Recent content by rbrown

Combined driving is the most fun horse activity I've ever participated in I'm a combined driving addict!! I've found everyone to be very welcoming and supportive of people who are just getting into combined driving. At least on the east coast, I've found lots of beginner-friendly events that...

Check SNECDA (Southern New England Carriage Driving Association) events as well- I believe our first event is an ADT in Berlin, MA in April It's a ton of fun- very laid back and full of useful feedback to get the show season off to a great start.

They are mom/daughter and are best buds. They have a lot of patience with each other (and with me!). This is the only photo I've taken of them driving- it's from my phone so a bit blurry, and doesn't really show their height difference... but it does show off their fabulous matching tails...

This is a timely post, as I will be putting my two together this winter/spring (all of this snow and ice has thrown a wrench in my plans!!). Kandy is 36.5" and Skippy is 39". I ground drove them a dozen or so times in November and December, and they worked so well together that I went ahead...

I love both of my Camptowns. My show harness is brass/patent with the regular freedom curved collar, and my everyday and marathon harness has stainless fittings and the new breastcollar design that reduces neckstrap pressure, plus a custom saddle for my narrow, high-withered mare. I upgraded...

No one here on the east coast has had a problem with me using the Bike on marathon for CDEs/HDTs/scurries, etc. You may need to buy solid wheels, as that's the only thing I've had to do to be CDE-legal when I moved up to Prelim. I always ask permission to use the Bike before events and no one...

I love, love, love my Hyperbike! I drive it almost daily, sometimes twice a day. I use it on the marathon portion for CDEs, and use a Bellcrown for dressage/cones. The only drawback of the 'bike for me is that I can't use it in all 3 phases (I suppose you technically might be able to-...

When I got Kandy as a 2-year-old, she was such a little stinker. She had way too much energy and very little training. She could be quite nasty- kicking, rearing, biting, bolting, dragging me around... There were many, many days in the first few months I had her that I was very tempted to...

One of my mares currently has front shoes made out of Vettec Superfast. They're a little slippery on pavement but otherwise they work great for her needs- she was ouchy on gravel and we were competing at an event that entailed a few km of trotting on dirt roads.

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet- might she have a physical issue that's causing this behavior? My Skippy was a little stinker about moving forward last year. I was getting really frustrated because she is such a nice horse. I had a chiropractor work on hert several times, and saw...

I used two cheap, basic timers (the ones with only start and stop, so I wouldn't be accidentally hitting other buttons) that I had laying around in my classroom. Worked fine! One timer counted up, and I set the other to count down. I also used a manual tally counter that I found cheaply on...

I use a butterfly bean link from Iowa Valley Carriage (looks very similar to the one you posted) my both of my horses. I almost always drive with the reins in the top loop/snaffle position and without a curb chain, so it functions as a snaffle rather than a leverage bit. I put my green mare in...

Not sure how far you are from me (I'm in eastern MA) but I used Ed Dillon a few months ago and he's great with my two minis. I don't have his number on hand but I am sure I can find it if you can't find his info online. I'm at a decent-sized boarding facility and they've been using him for...

I agree about the Minicrown seat. I was all set to order a Minicrown with a higher seat back, and then I found an almost new one near by so I ended up buying that and saving $500. The second time I used it, Kandy spooked at a dog that flew out of the bushes- she turned sharply and bolted. I...

The rough cheek setting on a liverpool would probably be comparable to the lower slot of a kimberwick, leverage-wise. I love Iowa Valley Carriage for bits- Sandee is very helpful and might be able to find something close to what you're looking for if you call/email her and describe what you need.