area Carriage Association "Play Day" at Mike and Jerry McLennan's lovely Pecan Mill ranch just outside of Brenham. The grounds were breathtaking and I know Phoenix's eyes bulged at the sight of lush green grass growing everywhere. We can only guess where his attention was today.To give you a visual idea of the grounds, there was an easy way to warm up on the 1K grass track that surrounded the dressage arena and cones course. I likened it to a moat as there was a drop off nearly around the whole perimeter to probably save the dressage arena during the monsoon/hurricane season.Scattered throughout the grounds were several permanent hazards including one water hazard, adjacent to it was one of round/wooden pole fence sections that resembled a wheel spoke with a big tree in the middle as the hub, a fairlytight hazard consisting of quite a number of round bales, one that was made of metal piping that looked like three rows of parallel fence with strategically placed openings throughout, and some barrels further up.On arriving, I tested my memory of some new names and faces, as well as some of the people I met in 2005. Terry Arnold, Linda & Keith Yutzy, Karen Garrett, Anna & Dennis Perkinson, Judy & Ron, Vita, Joan, Sandy Smith, oh, there were so many more and I hope to not offend anyone by having such terrible recall... Thank goodness Jerry McLennan put name tags on us in bright green duct tape!!!The dressage arena was being routinely used, so I focused on the things I don't normally get to practice at Tom's. Namely the cones course. Wickedly fun, difficult, and huge. I walked it from the carriage and coming out of "9" I could not find 10, which was one of those "OVER THERE" signals from Anna. It was far enough away that I couldn't read the numbers. [check failing sight along with hard of hearing...] Then we trotted it.Mind you, I needed to go "carefully" as when I unloaded Phoenix I found he had forged his right front and had slightly pulled and twisted the outer leg of his shoe. I did put on his pretty purple (slightly too small) boots to protect him from really grabbing the shoe, but the grass was slick and he was not completely comfortable in his movements (or was it that idea of dropping his head to eat on the go?). Anyway, the course gave me lots to think about regarding driver error and fixes in my communication with Phoenix when not going down a straight track or being serious in practice of dressage movements.Finishing up the cones, I picked up Dennis and we went exploring in the hazards. Walking Phoenix through and then trotting. After a couple of turns around the one with the tree (I bypassed the water and mud since I didn't want to suck off that shoe), Phoenix got the idea we were really playing and started to anticipate my changes in direction. Time to move to the next hazard.Needless to say, Dennis and I had fun discussing the approach, options and flowing lines of each hazard we played in. It only took me about 6 times to get it "right" for an "A" through "F" play in the round bales. I may never have a good enough memory for advanced!!!Afterwards, I decided to not tempt fate with all of the grass and loaded Phoenix into the trailer to munch down on a hay bag and have available water. This so I could join the rest of the drivers up at Mike & Jerry's house for an afternoon get together pot luck. Jerry had cooked up a brisket that was definitely melt in your mouth. Lots of good food, followed by cakein honor of Sandy Smith's birthday.By the time I got back to the trailer, it was already 3:00 so I decided to play it safe and not challenge that loose shoe. We did some more socializing and then headed back to Navasota. Great time. I think I'll join the local clubs since moving into an apartment and figuring I'll be an honorary Texan for awhile...

From Cat Cook

2007-03-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

Dear HACA Members,
There's been so much going back and forth about involvement in our driving club lately, so when I was asked to compose this message, I gladly accepted. It gives me an opportunity to offer my suggestions as to how each of us can stay involved and keep our sport healthy in Texas.
As most of you may already know, the North Texas Whip is putting on an ADS sanctioned horse driving trial later this month. I'm using this event as an example for how each of us can stay involved and support driving no matter what our personal situation is.
First, thanks to dues from members and participation of many of those members in club fund raisers like the Market Street Christmas Parade, HACA was able to purchased a full page ad in the event's program. Thanks to board member, Terri Arnold, who paid the extra charge for color printing, it will be not only informational, but also impressive! Next we have the physical and financial support shown by entering the event. I've heard of several HACA members who are entering, and I know from past experience they will have a fun and rewarding experience. Then we have those of us who -- for one reason or another -- aren't able to enter, but who volunteer to help at the event. Since I don't have a horse with which to compete at this time, I'm volunteering to help this year. Of course not everyone can enter or volunteer for numerous valid reasons, but they still wish to show support. Not to worry -- we have the option of making a financial contribution like Terry did. There are classes to sponsor, awards to purchase, and judges to pay, house and feed . . . -- in other words, any amount or designation of contribution is helpful and appreciated. Thus a driving event in Texas is getting the support it so deserves.
I hope each of you are able to find a way to comfortably support the NTW Sunrise Ridge Horse Driving Trial as well other events closer to home such as the Plum Creek CDE's, the Haven Hill Horse Driving Trial, etc.
We have some wonderful opportunities opening up to us as carriage drivers in Texas, and I pray each of us is able to enthusiastically participate in their development, continuation, and improvement. Thanks for "hearing" me out in this email message. I pray you all have safe driving and are always able to experience and . . .
Expect Miracles!
CAT

March 3 Play Day

2007-02-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

Mike and Jerry McLennan have graciously offerred to host a day of pleasure driving at their place in Brenham on March 3, 2007.

Mike says that Tomya Groth refers to this type of day as a Wisconsin Pleasure Drive– do what you want – no head to tail, unless you want to; roads (we'll have maps), tracks, cones, dressage, hazards. Pot luck lunch, bring your favorite side dish, Jerry and Mike will provide the the meat. HACA will bring some water and paper products.

No fee, just come to have fun. Start arriving at 9ish, but it's not a big deal - when you get here, you will be doing what ever you want to do anyway.

For those of you who have not been to Mike and Jerry's place, it is wonderful.......South of Brenham on country roads, complete with cones area, dressage arena and hazards. Big wide open areas, a dirt road through the property, with a good size hill and more level roads in the front of the property. The address is 3000 Pecan Mill Road, Brenham, 75069, so google for the address and directions.

See ya there..and thanks to the McLennans.

Blog on site

2007-01-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

This blog is now available directly from the Texas Driving Clubs and the HACA websites. Check for the latest in what's happening!

Board Meeting, Jan 30, 2007

2007-01-22T05:34:00.000-08:00

Linda, thanks for creating the blog for all members to post news, current events, questions, etc. The next membership and board meeting is set for January 30th, 7PM at Dennys on 290 & 1488. We have a variety of topics to include building out the HACA equipment trailer, ADS Super Clinic, Upcoming events, Vet compensation, and club communication. See you there.

HACA blogs on

2006-12-22T10:18:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the easy way to keep up with all the activities of the Houston Area Carriage Association.