(Left to right) Molly McDonald, Camper, drives Kay Calandruccio's pony "Molly" while Kay, Camp Counselor, Instructs Molly through a cones course. (photo by Lauren Pigford). (above left) Joanna Wilburn overlooksthe harness and carriage as Tippy Adams, Camp Counselor (right) hitches the cart to the pony. Madison Morris, 7, (far left) is anxious to get in and drive Ann Kimberlin's pony, Lyric (photo by Becky Bowers) . Camper Kaylee Bartozzi drives "Twister," Wanda Chancellor's pony for the first time with Nora Land, Camp Counselor (photo by Becky Bowers)2009 Driving My Buggy Camp Summer Series
By Lauren Pigford
SOURCE: Midsouth Horse ReviewJune 27- 28 and July 25-26
Kimberlin Farms, the home of Ann and Carl Kimberlin, has been full of life, fun, and cart-pulling ponies all summer long. This is the fourth year for the Drive My Buggy Carriage Camp for junior drivers and it has possibility been the most successful yet.
This year Ann, clinician Joanna Wilburn of Rollingwoods Farm and the experienced camp counselors, planned a new camp schedule so the campers would just drive, drive, drive. Instead of a four-day camp with about 20 kids, Ann and Joanna planned multiple two-day camps, with about 8 kids each, throughout the summer months.
At the first camp, June 27- 28, all eight spots were filled with junior drivers from previous year’s camps with a few first time drivers. The second camp, July 25-26 had seven spots filled. It was Ann and Joanna’s goal to get a whole new group for the second camp. There were 2 returning campers from the June camp, but the other five children were new campers for the 2009 Drive My Buggy Carriage Camp Series.
“The children don’t have to have any driving experience. We teach them everything in a safe and controlled environment,” Ann said.
The campers weren all ages, from six through age 14. Four of the 13 children had never driven before and two had never been around horses or ponies before.
“All children are welcome. The only requirement is that the child has to have a spark of interest. Carriage driving is very different from riding, but it teaches the same life lessons: it builds athletic ability, confidence, and responsibility. It teaches hand-eye coordination and teaches compassion and bonding with something that is dependent on them,” Ann said.
The camps started at 10 a.m. with Ann welcoming, introducing everyone and announcing the three camp rules: “Love thy neighbor as you love thyself. Do unto others as you would have done unto you; and have fun.” After a short prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance the children scrambled to their camp counselors and got their ponies. The counselors showed the campers how to groom, harness the ponies, and then hitch them to the carriages. Then it was time to drive.
Joanna instructed the children on how do all types of exercises to get the feel of driving. After a break for lunch, the children would get the second group of ponies and drive again. The second part of the day included a cones course. The children used the skills Joanna taught them in the earlier part of the day, and had fun trying not to knock over the cones while going through obstacle courses.
A third junior driving camp is being planned for August and September, which will focus on returning junior drivers who wish to compete in the Nashoba Carriage Classic driving show September 18-20 at the Germantown Charity Horse Show Arena.
Ann and Joanna hope that the junior classes will be packed with Drive My Buggy Carriage Camp junior drivers.
For more information on upcoming camps, clinics, and events visit www.kimberlinfarms.com, and for more information on carriage driving lessons visit
In a Man’ure of Speaking...
Reserve Play Time for You and Your Horse
By Lauren Pigford
SOURCE: Midsouth Horse Review
Summer is quickly approaching and that means longer days, warm sunshine, vacations, and horse shows. But instead of working non-stop on achieving the perfect strides on that tricky inside line, complete collection while cantering pirouettes, or gaining speed around those barrels, remember to take a break here and there to reserve some fun days for you and your horse.
The best advice to give is play like you did when you were a kid. Think back to your wonder years and remember when you had a pony or your first horse. Of course there will be the few memories that make you say, “I can’t believe I did that,” but you still laugh and smile, right?
One of the best things to do is saddle up for a fun trail ride. Now, there can be different types of trail rides. One can be a slow, relaxing, social type of ride where a big group goes out to enjoy the weather. The other can be an adventure type of ride.
Some advice: if you want to take it easy and breathe in the fresh, southern air while walking and maybe trotting in a lush, green pasture, then you may want to head out with the older, seasoned riders. Ones who have taken their spills and make comments like, “I’m too old to fall off.”
However, if you are looking more for an adventure ride, like the inner child would be, then head out with the “Inspector Gadgets,” teenagers who are more interested in riding than showing. They always come back with stories about chasing bobcats, finding garbage that makes great jumps, or how someone lost a shoe in the pond while swimming (horse and or rider).
A typical trail ride for them is discovering a hidden path through the woods. Finding a pond that stands in the way that they just HAVE to cross. Horseracing takes place to see who really would have been the better racehorse. And where they prove their horses can jump the ditch, that is probably really a creek.
Once you’ve gone out for your trail ride, continue to pull out your old tricks. Jump on bareback and see if your balance is still what it used to be; be prepared to be REALLY sore the next day. See if you can still swing up on a pony, or if you were really good, swing up on a horse. Practice riding without those reins, yes, even if your horse is more powerful and athletic than the one you had ten years ago. Take your horse out and graze in the open field while you lay stretched out across his back sunbathing. Even go for a swim in the pond; just be sure your horse has emptied his load before getting in the water. Nothing can ruin a good swim like horse manure floating near you when you’re trying to beat the summer heat.
Take a day off from riding all together. Have a groom day where all you focus on is making your horse shine in the sunlight. Go ahead; get out the water bucket, shampoo, sponge, and scrub away on those dirt marks. You’re a horse owner; there is more to it than just riding.
Find an arts and craft project to work on. Head out to the craft store and make a new, personalized nameplate for your horse’s stall door. Get all those pictures together and make a cute and creative scrapbook, either for yourself or a good friend’s birthday. Reserve a day to take pictures of you and your horse. You don’t need a professional photographer; everyone knows how to operate a digital camera and how to crop pictures on the computer. Thank you technology!
The point is to remember that your horse is more than an accessory. Horses can achieve more than perfect circles in a ring, jump around over fences, and run the fastest out of other competitors.
Horses can be best friends, family members, something that makes people smile, laugh and be genuinely happy. They can be a relief after a long stressful day and may even be what keeps you sane. Take this summer to have fun at the barn. Don’t stress about winning the blue ribbons and being perfect all the time. Allow yourself to be playful and happy while allowing your horse to be just the same. It will be a sure guarantee that you will wear a smile wherever you go and your horse will even have extra pep in his step.
***This is dedicated to the notorious teenagers who have brought me tons of laughter, smiles and possible stomach ulcers (to my horse and even myself! ;) ) You know who you are!!! And to the rest of my barn family. Thank you for the countless memories, the very "special"experiences, and the laughter to come!***
Everyone go out and read the Mid-South Horse Review. It is the largest horse publication in the Mid-South Region. Visit us online at Midsouthhorsereview.com
Ha, the princess herself! Thank you for the laughs and making me swim in snake infested waters!!!
Update: Nashoba Carriage Club's Andy Marcoux Driving Clinic March 8 & 9 in Kimberlin Farm Indoor!
Despite the "Snowy" weather, Andy's clinic was a great success, and fun for all. Thanks to Nashoba Carriage Club, Ann Snowden, and Ann Kimberlin for arranging this clinic and good time for everyone!!!January 12, Jr. Driving CDE Clinic Update!
The CDE clinic with Joanna Wilburn held January 12 was great fun and a fabulous event for junior drivers to learn about carriage driving CDE's. There will no doubt be more of these planned in the future for both juniors and adults at Kimberlin Farms!
There were several phases to this clinic. Before hitching up, students gathered to get the "low-down" about what's involved in a CDE event. Next, drivers got to "walk" a scurry course, a timed cones course, and an obstacle course. Joanna helped advise each participant about how to "walk" cones and obstacle couses, and how to create a strategies best suited to each driver/pony/horse/vehicle combination. Then the fun began and true competition mode set in! All participants were timed and evaluated. And everyone learned from each other!
Joanna has us hooked on CDE's! We can't wait to practice more, and hope to compete in a CDE event soon! So watch out Memphis Drivers- junior drivers will be joining in the CDE fun very soon!
See highlights below:
On Sunday, Joanna was back for more! See photos below of Joanna showing Ashlee,
Lauren, and Nora how Obstacles are done!
2007Camp Update:
The Driving My Buggy Camp was a huge success this year! Special thanks to Ann Kimberlin, Janice Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Keathley, Ruth Wilburn, and all the Counselors and Campers for making this year's camp such a blast!
See photo highlights below:
Campers, Juniors, Adults.... Carriage Driving is Great Fun!!!
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contact: info@KimberlinFarms.com