August, 2009 seems to have been a good month for Coachman's Delight's young drivers.

Taylor earned her Pleasure Driving Championship with her impressive showing at Walnut Hill Farm Driving Competition in mid-August.  Head to head with Jr's, adults, amateurs and professionals, she won 1^st out of 17 in Reinsmanship, and 2^nd of 16 in a Progressive obstacles class.  Her horse SA Outrageous (Rage) kept her on her toes This is no small task!

Maggie's winning Combined Driving Championship score came from her effort at Green Mountain Horse Association Combined Driving Event later that same month.  Driving Riena (ree-ah-naa) at the intermediate level, Maggie was second in dressage and won the marathon.  This, despite torrential storms that made mere survival at the event and accomplishment!

Well done girls.  Congratulations on your first National Championships!

First of all, What is the difference between a Glory Bit and a Butterfly Bit? Then, what is a Butterfly Glory? Physically and their usages?

I am SOOO confused!

The Answer in 7 Parts:

This is a very common question, though everyone gets hung up in different places. Bits are named in lots of different ways for different reasons. They are named after people, places, uses and manufacturers. What makes it so difficult is that the reason a bit is called what ever it is called usually has to do with just one feature of the bit.

In the case of the Glory bit, Glory Metal Works has a patent on the “Glory Bit”. The part of the bit that is unique to the Glory bit is the bar or mouthpiece of the bit. To understand how this is unique, I first must tell you the story of three different mouthpieces.  >>Read More

This is an exercise that I do at just about every clinic. You'll need a partner so go get a willing Friend. Sit facing one another, each of you at opposite ends of a pair of reins. The best seats to do this from are bar stools in which you can put your feet on the floor with a slightly open hip position. Hold the reins as you would if you are driving. Start in the riding position. Now you have to decide who the horse is and who's the driver. It's a little bit like who will lead and who will follow when you're dancing, but you should be far enough from each other for any toes to be stepped upon.  >>Read More