Professional Carriage Driving!

Dec 10, 2006

Time to finish packing the house and load up all the animals to make my final trip down to SC. Irene Gillis came up to help haul ponies and Betsy Smith dropped everything she was doing to haul some more. All in all, we had 14 horses/ponies, 14 sheep, 4 dogs and a cat in three trucks and trailers!

We made it down in about 11 hrs and all the animals and people were really glad to get out and stretch their legs!

We'd already gotten alot of fencing done and the barn was ready, so all but the sheep got to go out in fields for the night. They got to go out the next day when I could watch them and make sure they were ok.

The farm is quite different from the Bluemont property. It's very flat, and the grass dies back in the cold weather, but in it's own way, it's just as pretty. We can see the sunsets now instead of having them blocked by the mountain, and it's very peaceful with no traffic noise.

There is a big 8 stall center aisle barn and lots of pasture now that we finished the fencing. All the pastures have water and sheds and there are separate paddocks for visiting horses.There's a big oak tree that has somehow been named "Old Joe" in the middle of the property that looks just the place to sit and watch the ponies and sheep. Very nice indeed! There are miles and miles of hard packed sand roads without a rock in sight to drive on--one goes by a couple of lovely ponds and through piney woods. The footing is so good, you hardly need shoes on the ponies! All that and very little traffic make this driving heaven!

This is Webbs Pond, one of the lovely sights on a 7 mile drive.

Mary Horne came down for a week or so to drive and have a bit of warmer weather. While she was here, she got to drive Julia Thieriot's mini, Short Stuff. Both Mary and Short had a great time!

The past month or so have been taken up with lambing. I have 10 ewes, mostly Tunis, and I raise the lambs to sell them to friends for freezer lamb. It's hard to think of actually eating them when they are so cute and small, but by the time they are ready to go, they seem like feral sheep and I'm not sad to see the end of them! But, boy, are they cute now!

I have a wonderful guard dog out with my sheep to guard against coyotes. We had one episode with Doug's cat being bitten by a coyote when we first moved down, but haven't seen or heard one since, due, no doubt to Muttley! He lives out with the sheep, sleeps all day, and barks at night if he sees something he doesn't like. Thank God we don't have any really close neighbors!

Louie went to his first show at Black Prong in Feb where he really made a splash by winning best overall Training Level. He went to a couple of shows 2 years ago, but hasn't been to anything recently except in hand shows. He was awarded Pony of the Year by the American Warmblood Society and did very well at Dressage at Devon in hand in the Mountain and Moorland and Connemara classes, but Black Prong was really his debut into the world of combined driving. I couldn't have been more pleased with the way he went.

Last weekend we went to Linda Long's one day show in Southern Pines and he won his first Preliminary dressage and went clean in cones as well. He's on his way for sure!

Spring has sprung at Shepherd's Purse south with the awful job of clipping. Yuck! Kat, the wonderful person who is helping me now, wanted to learn to clip, so I threw her in at the deep end with Irene Gillis' pony Gunner. As you can see from the picture, Kat has most of Gunner's fur on her! Apparently, her clothes are still on the porch waiting for the birds to pick the hair off for nests! She did a great job, though, and is actually asking when she can clip another pony!

Murdo, the Gypsy colt I imported last summer, continues to grow and enchant everyone with his wonderful character. His feathers are growing too and we will probably start him in harness this summer sometime.

There are lots of plans in the works for Shepherd's Purse now. This week, the machines are coming in to clear the house site and make me a flatter dressage ring, and the log house we're going to build will be on it's way soon. I have many clinics to do ( see the clinics/shows page) and lots of ponies in for training with some waiting in the wings. I love having visitors and guests and we have tons of guest rooms available and stalls open for horses.

1-07-07

First of all, I want to apologize for my not updating this website for so long. We've been so busy with everything down here in SC that I haven't had any extra time at all!

Spring finally came after a lovely winter of no snow, and with it came Janelle, back from her home in Australia where she went after our summer in England. We're thrilled to have her back and now she's the assistant trainer at Shepherd's Purse and is available for lessons also.

I think the most important thing that has been happening here is our house going up. It's been a real thrill to watch it grow from just a dream to a reality. From the first day of site prep, with all the excitement of finally getting started to getting to choose the things we really want to have in the house. Our crews have been so much fun to work with. The site prep crew were a couple of guys who are "competitve coon hunters"! I never even knew there was competitive coon hunting! They would get here around 10 am and leave at 2 pm in order to get ready for hunting at night.

The day the logs finally came was really exciting. They came all the way from Idaho on a couple of trucks that found their way to Williston, SC somehow. It was fascinating to watch them just being unloaded. The "stacking crew" came from Tennessee via Alabama. What a nice bunch of guys, except I just can't understand the Alabama accent! One of them introduced himself as Tam, so I called him Tam for a couple of weeks until my husband told me his name was Tim! Oops! He didn't seem to mind, though.

We had a "roof tree party" when they put the ridge beam up and invited all the people who were working on the house. It was the first of the many parties we hope to have in our new house.

We're almost there now and expect to move in by the end of Feb. which is a good thing as I'm expecting a lot of people to come to our driving camp and for vacations and need the other house for them! Hopefully we won't be living over at the house site in the camper!

Over the summer, we had a lot of fun. I have a new friend who is a circus trainer from Russia who is working with some of my ponies teaching them tricks. We had a party for her and showed my Gypsy Cob colt and our farm mascot mini (overgrown). They were stars! The mini, Mr. Nibs, actually didn't want to stop performing and kept doing tricks so he'd get more carrots! He's a total ham at heart. Luba Kim is due to go on the road with Cole Bros. Circus in March. If you get the chance, go see her and her sons who juggle together while standing on the backs of their horses. Way fun! Tell her Muffy sent you!

In the fall, I resurrected Team Flea for two shows. I haven't driven the four in hand for about 6 years and it was really fun to get back to it. The ponies seemed to enjoy it too. We did the Katydid CDE and Pine Tree CDE in Southern Pines and had a ball. The Fleas still remain my best friends and the source of so much pleasure for me.

We took them to a club drive in the Audubon Center outside of Aiken and a visitor to the farm, Laurie, got to drive them. She'd never driven a team before and didn't stop grinning for days!

Kat got to ride Gnat a bit while my sister Tory was here. She even rode her own horse, a big Morgan mare, out with Tory on her quarter horse.

In September, we took Rocky, owned by Mary Horne, and Snowy to a pleasure show in NC. I was really pleased with both of them at their first show. They came away with firsts and seconds, and upheld the fact that DARTMOORS RULE!!!

Snowy is still for sale and is going really well in harness and under saddle. He's ready for a loving home and his own person. You couldn't find a nicer pony anywhere! He was so quiet and calm at the pleasure show, standing out in the waiting ring as long as I needed him to, and giving his best in the ring. What a nice pony!

Janelle got to drive Wendy O'Brien's pair of German Riding Ponies at the fall shows. They were in training with us all summer and she did really well, getting second at Laurels and first at Katydid. Well done, Janelle! Next year, watch for them with Wendy driving them!

Christmas came all too fast and our first year here in SC came to an end. We've accomplished an amazing amount in just one year, and have great plans for next year too. Janelle and I are breaking two youngsters right now, a Connemara gelding who will be for sale, and a Morgan filly owned by Kate Farris of Ensignsgrace Farm in MD who I hope to show in the future. It's so much fun to watch the babies come along in their education. It's what I love to do best, I think.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and my New Year's resolution is to update my website on a more regular basis! Wish me luck!

Jan. 27

13 people came to the first Shepherd's Purse Arena Trial to compete for glory and horse snacks in Training, Prelim and Advanced levels. Nancy Tomlinson judged dressage and Shelley Temple filled in as cones judge for the day. Bill Allen from Winsor ended up over all best score of the day.

Helen Naylor of Aiken, SC, brought her big mare Roxy out for her first ADT experience. She's been working on stepping up a level to Prelim and had a credible dressage score of 51. Way to go, Helen and Roxy!

For quite a few competitors, it was the first time they had shown in an ADT and I think everyone had a great time. I'm already getting entries for the next one!

One of the first timers, Ginny Brooks, from Aiken, ended up winning training level after a bumpy start when her carriage seat broke and couldn't be repaired. With a bit of adjustment, we outfitted her and her pony with one of our carriages, and she carried on to win!

Wendy O'Brien brought her new pair out. Actually, one old pony and one new one, and went slowly but carefully in the hazards after winning the training level dressage with them. Great go for their first time. She also drove the other "old" pony single and went really fast in the hazards.

Suzy Stafford edged out Tracy Morgan in the Advanced division with a total score of 103.3.

Thank you to all the competitors and volunteers!

We're looking forward to the next one on Feb. 18th. I hope lots of people will come out and learn about ADTs. What a great venue for everyone!

March 2007

from March 19-25 we had the first Shepherd's Purse Adult Driving Camp and it was really fun. Rebecca came all the way from New Mexico, Barbara and Matthew from Ohio, another Rebecca from Tenn., Marty from MD and Laurie from Minn. 

We drove, drove and drove some more, but there was also lots of time for massages--my massage therapist, Louise--came over every day. We also went to the training track one day and the track kitchen for breakfast, and one afternoon my horse dentist came and gave a wonderful presentation including 3 skulls of horses who apparently died from lack of tooth care. That was very interesting. It was amazing to me how fast the week went and how much everyone learned.

One afternoon we took the day off and went to watch the Coaching Club meet at the Audubon Center. It was lovely seeing all those beautiful turnouts all in one place.

We had people of all experience levels from advanced level pair drivers to absolute beginners. I had planned to hold the last arena trial as kind of a "comencement" for the end of camp and at first I thought I might have overfaced a few of the campers, but the person who had never ever driven before ended up with a 46 in dressage and I wasn't even judging!

It was thrilling to see how everyone improved and we will definitely be giving two more camps next year, one probably in January and one again in March. Please contact me if you'd like more information on the camps.

Things didn't calm down after the camp, either, with people coming in with their horses for training or others stopping off for a week or two on their way up from Florida. It's so much fun to have people come and stay for awhile. It makes lessons so much better if there are a few days of follow up instead of just an hour at a clinic. Seems like it's much easier to learn that way and it sure is easier on me, too!

We now have the whole house for rent by the room or entirely. We can sleep 8 friendly people or 6 really comfortably. The house has a full kitchen and 4 bedrooms with two baths. It's got 3 living rooms and is very close to the barn and very comfortable. Now that we are in our new house, it is open for people to stay in . Please email or call me for availability and rates.

I've got a new pony! Watch for him as he adjusts to his new life and becomes a wonderful CDE pony. I really think this one has what it takes. It's going to be fun bringing him along.

Janelle's pony is really coming along also. He's a 4 yr old Connemara and is doing really well at Training Level now. She plans to sell him in the fall, so if you're looking for a lovely driving large pony, he might be the one! Watch for him at the shows this summer and fall. He's going to be good!

5/11/08 I am so remiss at keeping this website up to date that I don't know where to start!

I think I'll start with the end of last fall with the Tryon Pleasure show. We took a couple of minis and my Jasper pony and had a ball for two days of pleasure classes and dressage. It was Valerie's first time out and she did really well.

She got to try lots of different cones courses and Tally loved them all! He's a great mini for her to learn the ropes with as he's not the easiest thing to drive, but is safe and enjoys himself

Janelle took Nibs, who is the first mini we got. He came from VA and was terrorizing some kids' ponies to the extent they couldn't ride in the same field with him! Now he likes going to shows and Janelle plans to put him in a tandem for the ADTs next winter. He did really well at the pleasure show, ending up mini champion with lots and lots of ribbons

At Christmas, the Aiken Driving Club puts on a Christmas games kind of drive. It's tons of fun and costumes are encouraged, so we all went to town, again with the minis. They lend themselves to being dressed up! Suzie Dixon from outside of Seattle came to stay with us for most of the winter, renting a cottage in town and coming out to drive every day. She had a very inventive costume for Cowboy, Nancy Tomlinson's mini who is staying with us. We were all decked out and caused quite a stir on the streets of Aiken.

The winter season started off with a bang with our ADTs every month We had a great group of people come for every one and they were all well filled. It's such a great venue for people to get their young horses out or to hone their skills for the next CDE season. We had a mini division, however small, and will continue with that next year, hoping to include a mini tandem challenge. I'm finding out that these minis really fill a niche and am having a great time with all of mine.

Nell Hamlen drove one of my Fleas in the first ADT just to "get her feet wet". She did very well and the Flea was excited to get back to work.

We put a mini tandem together, longlining them one day and driving them the next. Too much fun! The one in the lead is one we rescued from a sale here in SC and the wheeler is one Martha found me in VA. Both are beginner safe, but competitive enough to have a ball with at the ADTs.

At Christmas, we went to visit our son, Jesse, and his new wife, Jenny. They actually got married on Ground Hog's Day outside in NH where they live. Thank goodness we all still had warm coats to wear, so it wasn't too bad. Actually, it was beautiful and I wish them all luck. It's just too bad that they live so far from us. Too cold for me up there, though!

The February camp was small with only 5 people. Two other people had to cancel at the last minute, but it worked out well with lots of time to drive and play. We had campers from MD, SC,IA,NC, and ME. Abilities ranged from advanced prelim to beginner and everyone improved so much over the week. We culminated the week by attending the one day event given at Katydid by Jennifer Matheson who even put in a mini division that one of the campers drove in. Sheryl  from IA drove Poppy, a Dartmoor, to a win in the single pony division. It was her first time doing a CDE and she did magnificently!

Marty, from MD, came again this year and got to drive a pair of minis as well as a pair of Dartmoors. She also navigated for me with the mini pair and had to wade through the water hazard when Flake (the one on the right) decided that there were aligators in there!

A month later was the March camp. People came to this one from GA, MI, SC, ME,CO and NY. We were full up with 8 drivers who had a bit more experience than the first group. We still had time to go to the Track Kitchen in Aiken for breakfast one day and do some well earned "retail therapy" one afternoon. We ended this camp with an ADT here at the farm where the campers could test the new skills they'd developed over the week and all were very pleased with the progress they'd made. Andrea (picture) has now gone out and bought an ECC marathon carriage and will make her CDE debut at the CCC HDT in May! How's that for enthusiasm!

There were a few combined tests given by Renie Gillis to practice dressage and cones, and Jasper never seemed to be ready to go, so I again pressed the minis into service. The last one was judged by a well known trainer (who shall remain nameless as she gave me a 32.7 in dressage and I don't want to embarrass her!) I've never gotten that low a score and I think the minis wowed her with their "cute factor", but it was tons of silly fun.

After the camps were done for the year, showing started up again for us with the Southern Pines CDE. Jasper, my brown pony who did so well last year, got very sick over the winter due to a spider bite, I think. We almost lost him, but the wonderful vets at UGA pulled him though and he's coming back strong. I only went HC at Southern Pines, though, as it's been a long haul and he wasn't fit enough to do the whole marathon, so we only did Sec. E. He was awesome in the hazards, so I'm confident that he will continue to improve. Janelle drove Johnny again at Prelim and did a respectable job indeed. He's learning his job now and is going forward well in the hazards while his dressage is getting better and better. He is still for sale to the right person and is a lovely ride/drive top of the line large pony.

A few weeks after Southern Pines was the Aiken Driving Club pleasure show. The minis were again pressed into service, this time with Janelle's parents on the box seats. Phil, her dad, drove Cowboy to great ribbons while Glenda drove the little pair to a Kutzman Mini FeelX. Unfortunately, I had to be out of town again, so I wasn't there to cheer them on, but it looked like they did just fine without me!

Brammie from ME went to this show also after having her ponies come down after Christmas to get fit for the season. She had to take days to dig her trailer out to get here for the March camp! Lucky ponies to be able to winter here in SC instead of Maine!

Next came the new Georgia CDE. I was away in TX, so couldn't go, but Janelle took Valerie and Tally to their 2nd cde, their first being Black Prong this past winter. Val did great in dressage, but got eliminated with a bunch of others by going backwards through cone 8, unfortunately. She then had an interesting time on the marathon with Tally not wanting to go anywhere near the water even though he didn't have to go in it! It's amazing how much you learn about your ponies at a show!

Murdo, my Gypsy Cob stallion, made his debut at the Gypsy Vanner and Drum Horse Show in KY. He went in in hand classes, including in hand trail (!), and some ridden classes also, getting good ribbons against seasoned horses at his first show. He really behaved himself well and was lovely to handle. Caroline Whittle rode him for me and Phil, Janelle's dad, handled him in the in hand classes. We all had a great time and it was very interesting to see all the Gypsy horses and how they are getting very popular in this country. Murdo is for sale and is out with another trainer in Ohio for a couple of months. He would make a wonderful family horse as he's got a super temperment and is very trainable and kind. He even bowed for the crowd!

That really catches me up with what's been going on at Shepherd's Purse this past winter. Stay tuned for more updates. I promise it won't take me so long next time!

FEBRUARY 2009

Seems I lied about updating this site more often. My computer got fried in a thunderstorm and it kind of kicked all the wind out of my sails for a long time, trying to learn a new computer and get all my stuff back online. What a pain!

Jillian, from upstate NY, decided to come play with us as a working student with her Haflinger pony, Nolan, for the winter and spring. I think she was just trying to get out of all that snow they get up there, but it's been great having her and watching her and Nolan progress. They started at Pine Tree at Training Level, and are now competing at Prelim. Here she is trying her hand at four in hand driving with the mini team.

 Last summer was super!

Janelle and Johnny, who we've taken off the market with views to hopefully Janelle being able to take him to the Worlds in 2011 with any luck, won everything they went in at Prelim and are now moving up to Intermediate.

Jasper and I did very well at our Intermediate shows, with him getting second at Indiana at his first, then winning KY, Pine Tree and Katydid this past Fall. He's very fun to drive when he's on and is improving his confidence and bravery. Hopefully, we'll do as well this year in the same division. I'm looking forward to the shows starting after having all winter to play and practice at all the small ones in Aiken. It's interesting to see the change in both ponies from the earlier photos in this journal. Flip back a bit and take a look.

My new working student, Jillian, and I took my wonderful old Dartmoor stallion, *Senruf Jehad, and one of his daughters, Sweet Pepper, to the Endangered Species show at the KY Horse Park. Jed was his usual cooperative self, driving non chalantly through all the new construction as the horse park feverishly readies itself for the World Games in 2010. He didn't mind any of the heavy construction and ended up Champion Dartmoor and Reserve overall. It was super to get him out again and let people see what a Dartmoor looks like.

There are so many events to go to around Aiken during the fall, winter and spring months that it's hard to get to them all. The drives at the Audubon center are always wonderful and relaxing and I wouldn't miss them for anything. They restore my thoughts on what driving is really all about in the end. What's nicer than driving in the woods on beautiful trails with good friends and a great horse in front of you?

We now have a group of wonderful mini drivers who come and play on a regular basis, driving one or more of their own or my minis. We all have a great time and go lots of places. Here's Val and her husband at the Audubon drive with her pair, enjoying the day.

Above, some of the mini drivers are following me and Buddy on the drive. What a nice day that was!

We have also been going to the Great American Scurry Challenges, a kind of cones games day. It's tons of lightweight fun and it's great to get you focusing on cones and precision and pace. Thanks go to Robert Chambers for providing us with this opportunity. Here, Janelle takes Mr. Nibs through the course

Christmas always brings The Christmas parade and the Christmas games day. This year we went in our local parade in Williston with the minis all dressed in their finery, and then to the games in Aiken. A great time was had by all who attended!

Early spring brings the adult driving camps in Feb and March. Both were totally filled, and we've just finished the Feb one as I write. We had 6 ladies and one lone man who finally sent his wife a plane ticket I think out of self defense. He said it was so he wouldn't have to drive back to upstate NY all by himself, but I have my own theory!

The campers got to drive either their own horses if they brought them, or my ponies. They, of course, also drove the minis who are worth their weight in gold for teaching and having fun. It's a fun week of driving and lessons and it's great to see how much people improve their skills in a week. This time, campers came from NM, NY, NC, SC, some with their own ponies.

The next camp is the end of March, but we've got a couple of shows to go to before then with the bigger ponies. Now that my computer is back online, maybe I'll be better at updating this site. Cross your fingers!

Jan 2010 (!!)

Well it's been almost a whole year since I've updated my website. I feel like I should  belong to non updaters anonomous! I do apologise! It just seems to get so busy here, I don't ever seem to find the time!

The most important thing to happen this past year is the birth of our first grandchild, Tanner Mackenzie Seaton, born on August 31, 2009. Yipes, I'm a grandmother!

We just went to see him again after Christmas and he's almost sitting up by himself now and is trying to give kisses. Just too darned cute for words, even if I'm a bit biased!

The other really cool thing that's happened is that I've got a new pony! Jasper, my wonderful brown pony, pulled a suspensory playing out in his field last April and we're bringing him back for this year slowly, so now I've got a lovely Arab pony stallion to play with! He's going really well with a 3rd at Katydid at his second show. Watch for him this spring! His name is Black Tie Affaire and we call him Tie. He is available for breeding if you so desire, and I am assured that he passes on his movement and temperament which are both spectacular!

While Jasper was laid up this summer, I had a small mid life crisis (can't get bored, ya know!) so I bought myself a little Hackney road pony, something I've always wanted to try to do. He's a trip and his name is Heartland's Talent Star. We had a few good shows and then, he too, injured a suspensory, so I had to give him time off also. I sure am learning more than I wanted about suspensory injuries and their treatment which basically seems to be alot of down time!

We're still doing a whole lot with the minis. I've got about 18 of the little buggers now and can put together a single, pair or four to let people get the hang of driving different configurations. The team is the best, as they don't really care if you drop a rein or not!

Nancy Tomlinson and friends put on a wonderful mini only cde that a bunch of us went to. It was a hoot and everyone had such fun. Minis are the best!

Somehow we all ended up on the porch for a photo shoot after the awards. The ponies had no problem with the idea and joined in with their usual good spirits!

Next up is the new Little Everglades CDE in FL that Janelle will be taking Johnny to and I'll be showing Tie. Then the Feb driving camp that's totally full as is the March camp. I'll try to get some new pictures up from those events.

Please contact us at:

Muffy Seaton

254 Whittle Pond Rd.

Williston, SC 29853

540-454-1092

fourfleas@aol.com