The Hawaii Carriage Driving Society is continuing a Carriage Driving/Equine Training Clinic starting at 9 a.m. through March 6 at the Panaewa Equestrian Center in Hilo with seats still available for this weekend’s sessions.
The Hawaii Carriage Driving Society is continuing a Carriage Driving/Equine Training Clinic starting at 9 a.m. through March 6 at the Panaewa Equestrian Center in Hilo with seats still available for this weekend’s sessions.
The clinic covers the topics of carriage horse and equine training, harness and vehicle selection, design of obstacle and cones courses, with a fun-day drive on Sunday. All clinic participants will have an opportunity to drive. Even if your horse/equine is not quite ready, you will drive horses that are.
The clinician is Jody Cutler from California, an accomplished carriage driver and competitor. She drives her Welsh ponies single, pairs, tandem and four in hand for pleasure and in American Driving Society shows and events. Cutler has served as president of the American Driving Society, and sits on the board of the U.S. Equestrian Federation and Driving for the Disabled.
Cutler and her husband, Greg, own Oak Run Farms in California. They organize several annual events including the Pacific Region Driven Dressage Festival, a fall pleasure show, several combined driving events, and recently a clinic for drivers in wheelchairs.
The Hawaii Carriage Driving Society was formed in 2013 by like-minded equestrians to promote the art and skill of carriage driving.
“We have put on three carriage driving shows and competitions, participated in fun drive and picnic days, and had our carriages in the Merrie Monarch, Kona Kamehameha Day and Honokaa Western Week parades,” said society member John FitzGerald. “We are an active organization looking for new members who would like to learn about the skills of carriage driving and enjoy the fellowship of other carriage driving enthusiasts.”
The cost for the Saturday and Sunday clinics is $35 for HCDS members and $40 for nonmembers; children 15 and younger are free. Bring a potluck lunch. The private and group lessons during the week will cost the same for an hour-and-a-half lesson at a place of your choice.
For more information, call FitzGerald at 987-4947 or e-mail fitzz@maui.net.