President, Roger Murray
Treasurer,
Mark Newman
Secretary/Reporter/Membership,
Angie Hohenbrink
Directors,
Roger Higgins, John Begg, Roger Murray, John Hunter, Mark Newman, Gary
Gillfillan, Angie Hohenbrink
January
1995 Newsletter:
By
Angie Hohenbrink
Start the New Year out right by making it our New
Year’s resolution to get the award for attending the most meetings.
Our first meeting of the year will be at 2 p.m. on January 22, 1995 at
Trinity Lutheran Church which is located at 935 West Bigelow, Findlay, Ohio.
Directions are as follows: take I-75 to Routes 15 and 224 exit (Exit 159)
and go Eact 1 block to stoplight. Turn
left onto Broad Street and go about ¾ mile until the road curves to the right
and turn left onto Bigelow and cross over I-75.
The church will be ¼ mile down the road and on the left. There will be gift certificate from Omaha Vaccine’s catalog
given away as a door prize. We will
finish planning our drives for 95 and watch some films. If you haven’t already sent in your dues, there should be a
form available in this issue of The Corral.
Anyone
interested in driving is welcome to join us at any of our meetings.
It doesn’t matter if you own a driving horse or are just thinking about
getting started, I think you’ll
enjoy our club.
If
you are starting your vacation plans for this year, you might want to consider a
couple of special upcoming events. On
May 31 thru June 3, the Carriage Association of America will be having their
annual conference at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
These conferences are among the best.
If you can’t bring your horse, just come and watch, you won’t be
disappointed. They have a
restoration contest where the judges will tell what could be improved on each
car4riage. It is very informative
if you are thinking about restoring one yourself.
They also have seminars on many related topics.
There are miles of roads in the Kentucky Horse Park to drive at your
leisure. You can also tour the
Museum that is one of the best of its kind.
In
September, take your horse on a ferry ride over to Mackinaw Island.
We’re invited to join the Michigan Horsedrawn Vehicle Association on
the annual drive at Mackinaw Island. Everyone
that has been to that drive says it’s well worth the trip up there.
Several
Members have volunteered to host drives again, so it should be a year with miles
of good driving.
Hope
for snow in February to get ready for sleigh riding, if we get the snow we hope
for, we’ll have a sleigh riding meet. We’ll
use a phone tree to call everyone.
I’ll
see you at the meeting in January.
February
1995 Newsletter
Despite the warm weather we have been having, there have
been a few days that you could have been driving in the snow.
Although the weather has been favoring mud, we hope that turns around in
time for us to get together for sleigh riding this month.
You better get a driving before the flies come back and annoy both horse
and driver.
The
long winter evenings are great for cleaning harness. Be sure and check for broken keepers, cut straps, cracked
leather, broken stitching and worn buckles.
Getting it fixed sure beats having something break when you driving.
The
long winter evenings are great for cleaning harness. Be sure and check for broken keepers, cut straps, cracked
leather, broken stitching and worn buckles.
Getting it fixed sure beats having something break when you’re driving.
Are
you looking for a carriage to use this year?
There are a few carriage auctions coming up this spring.
It’s always interesting to look and you almost always find other Black
Swamp members there. If you’d like to join the fun there is the Mid-Ohio
carriage sale at Mt. Hope, Ohio on Thursday March 9 starting at 9 a.m.
Also a month later on April 20, 21 and 22 there is the Topeka, Indiana
Carriage Auction.
There
will be plenty of drives to choose from this year. If you haven’t paid you dues yet, be sure and send them to
me, so you can continue receiving the Corral.
The directions to each drive should be in the Corral each month.
(Missing March)
April
1995 Newsletter
It’s starting to look like spring again.
I gave my beast their first bath this year and they’re starting to look
like respectable horses again. Oh,
how I envy those that don’t have pastures with muddy clay.
Marrch
9 was cold in Mt. Hope with a little bit of snow, but that didn’t keep people
from the Carriage Auction. I went
down with Jay and Donna Bornt, and one of our new members Marcia Bearley.
While we were looking around, we ran into other Black Swamp members,
including John and Sara Hunter, Roger and Sue Murrey, Gary and Connie
Gillifillan, Peggy Graham, and Bob Voska. It
was cozy and warm inside as the carriages went through the auction.
There was a draft horse auction there the next day and the barn was full
of draft horses. It was interesting
to see the Amish come in with their well trained draft horses. We watched a pair of well matched bays back up to the loading
dock where they loaded a cow, shut their tailgate, and headed for their farm.
Oh, how I wish my horse would back that well.
We
have about a month to get our horses ready for the drive in Lexington.
The Kentucky Horse Park has many roads to drive on and
the scenery is hard to beat. If
you haven’t made it down there for a drive yet, do try and make it this year.
May
1995 Newsletter
Is’
May and time for the 3rd Annual Carriage Roundup on May 5, 6, and 7th
at the Kentucky Horse Park. You can
drive at your own leisure throughout the park.
Take along a dish to pass around at the tailgate picnic on Saturday and
come on down to join us. After the
picnic, there will be an organized drive and scavenger hunt.
In the evening there is a Chili Supper ($3), bring a dessert to share and
lawn chairs. On Sunday, you can
drive at your own leisure, and in the afternoon they’ll have games.
On
May 21 we will have a drive, which will be graciously sponsored by the
Fairchild’s in Spencerville, Indiana. Everyone
I talked to last year said this was one of the most scenic drives that our club
has ever had. Directions:
Go to Hicksville, Ohio; at the south end of the business district (A
little Caesar’s Pizza is there) take
Spencerville Road out of Hicksvile, when it crosses into Indiana it becomes
County Road 64. Go to Indiana State
Route 1, turn left into Spencerville, there is a restaurant on the corner. Turn right and the community building is on the North side of
the street.
May
31-June 3 is the Carriage Association of America’s Annual Conference in
Lexington at the Kentucky Horse Park. This
gives us a second chance to go down there in one year.
To participate in their activities, membership in the CAA is required,
but admission to the Kentucky Horse Park will get you into the arena to see the
show and trade fair. On Thursday
there is a Restoration Competition. In
the afternoon, they have the restoration results and commentary on each vehicle.
If you are interested in restoring carriages you won’t want to miss
this. For CAA members, there is a
breakfast at Kneeland Race Track o Friday while you watch the morning workouts
at the track. They will also have
private tours of the Kentucky Horse Park Museum and Carriage Collection.
In
the afternoon, there will be a pleasure drive to Walnut Hall Farm.
On Saturday morning, there is an ETA Cross-Country Marathon and Pleasure
Driving classes and cones, in the afternoon; there will be an Observation
Marathon. Driving lessons will be offered, and there will also be
lectures and demonstrations.
The drive at the Kentucky Horse Park was over all to
soon. The weather couldn’t have
been better. Where else can you go
and drive down a lane next to a world class outdoor course and pass pastures
full of mares and foals, while a skunk, which was crossing a road, was at his
best behavior. It let us pass
without incident.
At
the picnic, Black Swamp won most original with a shotgun wedding.
Susan and Roger Murray were made the bride and groom.
Their newly restored surrey was decorated with balloons and the table was
set complete with a wedding cake.
On Sunday, we had the opportunity to both drive and look
for unusual scenery as we had a scavenger hunt. There was a typewriter setting on a fence, stuffed animals,
boots upside down sticking out of the water, a lamp next to the road, etc, even
though they weren’t the common things you’d see, it was hard to find all 49
of them.
Hopefully
the weather will be equally as good for Fairchild’s drive, which will be over
by the time you read this article.
At
this time, there aren’t any drives scheduled for June.
But there will be a carriage auction at Topeka, Indiana on June 15 and 16th. But keep in mind the drive at Sauder’s on July 15.
At Sauder’s they like it when the carriage participants dress in period
costumes, this gives everyone a chance to dress up and step back into the last
century. Also in July, the club has
been invited to participate in Gene Autry days at the fairgrounds in Kenton on
the 16 of July. Did you know that Gene Autry toys were manufactured here in
Kenton, Ohio by Kenton Toy Manufacturer? You’re
invited to bring vehicles to put on display and you can also drive around the
fairgrounds. Western dress is
encouraged. More details of this
event will be furnished in next months issue.
The CAA Conference in Lexington was great, although a
little wet. Black Swamp was very
well represented. Gary and Connie
Gilfillian were there just in time to help everyone unload. Bob Voska had his golf cart and was ready to get anything
from the trailers that were needed. After
unloading my wagonette from the trailer, Donna Bornt was going to help with
touching up any scratched paint before the restoration contest.
That’s when we discovered I brought along the wrong paint!
Thank God for hoof black, at least it helped a few scratches look a
little better.
Henry
zumFelde took home some ribbons in the driving classes.
He had his horse hitched to the gentleman’s phaeton that he had built
himself. Roger and Susan Murray
entered their Irish tub cart in the tailgate judging.
This was elegantly done with flowers, Irish drinks, and snacks.
Susan wanted everyone to know that they could do a serious tailgate party
even after the ribbing she took from the one just a few weeks earlier.
(If you missed that one, there should be some pictures floating around at
some of the other drives; you have to see it to get the full picture.
The
roads in the Kentucky Horse Park are ideal for driving.
If you haven’t had a chance to go and would like to, just call the
park. You can rent stalls about
anytime for a vacation and drive around at your leisure.
The campground is only a mile walk or you can stay at one of the motels.
Or wait until next year and hopefully the driving clubs will have a drive
there again.
We
will be having two drives in July. The
parade at Sauder’s Farm and Craft Village Carriage Days is on July 15.
If you haven’t been to Sauder’s before, it is on State Route 2 close
to the intersection of SR 2 and SR 66 just northeast of Archbold.
There will be a drive following the parade.
This is a place you can wear your vintage clothing.
If you were planning on driving in the parade, Henry would like the
information on your turnout for the announcer.
We
have also been invited to Gene Autry Day’s in Kenton on Sunday July 16.
This will be at the Hardin County Fairgrounds in Kenton from 10 to 5 p.m.
We will have a cook out by the covered wagon. Please bring a dish to pass around. They would like us to display our vehicles and we can also
drive around the fairgrounds. So
get your western clothes and your Gene Autry cap guns.
(I wish I had one, I hear Gene Autry cap pistols are worth a few hundreds
dollars) and head on down to Kenton. Hope
to see you at both drives.
Due to the extremely high temperatures, the Sauders
carriage parade was cancelled. Remember
to be very cautious working horses when the temperatures and humidity are high.
Heat stroke can be very dangerous, possibility for both man and beast in
hot weather.
On
July 16 we had a cookout at Roger Higgin’s covered wagon at Gene Autry Days in
Kenton, Ohio. Gillfillian’s found
some big shade trees to set up the cookout under.
It was very pleasant there. There3
were vehicles put on display and four members brought their animals to drive and
around 30 people were there to eat the delicious food that Black Swamp is famous
for.
On
August 13, John Begg is going to host a drive.
We will send out a mailing with the location and other information.
On
August 27, we will have a drive at sandy Knowlton’s Triangle K Ranch close to
Bucyrus, Ohio. At 1:00 p.m., there
will be a potluck dinner with a drive and scavenger hunt to follow.
There is a pond there and you are encouraged to bring fishing poles and
swimsuits.
Also
on August 27, Jim Westerhold is having a drive starting at Shady Recreation Park
in New London, Ohio, through the scenic, historic Firelands Rural Area.
There will be a free lunch with the drive starting at 1:00 p.m.
More information will be in our mailing.
Even on these dog-days of summer. John Begg’s drive
went on as scheduled. Parking for
trailers was ample at the Smith’s and their big shade trees helped to keep us
sheltered from the heat. A drive
was taken to the Mennonite home, where their residents got a good glimpse of the
horses. Anyone there wanting a ride
was given the treat of riding on the wagon pulled by a pair of Belgians.
We had 5 turnouts and 4 saddle horse that made the trip there and back to
the farm.
Cooler
days should come soon, hopefully for the drive at Knowlton’s and also the one
at Jim Westerhold’s (They should
be memories by the time you read this.)
On
September 17 at 1 p.m. Bob Voska will help host a drive at Dan and Ginny
Secrist’s Farm, Fremont, Ohio. Ginny
will be roasting a lamb, so just bring a dish to pass.
Beverages will also be provided
Hardin
Heritage Days at Kenton, Ohio, will be the weekend of September 23 and 24.
At 2 p.m. each day, we will have a parade of carriages, Period dress is
encouraged for the parade. We will have a potluck supper on Saturday evening beginning
promptly at 6 p.m. An auction of
your donated horse-related items will follow the potluck.
There
will be camping and boarding as usual in the 4-H Horse barn at the Hardin County
Fairgrounds for horses and carriages. Owners
of antique carriages are encouraged to bring them along for display.
Any
members that haven’t been to other drives are encouraged to bring their
horses. Some of the members have
offered to help anyone who may need assistance. We will be able to drive around the fairgrounds.
It will be a good time for horses and drivers that want to start driving
their horses on the drives and the other turnouts to get experience.
At
Corn Husker Days in October, Shirley Wolf from Stitches in Time will put on a
fashion show of vintage clothing. We
need information on your carriages for the show. To have vintage clothing match your vehicle, we need the year
the carriage was built (or time frame when it was popular, type of carriage,
some information on the horse pulling the carriage (breed, etc.), and the
owner’s name. Please send that
information to Donna Bornt, 201 East Lincoln Highway, Elida, Ohio 45807-9582 or
phone her at 419/641-4595. Sent
that ASAP since some time is needed to plan everything.
Be sure and join us for our last drive this fall at Corn Huskers Days, held at the Wyandot County Fairgrounds in Upper Sandusky, Ohio on October 14 and 15. You can camp at the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday night. Electric and water hook-ups are available at $7 per night. The motels in the area are the Comfort Inn 419/294-3891 and the Amerihost 419/294-3919. Housing for horses and vehicles will be provided in the 4-H horse barn. Lunch will be available on the grounds. At 1 p.m. in the dining hall, Shirley Wolf from Stitches in Time will have a fashion show of vintage clothing for carriage driving. She’ll try and associate the clothes with the carriage. After the show you may drive at your leisure. There3 will also be an obstacle course. We will make Mulligan Stew on Saturday night so bring raw vegetables and tomato juice to ad to the pot. Please bring a dish to pass around. You may want to bring lawn chairs. On Sunday morning, a church service will be held at 8 a.m. Then you may drive at your leisure.
Be
sure and keep Saturday, November 4, open to attend our year-end meeting and
banquet at the Woodland Restaurant, across from the courthouse in Findlay.
We will order off of the menu.
You are invited to come and join us on Saturday, November
4, 1995 for our banquet and annual meeting.
It will be at the Woodland Restaurant in Findlay, Ohio.
The restaurant is across from the courthouse on Main Street in Findlay.
We will order off of the menu, so you have the option of having a
complete dinner or just a sandwich. Social
hour starts at 5 p.m. with dinner promptly following at 6 p.m. If you have a friend that is interested in the horsy days of
old, bring them with you. Howard
Smith, a noted historian, will be giving us a little history about the horse and
buggy in the olden days. If you’d
like to donate anything for the auction after the meeting, just bring it along
with you. Come prepared to have a
good time and reminisce about the past year.
We’d love to see Black Swamp members from previous years and also
welcome anyone interested in joining next year to come.
On
October 14, there were over 30 people on Saturday night for the Mulligan Stew at
Corn Husker Days in Upper Sandusky. Halloween
is over, but if you didn’t come there you missed seeing the boogie man.
There was a bay horse put to a John Deer wagon covered with pumpkin
lights roaming the fairgrounds after dark.
Following it was someone driving a mini Appaloosa stallion with blinking
lights on its head and pumpkin lights around its neck, and a little boogie
person with blinking skulls on his head sitting on the cart.
Mary Elliott and Peggy Graham were missing from our group while the
caramel corn was being made over the camp fire, but we won’t draw any
premature conclusions on who may have been responsible for the spooking that
occurred.
If
anyone has any ideas for drives next year or wants to host a drive for 1996,
bring it up at the annual meeting so we can start arranging the calendar for
next year.
On
the 4th of November we put the waiter and waitress at the Woodland
Restaurant to work scrambling to get chairs to seat everyone and taking
everyone’s order at our Annual Banquet. There
were around 62 people present. Roger
Murrey gave some highlights of the year’s happenings with special recognition
to everyone that helped sponsor drives and other activities.
We
had an auction offering a small but varied list of items from foal birth
announcements to ostrich steaks. A
door prize drawing of two beautiful sets of towels with the club logo
embroidered on them was given away to two lucky people.
Our annual election of board members was also held for two expired three
year terms and also the one year term. Joe
Bell and Angie Hohenbrink were elected for a three year term and Peggy Graham
for the one year term.
At
our annual banquet our speaker, Howard
Smith, gave us a glimpse of why snow and sleigh riding were so popular long ago.
As you are driving your car down our nice paved roads, you forget that at
one time the roads were muddy and sometimes impassable in the fall with the big
ruts frozen in the winter. Only a
big snowfall would cover them and make them passable in winter.
This freed everyone up to bring their goods to town and visit friends.
It explains some of the reason’s that there are a variety of sleighs of
various shapes and sizes.
If
Howard got you in the mood for sleigh riding this Christmas season,
there are a few safety tips you should consider.
Check you equipment for soundness, safety and fit and make sure
everything is properly adjusted to fit your horse.
Shoe appropriately before you start to help your horse keep his footing.
Remember
that a sleigh can be much more difficult for a horse to pull than a two wheel
vehicle, so proceed shlowly if your horse isn’t accustomed to it.
Difficulty in pulling may vary greatly from one place to another, it may
also sound different if you hit some uncovered blacktop or grabel and turning
can be tough if the snow is deep at all. Be
considerate and proceed with caution and have a save Christmas.
There
will be a board of director’s meeting, with both the incoming and outgoing
board members, at Gary Gillfillan’s on December 10 at 2 p.m.
If anyone has any news or concerns that they’d like brought to the
boards attention, please contact one of them.
May 31- June 3: CAA Conference, KHP, Lexington, KY (For CAA members)
June
15-16: Topeka Carriage Auction, Topeka, IN
July
15: Sauders Carriage Days, Archbold, OH
July
16: Gene Autry Days, Kenton, OH
August
13: John Begg’s Drive
August
27: Elliot’s Drive
September
17: Bob Voska’s & Ginny Secrist Drive, Fremont, OH
September
23-24: Heritage Days, Kenton, OH
October
13-15: Corn Husker Days, Upper Sandusky
November
4, 1995: Annual Banquet, Woodland Restaurant, Findlay, OH