MYLES STANDISH RIDE/DRIVE  (by Eric Wilking)
For the third year in a row John Huether hosted the Myles Standish Ride/Drive assisted by Linda & Eric Wilking for the Granite State Carriage Association.  This year the State Forest was perfect for the event.  Weather was great with warm daytime temperatures and cool temps at night, great for getting rest for the next day’s drive/ride.

Granite State Carriage Association event host, John Huether, hoses his horse off at one of the wash stations at the horse camping area in Myles Standish State Forest.John had his campsite set up with his “Welcome GSCA” plates and paperwork.  Eric added the new GSCA banner for a final touch.  Most members arrived during the day and evening on Friday and many stayed thru Sunday. The State Forest Horse campground was very busy this year.  Only 3 or 4 campsites of the 35 available were vacant, prompting a reminder here; if you think you would like to join us next year, please plan to reserve a site early.  It seems that the word is out.  We would not yet compare the ride/drive to Acadia, but there are certainly many folks taking advantage of the area and last minute reservations may not be possible for this week next year.

Campground hosts Bob & Pat Desrosiers had the grounds in great shape.  Their passion for helping promote the equine camping is obvious, and during our stay we found out that this was Bob’s 22nd year as campground host.  His efforts have paid off, with a nearly full campground.  Many thanks to Bob and his family for all their efforts in clearing the sites and working with the Myles Standish State Forest to promote equine use of the park.

GSCA carriage driver, Connie Moses, meets up with GSCA riders, Corrin Brennan and Melinda Zimmer-Rankin, and Eric & Linda Wilking’s carriage at  Myles Standish State Forest.Myles Standish State Forest is in Plymouth, MA just a few miles from Rt. 3 from the north or I-495 from the south. A little more than 2 hours from southern NH to the campground, once there you have almost 15,000 acres and hundreds of miles of trails and roads to explore.  Admittedly, there are many more miles suitable for riding than driving, but the Wilkings, Beth Phippard, as well and Connie Moses and Sonja Cahill found new ways to put on 8-10 miles each time they went out.  Cindy Schlener, Cynthia Rizzo, Corin Brennen, John Huether, Vevette Greenburg, Linda Marshall and Angie & Marcus Hauri would come back each day with reports of 15-20 miles of excellent riding.  

Camping with your horse is absolutely the most fun you can have at an outing. Eric says “There is something quite special about having Spinny push her nose into our trailer window, while we were cooking breakfast, looking for that morning treat of an apple or carrots.” The campground is open all summer, so if the weekend we have chosen, doesn’t fit your schedule, please don’t let that stop you from trying this fantastic location.  A little organization and you will have a great time.  Reserve a campsite by logging in to Reserve America, the official company used by Myles Standish State Park.  Once reserved, you just need to select a campsite and check-in at the Forest Headquarters.  Arab/Percheron cross brothers, Glendale & Gilford, owned by Rick & Connie Moses, out for a drive at Myles Standish State Forest. Granite State Carriage Association members chill out after their drives/rides at Myles Standish State Park.

John Huether, Linda & Eric Wilking would like to thank all who helped and attended the event, They look forward to hosting the drive again next year.  Anyone with comments or concerns please take a minute and share them with us so we may continue to make improvements for the drive next year.
                                

ORLETON FARM PLEASURE DRIVING SHOW, COMBINED TEST AND SUPER DERBY (by Eric Wilking)
The Granite State Carriage Association was well represented at the 18th Annual Orleton Farms Pleasure Show, Combined Test and Super Derby in Stockbridge, MA.  Harvey and Mary Waller were great hosts and the Colonial Carriage and Driving Society organized a great show.  Nearly 140 competitors and every driving club in New England had members present volunteering.

Thursday, June 9 started with the Combined Driving Test.  Kelli Gerrior, Amy Sintros and Linda Wilking all competed.  The combined test included dressage, and cones.  
 
On Friday, June 10 was a Super Derby.  Hilary DeAngelis and Linda Wilking competed.  The Super Derby included dressage, cones, and a Derby.  The Derby was a combination of cones and arena type obstacles, driven in order.

Saturday and Sunday, June 11 & 12 were the Pleasure Show. Classes such as reinsmanship, cones, progressive obstacles, a cross country pace – with a twist.  Orleton Farm held a first Super Cross Country, combining the pleasure show pace with Combined Driving Events (CDE) style obstacles. This was a first for the area, but a huge hit with the competitors, especially those that have competed at CDE’s before.  Linda Wilking, Kelli Gerrior, Amy Sintros all competed in the Pleasure Show.

The weather for the most part was great with temperatures in the 70’s.  A quick thunderstorm on Saturday stopped the show for a couple hours and a constant breeze all weekend helped keep the bugs away. A great time was had by all, with competition all weekend and outstanding food and hospitality by Harvey and Mary Waller and Colonial Carriage & Driving Society, the host club each evening.

Upcoming Events
GSCA’s calendar of fun events continues through July and August with our first outing at 19th Century Willowbrook Village in Newfield, Maine.  We are honored and privileged to have been invited to host an event at this very interesting village.  Of course, July also brings our most popular outing at Mt. Chocurua, NH. Two one day events are also on the agenda for August.  We return to the Andover, NH Rail Trail on August 7th and debut a new event at Sanfornton Pemi River Trail. Be sure to check our calendar for details about these upcoming events and more. Remember that riders are also welcomed at GSCA outings, and we offer an opportunity to enjoy venues not otherwise open for equine users.

NEW!  Consolidated Carriage Driving Events Calendar :
Keep up to date with what’s happening in the New England carriage driving world with the new Calendar for carriage driving events online at   Carriage Driving CALENDAR Northeast 2016    Most major driving events and activities in the Northeast region are on this Calendar for 2016. Clubs, clinics, and therapeutic barns are represented and in process. Granite State Carriage Association and Connie Moses have put this Calendar together as a service to the driving community.

GSCA is dedicated to the promotion of safe, recreational, pleasure driving.  Single day and multi-day driving events are held all over New England. Riders are welcome at most events.  Dues are a bargain at only $25 a year (for $1 more, also become an affiliate member of Maine Driving Club!). Participation in most events is free, except for stabling or camping fees or catered meals if applicable.  Find out more about GSCA, and find a Calendar of events.  Find us also on FaceBook – “GSCA Granite State Carriage”