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July 2001 Newsletter
By Fred Thompson
Having Fun at the Kentucky Horse Park
Pictured on the left are BSDC members Mark, Marla and Chayton Newman
having fun driving Gary Gillfillans pony Minnie. Picture on the right
shows unnamed members that already had too much fun. Photos courtesy of
the Phantom Photographer.
Hi everyone. July is upon us. Lets hope
it turns out better than the last part of May and first part of June. It
was hardly weather to brag about. Wet, cloudy and yucky. It sure
makes it hard to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. MUD-MUD-MUD.
Just remind me not to complain too much when it turns off hot, dry and dusty.
I would hate to have people think that I'm never satisfied. They would be
right, I just don't want them to think it. Enough complaining. Lets
talk about the good times ahead. I hope everyone is planning an enjoyable
4th of July. It has to be the biggest weekend of the summer and it is just
begging for people to get out and enjoy it. Even it is nothing more than
sitting around and enjoying family and friends. Just a last minute
reminder, if you don't have anything to do you can always come up to Kenton for
the 4th. Even if it is just to enjoy the fellowship. Details of that
event were in last months Corral.
I normally like to run the past drives first but
this is important and don't want anyone to miss it. Not to imply that
anyone would NOT read the entire article, but one never knows when you might
have to hurry and change the paper in the bottom of the birdcage.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
DATE CHANGE
The Wharton picnic date has to be changed from July 22 to July 29.
There was a conflict with the Wharton Homecoming. This outing will be
hosted by Joe and Ann Bell and Nathan Strasbaugh at the Wharton Park shelter
house. This will be a picnic only, so lets leave the horses home
and spend the day shooting the bull instead. I'm sure your horses will
love you for it.
The potluck will be at 1:00. The grill will be going and hamburgers
and hot dogs will be furnished along with lemonade and iced tea. Bring
a dish or desert to pass. It might be nice to bring any pictures you
would like to display. Anyone wishing to bring something horse related
to trade may do so.
Directions: From US 30 go North on St Rt. 293 you
will pass the
cemetery and then turn left on the first street you come to. The park
will be on your left just past a vacant lot. Watch for signs.
Safety Hint of the Month: When out driving, pay attention
to your horse and how he is acting. Especially watch his ears, which
may be warning you that he is nervous about something. Be prepared to react. A
horse will see things that we would never see or pay attention to. Be
Prepared.
OK, lets review some of the drives in the past. The drive at
Van Buren was May 20th and was hosted by the Hohenbrinks. The day turned
out great considering that the weather at that time was pure water. I
didn't get a count on the members that showed up for the fellowship, but
there was 7 turnouts going out for the drive. Most of the drivers took the
shorter route because of a bridge that was out. Two of the driver
braved the long haul and managed it with style.
At the drive the Park Ranger ask if the BSDC
members that used the park would fill out one of their cards (Angie has some if
somebody didn't get one). It is a questionnaire about the park and how you
used it. They don't think enough horse people are using the
park. If it doesn't have enough support they will change the horse
day use area where we parked the trailers for something else. If you
like
the facilities at Van Buren and would like to continue to be able to use it, it
may be worth your time to fill out one of these cards. You can
get a hold of Angie for one of the cards or you can just go to the
Van Buren Park ranger station and ask for one of these
questionnaires.
June 1-3 took a host of Black Swampers down to the Kentucky Horse
Park for the annual carriage drive. Thirty-five members had high hopes
of leaving the Ohio weather behind, but to no avail. It was wet and windy
down there also. The 7 or so turnouts that the members took to
the park literally drove between rainstorms, or at least they tried to keep it
in-between storms. Some started out dry but came back wet.
Then again Swampers is what some of us call ourselves and the weather hasn't
damped our spirits yet.
The annual tailgate party definitely was a
challenge. The wind had people chasing their paper plates and cup across
the grounds. Some of
the people opted to use the tabacco barn for refuse. Gary Gillfillan said
that even in the barn that his plate was garnished with a "ground
seasoning" that looked an awful lot like the dirt that was blowing around.
He didn't go on and say what it tasted like. Maybe THAT IS one of
Colonel Sanders 11 secret herbs and spices you always hear about. If so it
had to taste like chicken.
I hope I'm not painting too gloomy of a picture
because if I can rewrite the old Mailman creed. "NOT WIND NOR RAIN
NOR GLOOM OF NIGHT
CAN DAMPEN THE SPIRITS OF THE BLACK SWAMP DRIVING CLUB."
I did hear that the one highlight was the tour
Friday night through Castleton farm. I guess this place was outstanding.
The horse barn had
Cherry wood stalls with fresh running water and ceiling fans in each and the
aisles were tiled. (So this is what horses dream about). If that
was the horse barn you can imagine what the rest of the farm looked like. (That
is what horse people dream about.)
After all is said and done, it is a great weekend.
Whenever a group of people with a common interest can get together and have a
good time,
it was a successful weekend. In spite of the weather.
The Murray trip now in Print: I would like to pass on an e-mail I got from Angie Hohenbrink. It says: "I don't know if you get the "Carriage Journal" put out by the CAA, but Roger & Sue Murray have an article in the June issue. "A Trip Through Tuscany by Hunting Carriage". It's three pages long with 5 pictures from their trip. It's really a nice article."
Thanks for letting us know about the article,
Angie. I really enjoy hearing or reading about our members that appear in
other publications.
It is even better when they write the article. So Roger and Sue, do you
have any extra June "Carriage Journal"? Maybe you can bring them
to the Wharton picnic and share your article with members that aren't CAA
members and don't get the "Carriage Journal". How 'bout it?
I for one would like to read it.
Welcome New Members: I would like to take this time to welcome some new members
to the Black Swamp Driving Club. They are Larry, Sandy and
Patrick Cordes, Debra Gadus, Mike & Susan Sadlon, Janet Krause, and Brian
& Christine Redmon. Welcome and come on and join the fun.
Birthdays
July 6 Henry zum Felde
July 6 Katie Knight
July 9 Connie Gillfillan
July 12 Dave Kuhlman
July 12 Tom Shapler
July 14 Doris Fairchild
July 18 Darlene Higgins
July 21 Laura Yaney
July 24 Mariah Stevenson
July 25 Randy Scarbro
July 26 Jeni Knight
July 26 Joyce Cook
July 27 Dashaw Stevenson
August 3 Chris Langevin
August 7 Keith Neale
August 8 Gene Pore
August 10 Dorthy Ratchiff
August 10 Taylor Courchaine
August 11 Mary-Ellen Toth
August 18 Larry Young
August 19 Jessica Yaney
August 28 Gerri Scarbro
August 29 Micheal Deck
Upcoming Events:
July 4..... Kenton 4th of July Celebration and Parade
* July 29... Summer Picnic at the Wharton Park
August 11... LaRue Bicentennial Parade contact Roger Higgins Sr.
*August 26.... Drive at Sandy Young
*September 9... Drive at Oak Opening hosted by the Shapler
*October 13-14 .. Cornhusker at Upper Sandusky hosted by the Hunters
*November 17... Annual meeting and banquet at Henry's in Kenton
*Denotes club sponsored events