One of High Country Carriage Driving Club’s 2010 resolutions is to seek out and make welcome to the driving community new drivers, navigators, ground crew and future drivers. Driving, as an equine discipline, is enjoying increasing popularity. That may be, in part, because it is such a social hobby, encouraging not just individuals, but friends, couples, parent-child teams, and whole families, to take up the sport. After all, what other equine activity allows you to include everyone you know, including the neighbour, dog, and grandma, in your fun?

If you are one of the many who are considering a wheeled venture into the equine world, High Country would like to introduce you to the many possibilities. Some people are able to adapt their current equine — be it donkey, mule or horse, miniature, pony, saddle or draft sized — to the sport. Others like to start with a seasoned, proven equine, under the guidance of a knowledgeable friend or coach. While some new drivers are attracted by the recreational side of the sport — picnic outings and sleigh rides with family and friends, trail driving with a group — others are challenged to hone horsemanship skills and become competitive at distance driving, driven dressage, or combined driving. And for people who admire the traditional or the “dress-up” aspects of the discipline, there is the lure of show ring driving classes.

Why come to High Country? Such an easy answer — the amazing resources that you immediately have at your disposal make High Country the number one choice for new drivers. It’s true! In fact, that is exactly why I joined the club in the first place.

When I decided to make driving my next horse sport focus, I checked out a couple of local events put on by High Country and chatted with members about the possibility of grooming for someone, or helping out at events, to start familiarizing myself with the accepted practices and standards. At the first meeting I attended, I found out about the club’s huge and comprehensive library — and proceeded to borrow and read most of the books in stock. I was training a group of miniature donkeys at the time for a client who wanted a six-up. I had only worked with singles and pairs at that point, so I found an experienced club member who willingly showed me the ropes — and lines, and poles, and double trees, etc. — and taught me to be proficient with it all! And joining the club gave me access to coaches and clinicians brought in from all over North America and Europe to broaden my understanding. Plus, the club put on fun events and practices that gave me the opportunity to get my animals out on private land with beautiful driving arenas, trails, and terrain that otherwise would not have been accessible. And then there was the club’s own facility at the Calgary Polo Club grounds. The chance to drive there was a lure all in itself.

Of course, that was many years ago! Now, the resources have expanded, with many new members, new ideas, new events, new venues, the development of local accredited coaches, and ongoing improvements to the High Country driving facilities at the Polo grounds. The club has its own dressage field (smooth as a baby’s bottom), miles of perimeter trails (for the cross-country feel), safe, covered stalls for day or overnight use, and of course, the built hazards, all of which can be used for training, enjoyment, and lessons year-round (or as ground-conditions permit!) It really couldn’t get much better than that, could it?

THIS YEAR’S CLUB CALENDAR INCLUDES, TO DATE:

• March 20: savvy competitor’s clinic (for drivers and navigators/grooms)

• April (TBA): dressage clinic

• May (TBA): meet the coaches/ trainers/mentors

• May 29-30: spring driving trials

• June (TBA): demonstration by international clinician Bill Lower

• July 11: trail riding

• July 24-25: treasure hunt and distance drive at Calgary Polo Club grounds

• Aug. 7: sporting day of driving

• Sept. (TBA): driving trials

Watch for more information on these and other upcoming events in future newsletters.

For more information on exactly how to get involved in the High Country club and its activities, contact Don or Merle Mason at (403) 946-5406 or dhmason@aol.com, Ted Swendson at (403) 256-7171, or Ken McLennan at (403) 938-5069 or any other club member that you know.