December 2025 – I am starting a new chapter of driving. I sold Louie to a friend of mine who wanted a safe driving pony. They are doing so well together! And I am starting a new pony.
I have a 12.3 hand Section B, gelding, named Rollingwoods First Class (his nickname is Tadpole). He is out of May-B Magics Fancy (whom I sold as a broodmare) and Land’s End Foxtail. He has been living with Sally Ross Davis being a hunter pony for the show season. But now that the show season is over, he is home and we are going to continue his ground driving lessons. Not every pony likes being a driving animal, so that is still to be determined. Wish me luck!
January 2022 – So much time has gone by since I last wrote a post. I have been driving but have not been writing. In December my friend, Jeanne and I took Louie and my carriage to LaGrange and drove in the Christmas Parade. It was so much fun.
Carriage Rehab
I purchased a Roberts Two Seat Surrey carriage from a friend last year. It had been stored outdoors and was in bad condition. I guess I figured I needed a project.
This carriage had been used by a movie production crew for the movie The Sound and the Fury by James Franco.
I started my project by taking it all apart and getting to the frame. Another friend of mine, Kris Dixon, paints vehicles and trailers and things. I asked him to repaint the frame and he did. Gloss black.
I have purchased new fenders from Carolina Carriages
I had Old Town Antiques redo the seats and seat backs.
I bought new fenders from Carolina Carriages.
October 2017 – Borrowed a pony named Pretty Man and showed him at the Nashoba Carriage Classic! We had so much fun, just being able to drive this nice pony was a pleasure and gave me so much satisfaction. He is a Haflinger Cross, pure black with two little white socks on his hind feet. He behaves himself mostly, but every once in awhile decides he will test you. So far, I win!
The clothing that goes with carriage driving is so much fun. I have worn the same jacket for many years because I couldn’t find anything better. Well this year I wore a pink jacket and scarf with my straw hat. I loved it! My pony even had a pink ribbon in his hair.
January 2017 – Starting the new year with driving. Tilly and I started by doing a lot of long lining. I am looking for top line exercises for her. We started out okay, but I keep finding ways to be distracted. So, new focus, keep trying!
November 2016 – Tilly has been spending the last year being the driving pony for a wonderful young lady who wanted to learn how to drive. Well, this month, she came back to me. So, we are starting all over again. I haven’t driven much in the past year – I was all wrapped up in work. I am excited about getting myself going again and Tilly is my buddy and will be there with me.
October 2013 – Tilly and I entered the Nashoba Carriage Classic held at the Germantown Charity Horse show grounds. Our first show together and we had fun! We did the ADT (Arena Driving Trail) on Friday night and then the regular classes on Saturday and Sunday. My proudest moment is we got a second place in dressage!
Rail classes, there were 9 to 10 in every class. Pony’s seem to be the favorite size.
Joanna and I also drove the Double Jeopardy class with Berry!
And this is my favorite photo from the show, just is….I think I like the quietness. Joanna left me to take Berry back to the barn.This show was my tenth anniversary of showing. Ten years ago the Wilburn sisters gave me Rollingwoods Lorna Doone to show in the classes and I did and had so much fun, here I am still driving, still enjoying it, and totally hooked. I think they knew what they were doing. Way down at the bottom of this page is a photo of me driving Lorna at that show!
August 2013 – Tilly and I are still driving! I did buy a new bit for her, she was just not listening to the mullen mouth snaffle I had been using, she now sports a new 4 inch mullen mouth liverpool. Very nice, she is very quiet in this bit. It has the exact same mouth piece as her snaffle, just a little more curb. We are heading to Tyler Texas at the end of August for a Welsh pony show in which I plan on driving her. Come on Tilly, you can do it!!
June 2013 – I have challenged myself to drive, drive, drive. Tilly and I have been going for 12 days in a row. A few days break and then we start again. She is a wonderful driving partner.
Spring of 2012 – I now have a new Section A, Welsh Pony, that is more competitive than Notey. Her name is Chantilly Lace, or Tilly. We are working this summer at becoming show worthy!
October 28, 2011 – Notey and I entered in the Nashoba Carriage Classic. We had been practicing and Notey and I entered several Welsh pony shows this year. She earned some points in the Welsh Pony world.
The Classic had dressage, cones, rail class, a pick your own route cones class and a marathon. I enjoyed working with my pony and driving along the route. There was a small water crossing that if I had been mounted would not have seemed like much. But in the carriage you have to be very careful and remember she needs to pull you up and out of anything you get down into. She was a champ!
April 23, 2005 – We went to Franklin, TN for a Traditional Day of Driving. Here is Notey taking me and Kelly over hill and dale. We had so much fun at the event. Notey was wonderful. We did a cones course, an obstacle course and a cross country of 8 miles. It was great – the longest drive I have done to date. I want to do more!
Sept. 2004 – Here I am driving Rollingwoods Noteworthy at the 2004 Nashoba Carriage Classic show. Notey is a Welsh pony, also bred by Dr. Ruth Wilburn, Rollingwoods Farm of Olive Branch, MS. She is the pony I will be driving for the next couple of years, maybe more. Notey is only 5 and still somewhat green, she really tries hard for me though and I am very happy with her.
I have driven Notey in several events now, in the spring we drove in a “Mini” CDE (Combined Driving Event) at Shelby Farms in Memphis. She was really good, except for one incedent with a kite, she bucked in the shafts of the cart, but I got her moving forward again after that and we finished the day. We won the CDE!
At the Nashoba show we did good. Notey was a little high headed through the rail classes, and we are working on that. She is just learning to work in a frame. I took my husband David with me on the cross country and we had a blast! I think that is my favorite thing to do.
This is me and Rollingwoods Lorna Doone (another Rollingwoods Pony bred by Dr. Ruth), in 2003 at the Nashoba Carriage Classic in Germantown, TN. We showed in the Novice division and did pretty well. Placed in every class and had a ball. Ya’ ever drive a carriage around barrels, yup, barrels just like in the rodeo. It was so much fun, I wanted to do them again!
Sweetbriar Farm 