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Laura Hill driving Leela at the
CDE at Inavale

Gabe Garnica with Bev White's VSEs,
Doc and Roxie, and a blue ribbon as big
as the horses at Ram Tap

Terri Jones driving Brio

Megan Sibiga competing in Advanced
Pony at Black Prong, Florida, driving
Beaverwood's Balsa owned by
Bev White

Max Lintner driving Maggie down the road

ABOUT WWW

Western Whips and Wheels is a not for profit driving club sanctioned by The American Driving Society. It was formed to create a network of carriage drivers in our region, to act as a resource for one another and to support driving events in the Pacific Northwest. Through dues and fund raising efforts, WWW provides financial support for regional competitions (CDEs and ADTs), play day drives, a monthly newsletter and educational opportunities. Additionally, members provide volunteer labor that makes things happen.

OBJECTIVES

Western Whips and Wheels' by-laws state that the organization's objectives are:

To advocate for the sport of driving equines to carriages in competition, for pleasure and recreation
To promote safety in the sport
To create and maintain public interest in local, national and international driving events
To educate and inform the public with respect to driving methods, safety and events
To sponsor educational driving clinics and other organized driving events
To recommend and promote the use of the American Driving Society rules at any organized show which members may attend

ARENA DRIVING TRIAL SERIES

Organizing the Arena Driving Trial Series is one of WWW's primary jobs. An Arena Driving Trial is a casual competition held in one day and includes a dressage test, a cones course and an obstacle course. Drivers do not have to dress in traditional attire at these events and horses and carriages do not have to be spit polish clean. Trials are held during the winter months, October through April, when most of us have cabin fever and enjoy getting our equines out for some fun. It is a great way for new drivers to practice the basic skills required for a Combined Driving Event. More seasoned competitors enjoy honing their skills and exposing their horses to different situations.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Educational opportunities are offered to WWW members throughout the year. In the past few years, the club has held a clinic on ground manners with Kelly Cecil, organized a tour of the Curtis Carriage Museum, presentation by Nate Smith equine nutrition expert to discuss nutrition for performance horses, offered driving clinics with some of the country's leading drivers, and organized numerous play day drives. The club sponsored Thomas Smith for a two day navigator clinics and Bill Twigg for a Carriage Maintenance Seminar, desensitizing clinics with John and Linda Keater and numerout veterinarian on topice ranging from lameness to conditioning.

REGIONAL SUPPORT

WWW provides support to the region's Combined Driving Event Organizations. The club provided financial contributions to the Happ's CDE in Ethel WA, Beavercreek CDE in Beavercreek, OR; The CDE at Inavale in Philomath, OR; Teddy Bear CDE in Mead, WA; and the National ADS Membership Meeting in 2011.


Gerry Pearson drives Chase at the Bill Lower Clinic		Ann Craig drives her VSE team