Mountain Thyme Training

09/29/2025

I have a few training spots this fall into winter. Interested? Lemme know!

We have a stall available October 1st due to a last minute change of plans!

09/25/2025

Atta girl, Janelle! Consistent scores across the board and a stellar performance.

Australia’s Janelle Marshall has wrapped up a strong campaign at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Singles in France, finishing 15th with Halcyonia Mistletoe 🇦🇺

Read more: https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/successful-finale-for-janelle-marshall-in-the-fei-driving-world-championship-for-pony-singles/

📷 Melanie Guillamot

09/19/2025

Keep kicking ass and continued luck in the next two phases, Janelle and team!!

Australian Janelle Marshall has begun her 2025 FEI Driving World Championship campaign in France with mare Halcyonia Mistletoe, posting a solid dressage score in the Pony Singles Championship 🇦🇺

Read more: https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/janelle-marshall-kicks-off-world-championship-campaign/

📷 Melanie Guillamot

09/13/2025

We’ll be cheering on our favorite Aussie!! Oi, oi, oi!!

Australia’s Janelle Marshall will contest the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies in France with Halcyonia Mistletoe, joining 44 athletes from 17 nations in the Pony Singles division from 17–21 September 🇦🇺🏆

Watch all the action via ClipMyHorse.TV🎥

Read more: https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/janelle-marshall-set-to-represent-australia-on-the-world-stage/

📷 Swingletree Photography

09/12/2025

Offener Brief an das Fahrkomitee und die Führungspersönlichkeiten unseres Sports
🇬🇧 🇫🇷 🇳🇱 @ www.hippoevent.at

✉️ Sehr geehrte Mitglieder des Komitees,
sehr geehrte Sport Kolleginnen und Kollegen,
Im Nachgang zur Europameisterschaft in Lähden sehe ich die Notwendigkeit, einige grundsätzliche Gedanken zur Weiterentwicklung unseres Sports zu formulieren. Mein Anliegen richtet sich nicht an einzelne Personen oder Ereignisse, sondern zielt auf die nachhaltige Sicherung von Fairness, Attraktivität und Ausgewogenheit im Fahrsport.

Führung im Sport bedeutet vor allem Verantwortung: für die Tradition, die Gegenwart und die Zukunft unserer Disziplin. Fahren lebt von der Balance seiner drei Teilprüfungen – Dressur, Marathon und Kegelfahren. Jede dieser Prüfungen soll gleichermaßen die Harmonie zwischen Pferd und Fahrer sichtbar machen und damit zur Gesamtleistung beitragen.

Die jüngsten Ergebnisse im Kegelfahren haben verdeutlicht, dass die Balance zwischen Anspruch und Fairness weiter in den Blick genommen werden muss. Ein Parcours, in dem kein Teilnehmer eine fehlerfreie Runde absolvieren kann, verfehlt die Aufgabe dieser Prüfung. Die Richtlinien des Springsports – wonach rund 10 % der Teilnehmenden die Chance auf eine Nullrunde haben sollten – zeigen, dass Anspruch und Fairness in Einklang gebracht werden können. Ein solches Verhältnis bewahrt die sportliche Herausforderung, sorgt zugleich für positive Momente, die Zuschauer mitreißen, und ermöglicht es den Fahrern, auf ihre Leistung stolz zu sein.

Unser Sport lebt nicht allein von einer kleinen Zahl internationaler Spitzenfahrer. Es sind ebenso die Amateure, die auf regionaler Ebene Veranstaltungen tragen, Nachwuchs an den Fahrsport heranführen und die Vielfalt erhalten. Ein zu hoher Schwierigkeitsgrad ohne realistische Erfolgserlebnisse führt dazu, dass gerade diese Basis geschwächt wird. Langfristig ist dies eine Gefahr für die Entwicklung und Verbreitung unseres Sports.

Die großen Erfolge und Zuschauerzahlen vergangener Jahrzehnte zeigten: der Fahrsport zieht an, wenn es Eleganz, Präzision und Spannung verbindet. Gepflegte Pferde, eine würdige Präsentation und Parcours, die Harmonie sichtbar machen, sind entscheidende Faktoren für die öffentliche Wahrnehmung. Dies ist keine Frage von Elitarismus, sondern von Qualität und Attraktivität.

Unsere Aufgabe als Verantwortliche ist es, den Sport auf dieser Grundlage weiterzuentwickeln:
durch faire und ausgewogene Parcours, durch den respektvollen Dialog verschiedener Perspektiven, durch die gleichwertige Anerkennung von Profis wie Amateuren, und durch die Pflege von Tradition und Darstellung, die den Fahrsport einzigartig machen.

Wenn wir diese Leitlinien in den Mittelpunkt stellen, sichern wir nicht nur die sportliche Integrität, sondern schaffen auch die Basis dafür, dass kommende Generationen von Fahrern, Organisatoren und Zuschauern inspiriert werden.

Mit Respekt und verfasst aus Überzeugung,
Chester C. Weber

Chapeau... wir können diesen Worten nur zustimmen!
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧
𝗪𝗲❤️𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁
..sei up-to-date mit hippoevent.at | drivingsport.infoat

09/08/2025

On Saturday, we traveled to Geneseo for the GVRDC Combined Test today with Peter and King. Peter and I placed first in training single pony with a lovely dressage test and one ball down in cones. King and I placed first in our division of one, with an alright dressage test, and one ball down in cones.

Peter has exceeded my expectations this year, for his first show season especially. Hes a superstar with a fan club! Thank you to his amazing owner, Lindsay S., for trusting me with Peter through his training and first show season.

King and I still have a lot to master at intermediate, but I am grateful for all the amazing feedback from the judges at every show this year- we have lots of homework for the winter!

Shout out to Jessica and Mitch for winning their division with a beautiful dressage and cones. Jessica and Mitch have worked so hard and grown so much this year!

Thanks to everyone at GVRDC for an awesome CT. Always well run, with a fantastic group of volunteers, amazing judge, TD, and secretary. Thank you to the land and farm owners at Roots Tavern for allowing us to enjoy the beautiful facility. The indoor arena is every equestrians dream- lovely footing, well lit, and perfect size to prove that any sized equine (including a pair of large horses) can drive in safely. Looking forward to next year ❤️

09/04/2025

I’m a few weeks behind in sharing results of GMHA’s combined test and CDE.

Jasmin and I both competed in the CT on Thursday, with Jasmin at the lines of Lindsay’s lovely pony, Peter. Jasmin and Peter were first in the training single pony division- just Peter’s third show and Jasmin’s sixth time driving him ❤️

King and I were first in intermediate single pony and reserve champion in the intermediate division. Both boys were on their best behavior and we had things to work on for Friday’s dressage.

On Friday, we both were leading over divisions after dressage. Both Jasmin and I had improved on our dressage scores from the day before. Obstacles looked great, we were ready for marathon 🤞

Very late Friday night into Saturday morning I got a call every parent dreads- my sweet daughter, Teagan, was admitted to the hospital for severe abdominal pain and concerns over the cause. They begin ruling things out but hadn’t found ‘why’.

At that point, nothing had changed so I opted for us to go out on course for Jasmin and Peter’s marathon. Jasmin did an awesome job driving Peter in his first marathon/obstacle’s and also her FIRST full marathon course! While she’s gatored for me through plenty, she hasn’t had the opportunity to drive one yet.

After we got off course, not much had changed with my daughter but her medical team started mentioning surgery. I panicked and realized I needed to get home. I knew I couldn’t focus and drive King like he deserved through obstacles. So, through tears I withdrew our entries and we (okay, I was frantic… Jasmin was a great calming anchor) frantically packed and drove the 5 hours home. I literally dropped Jasmin, the boys, and my rig at home as Jason picked me up and drove the hour to Syracuse Children’s Hospital.

I’m happy to report that after a four day hospital stay, Teagan is doing well. She did not need surgery, her doctors were able to intervene quickly enough to avoid that.

I want to thank everyone who helped me at the show and was so kind- Linda, the amazing show secretary who reminded me to breath through my tears, Melody and John who offered support, love and to bring anything I forgot back to NY, and lastly to Jasmin for her understanding, patience with me being a mess, and help not only through the whole show but that last day.

09/03/2025

06/11/2025

What a weekend at the Elk Creek combined test and driving trial- which also happened to be Kings intermediate debut!

Friday’s CT was a great first day. We had a 49.89 in dressage, one ball down and came in just over time in cones. We were the only one in our division, but that’s okay. It provided a great opportunity to set a base line and King decided to raise the bar 😉

Saturdays dressage was a bit of a different story…. King and I werent on the same page, which resulted in me getting distracted and having not one but two errors in my test. In between the errors, a certain pony got his tongue over the bit. I was frankly mortified and thanked the judges for their patience while I got back on track. After penalties, we had a 61.80 in dressage and one ball and some time penalties in cones. The marathon on Sunday was a big improvement with only a few moments where King and I disagreed on the routes. We won three obstacles and were second in three others out of all the intermediate/hybrid drivers. We earned the best overall intermediate score in the driving trial of just a few competitirs. But it’s not aboit the ribbons, it’s about working towards doing better the next time.

There were a lot of moments of learning and growth - I’m so happy King stuck with me even when I was pretty certain there was no coming back 🤣😩🙃. I had a lot of amazing words of wisdom and support sent my way to help me remember this was a big step for the team. I’m really proud of my stinky pony and so proud and grateful for my groom, Jason, for keeping us going the past few days. He always made sure my carriages were sparkling (10’s in presentation!) and kept the dirty side down on the marathon.

We have lots of homework and good things to work towards before the next show. Onward and upward!

Ps thanks to the amazing organizers, officials, volunteers, support staff at Elk Creek Combined Driving Event for making this event possible!

05/30/2025

Looking for your next drive and ride equine partner? Look no further than sweet boy Bodie, who is at Freshwind Farm LLC and available for test drives and rides.

Bodie was started by Raymund Helmuth and spent last summer with Jeffrey Kohler for finishing work. After having the winter off, hes back with me to continue his education and dust off the winter fuzzies.

Bodie is an honest and willing horse who is ready to find his people!

Visit for more details, photos and videos please visit- http://www.relhok.ca/bodie.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6Hz6F77G7K19hsD1SbM-S9XMWLyRm4VnydDVlUG1vwnQSDPEsC57qjl9iHTA_aem_4Xc01YGjoNOnVJVwFNLLkg

Bodie ​ 2018 Morgan Cross Gelding | 151 cm | Black Looking for your next driving partner with show potential? Meet Bodie – a stunning 2018 Morgan Cross gelding standing at 151 cm. Ride &...