Special guests - Mike Wilder and Mike Wertz

We've been lucky enough to have two special guests for the clinic, surprisingly both are named Mike!

Our first Mike, Mike Wilder will be our lunch time speaker and is brought to us by the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association. A native of Ohio, Mike developed an interest in horses through his stepfather who trained Standardbreds at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. He was well-know at Lebanon Raceway, where he won 13 driving titles, and he captured two driving championships at Scioto Downs before moving to The Meadows in 2001. Mike registered his 5,000th lifetime driving win in 2009. In 2012, he was one of nine drivers chosen to compete in The Battle of Pennsylvania Driving Challenge.  Mike will talk about what it takes to be a competitive race driver and how that differs from other types of driving.  He'll also be bringing along a race cart for you to examine.

Our second Mike is Mike Wertz, owner of Mike's Carriage Service. Mike and his Percherons have been doing parades, special events and downtown Pittsburgh tours for nearly 20 years.  At the height of the holiday season it is not unusual for them to appear at 4-5 different venues in one day.  That means organizing people, harness, carts, and horses for maximum efficiency.   Mike will be not only be bring draft harness with him, he'll also be bringing one of his trailers and a carriage.  He'll be showing you some of the easiest (and safest) ways to transport your carriage.  Show carriages are an investment that you'll want to protect.

The Horses!

Several people have asked about the horses that will be used at the clinic - who are they and what type of experience do they have.  While change is always possible right now we're intending to have Aiken, Against the Best and the minis, Trick and Treat, at the clinic.

Aiken is a 9 year-old Fjord who rides and drives.  He has competed at a variety of shows including the Saratoga Driving Trial, the Finger Lakes Fjord Show, and Tri-Valley Horseman Assoc. shows.  Additionally he has participated in the Parade of Breeds at the KY Horse Park, Carriage Round-up and the National Drive. He's also been known to haul a light log or two out of the woods.  Aiken currently holds the title of 'cutest horse in the barn' at Caustelot Farms where he is boarding.  He is typically driven by Bruce Haak but is currently on loan to Kathleen.

Against the Best retired from the racetrack two years ago with 274 starts.  He has made a successful transition to pleasure driving horse but excels at combined driving.  He does very well at cones and marathon, and is working on his collection to place higher in dressage.  He has been reserve champion at the Saratoga Driving Trial twice.  Best has participated in Equine Affaire (Ohio), the National Drive, Carriage Round-up and the KY Horse Park's Parade of Breeds in addition to several parades.  Best is typically driven by Kathleen Haak.

Joyce Haak is the primary driver of Trick and Treat, minis that she purchased on Halloween several years ago.  The 'boys' do it all - they have done pleasure shows, driving trials, and in-hand shows.  Joyce drove them to championships in 2012 at the Saratoga Driving Trial and the Susquehanna Valley Whips and Wheels Driving Trial.

They are 32-inch blue roans, as blue roans they change color year-round so you'll see pictures of them with really white coats in July to really dark coats in winter.

Other horses that may be at the clinic include:

The small but mighty Tell.  Tell has only been driving for a few months but he may be joining us to demonstrate a harness.  Eventually Tell will be joining Trick and Treat as either a unicorn or three-abreast hitch.

Draken is a three-time SPHO National Champion driving horse.  He has appeared at the World Equestrian Games, the Kentucky Horse Park, and various other venues over his career.  Draken was trained by Joyce Haak and driven by Kathleen Haak. At 22, Draken is pretty much retired but occasionally comes out to try new things.  In 2012, he drove tandem (one horse in front of another) with Best!  While Draken will probably stay home he has been know to make his way into the trailer unexpectedly.