California Painted Ponies -- News and Events

June 2004

Terry and I have been driving for some time now. We have progressed through the levels of driving from Training level through advanced we have now entered the "Officials Learning Program" of the American Driving Society. Every event has officials that vary in numbers with the level of the event from one to five judges and usually only one Technical Delegate (TD). Terry is learning to become and ADS registered Technical Delegate for Combined Driving. This is the nuts and bolts of CDE. The TD has a great deal of responsibility from well before the event starts to it's end. He or she is responsible for many aspects of the driving event from making sure that the courses, and obstacles are set up for safety and of course the enforcement of rules as well as managing the scoring, volunteers and any number of jobs that make for a well organized and safe event.

I have started the learning program to become a Combined Driving, Pleasure Driving and Dressage Judge for the American Driving Society. This is for us a natural progression in the sport and we have hopes of becoming a West Coast team working events together. We will hopefully be able to travel to the events together.

The learner program takes a great deal of time and work with all the rules and variations of the rules not to mention the spirit of the rules. A judge and TD must be able to work together as a team for the benefit of the competitors and their animals.

We hope to have our registered status (r) within a year or two.

To date we have completed one major clinic last year (Aug,2003) in Parker Colorado organized by Ann Pringle and Holly Pulsifer. This was an amazing learning experience for us but we survived.

We have attended a number of events as learners and have been at one un-sanctioned event, Judge and TD. This was a great experience for Terry and Me.

We are planning to be at many of the events this year where in the past we had competed. We look forward to working with many of the judges and Technical Delegates that we have shown under. This experience has given us a whole new respect for the sport. As well as earning our Judge and TD Cards we hope to become better competitors through this education.

Jane and Terry Merritt

Congratulations to The Beams on the purchase of this beautiful yearling colt. We look forward to seeing Whisper out there driving and competing. His daddy is Nifty and his mom is Royal Runaround AQHA. "Dear Jane and Terry - Whisper will be our foundation stallion for Moonbeam Pinto Ponies at Alpine Acres here in Lexington, Oregon. We plan to begin his training in driving and look forward to a wonderful time playing and working with Whisper. Hopefully, he will follow in his daddy's hoofprints and have many Championships and fantastic offspring. Rita and Alvin Beam"

Congratulations to Bruce and Kathy Kates of Williams Oregon for having the winning bid on the American Sport Pony donated breeding to Nifty. Kathy and Bruce, owners of one Nifty son named Bacardi Gold will look to breeding their Purebred Arabian mare this summer for a 2005 foal. Thank you for supporting our registry the AWR/ASPR

Congratulations to Kathy and Bruce Kates of Williams Oregon on the acquisition of "Custom Touch Of Gold" Aka "Bacardi". May 22, 2004 - Bruce and Kathy Kates are very proud of and happy with their four year old Nifty son, Bacardi Gold. The Kates have just brought him home from two months driving training with Jill Wickander. Bacardi Gold was started under saddle shortly after they took him home and has come a long way since then. Kathy says he is driving great and very traffic safe. She is planning to start doing some training level CDE with him maybe starting with HAPPS in Ethel Washington. She looks great and Kathy's carriage dog is B.C.

Congratulations to Ruth Perotti on her purchase of the Nifty colt "Customarily Late". Chance has grown into a beautiful gelding and his owner Ruth Perotti is now llightly showing him as well as enjoying many hours of trail riding. He has grown into a wonderful and trustworthy youngster. Chance has a delightful disposition and has proven to be a wonderful pony for Ruth and her family.

"Carolina Keepsake, AKA Carly is a lovley big filly out of the Thoroughbred mare "Traffic Shy" by "Traffic Cop". Carly scored a 7.6 and was Site Reserve Champion at the AWR/ SPD inspection in November 2001. My plans for her include retaining her as an addition to my breeding stock. I think she will cross very well back to Wynnbrook for dressage and eventing prospects. I have been thrilled with Carly from day one. She is built perfectly, excellent legs, neckset and hip. Her personality is the best, the farm favorite. She loves attention, is smart and willing to cooperate. There are two kids at the barn that have been fighting over who will get to train Carly when she is old enough! One wants a fast cow pony and the other wants her to become and eventing pony! I think she could do both. I do plan to have her professionally started with my eye on the dressage ring; Showing her before she is semi-retired to the broodmare herd. She will always be ridden, at least as a trail mount. "California Custom did a wonderful job putting excellent legs and feet on Carly. His movement also is shown in this filly. It is a breeding that I would love to repeat. Jane was great to work with and has become a dear friend through this." Leigh Preddy, Wildwynn Ponies www.wildwynnponies.com, North Carolina

Congratulations to the Riviera family and especially Sammy on the purchase of J.J. Custom Express. Sammy calls this pony "Gizmo" and is activly showing him. Gizmo and Sammy are in training and are becoming a wonderful team. Watch for them in the Hunter /Jumper show ring. "I just wanted to give you an update on Gizmo and how he is progressing so well. In the last two IEL shows there has been a mark improvement since he has been in full training. Sammy and Gizmo have finished in each show 3rd overall in the novice division against warmbloods and thoroughbreds. You can see there placing at www.ociel.org, also you can see a picture of Gizmo in the November 3rd show under pictures. I think Gizmo is a very special pony and will go a long way. He is so athletic and always willing to please, we are making certain that his jumping is kept to a minimum so he won't get hurt. I am putting together a video for you to look at of Sammy and Gizmo training and showing on a CD.Thank you, Luis (Sam's Dad)

"I don't always have time to post much, but I wanted to share show results for the Northwest Breeders Classic this last weekend. Custom Blend (California Custom x Fairy Tales) brought home several blues for owner Cindy Romney and her daughter Paige. He won the Pony Hunter under saddle class and the Pony Hunter Breeding 3-year old class under judge Ray Francis of Pennsylvania. And to top off the weekend, dressage breeding judge Janet Oldham of British Columbia deemed Custom Blend "the right type" as he won the American Sport Pony class with very high marks. (Custom Blend was bred by Farpoint Farm and handled by Denise Youell and Megan Pomeroy.)" Denise Youell, Farpoint Farm www.farpointfarm.com, Snohomish, WA. Photo by Forrest Bliss. Custom Blend was presented in November 2001 to the American Warmblood Registry / Sport Pony Division and scored an 8.5 for jumping and an overall of 7.5 making him a First Premium. Congratulations!!! We are proud.

2001 Show Results

California Classic CDE at Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Pony Championship

Team Nifty won The California Classic CDE at Shady Oaks Preliminary Single Pony Championship

First Place Preliminary Single Pony and Best Overall Preliminary Marathon with a total of 51.13.

Second place in Preliminary Single Pony Dressage and Fifth Overall Preliminary Dressage with a score of 48.81

Clean and in time in the obsticles winning the Preliminay Single Pony division with a total score of 99.94

The California Classic CDE was the final and mandatory event in the Western States Pony Triple Challenge Championship 2001.

We competed in Arizona, Washington, Oregon and right here in California to qualify for the Pony Challenge. The competition was tough as it included many wonderful and skilled drivers with very talented ponies. We stood in fourth place right up to the California Classic.

We are very proud to announce the we as a team won the Western States Pony Triple Challenge Championship.

This Championship was sponsored by Advanced Equine Products and Driving West Magazine.

Thanks so much for your sponsorship of the Western states Challenge

Your generosity and support of the preliminary division gave us all so much to drive to. The competition was great and I learned so very much and made many friends along the way that gave so much assistance and encouragement.

Jane and Terry Merritt and California Custom

Team Nifty is proud to announce that they have won the "Bellcrown Carriages Preliminary Pony North American Challenge, Western Division". Single Pony Division. The three qualifying events were Happ's Ethel Wa., with a 100.55. Ram Tap, Fresno Ca. scoring 101.24, and the California Classic with score of 99.94 and a total score of 302.24 to win the challenge.

This challenge was sponsored by:

Bellcrown Carriages, Martin Johnston
Freedman Harness Ltd. David Freeman
Driving Essentials, Jack Alvarez

Thank you for your support and encouragement of ponies and pony drivers across this nation. With your support it is possible to compete at levels that encourage us to reach for the stars. We are planning to compete in 2002 and are planning to move up to intermidiate level.

Thanks to Bob Cook Of Hunters Creek Farm we now own an ECC Pony Batmobile. This Marathon vehicle made it so much fun and gave nifty the freedom to show off his increrible athletic ability and his never ending power.

Thanks to Tarrah and John Baker Of Advanced Equine Products for helping me to get Nifty properly fitted with Zilco Harness.

The right equipment makes a huge difference

Thanks to Fritz and Phyllis Grupe of Shady Oaks Ranch for putting on such a wonderful event as the "California Classic".

Your staff, friends and family were absolutely wonderful and helped to make this event all that it was. We hope to see you again next year.

Terry and Jane Merritt and Nifty