This meeting features a weekend of instruction from Doug ―Doc Hammill. A two-day clinic will be offered to all current MDHMA members at ― "No Charge" on Driving horses. Also there will be time allotted for individual driving help. Doc has made horse training and people training his life, since retiring from his veterinary profession and produces many great instructional videos.

Doc will be presenting a 2-day hands-on clinic (May 26-27) ; Time each day is 9-4 pm with an hour lunch break. Doc believes in teaching Gentle and Effective ways to communicate to horses in their language, using their logic-not ours, to respond to our logic. He teaches students how to drive using his brand of rhythmic pressure & release techniques. "With commitment, self discipline and practice, anyone can learn and skillfully apply these principles & techniques." Doc has made horse training and people training his life, since retiring from his veterinary profession and produces many great instructional videos.

Also, the Jack & Helen Eden will be demonstrating and instructing interested members the ins and outs of team, four-up and four-abreast hitch/driving.

The fairgrounds has a nice arena with grandstands and a groomed surface to work on. There is camping right on the grounds and limited hookups for your RV. There are plenty of stalls available and even a great building on site for our meeting Saturday night. There is space to drive around the grounds with the horses. Restaurants and motels are within walking distance. We will be having some events for kids such as a place they can come and groom a draft horse (up close and personal), a demo on "this is a harness and how it works and how you put them on". Ed Jorden will try to bring his miniature donkey & cart to let kids get a chance to drive it. The local 4-H group along with others in the area have been invited to attend.

Cost: Doc’s clinic is FREE (May 26 & 27)
Stall fee for the entire weekend is $10/stall.
Hookup and campsite use is $10 for the weekend (camping located on the Fairgrounds)
There will be a fee for meals catered by the 4-H club- to be determined by their club that will support their youth program. Meals are scheduled for Saturday night and Sunday morning

Directions: Madison County Fairgrounds are located in Twin Bridges. Proceed on main street through Twin Bridges, turn on Highway 41 South which goes to Dillon, cross river bridge and the fairgrounds is on the left.

Tentative Agenda:
Arrive Friday afternoon at your convenience and get settled in. Do a little driving or just relax.

Saturday morning: 9:00am-noon: First session of Doc’s instruction on "Rhythmic pressure/release driving technique" – emphasizing the importance of ground work (demonstration using Clemow’s team).
Noon: Lunch on your own at your choice of local cafés.
1:00pm-4pm: Doc- continue morning session with combination group instruction
1:00pm-4pm: The Edens instruction on team, 4-up & 4-abreast driving
2:00pm: Obstacle course practice and kid’s programs. Some of us will be giving visitors rides on the wagons and a chance to handle the lines themselves around the fairgrounds.
5:00pm: Dinner catered by the local 4-H group as a fund raiser for them.
6:00pm: Association meeting
Sunday: breakfast to be catered again by the 4-H group
9:00am-3:30pm: Second session of Doc’s instruction with Individual/ Group coaching 9am-Noon: Eden’s will finish up 4-up, 4-abreast driving
11:00am to mid-afternoon: more obstacle practicing, log pulling and cultivating set up.
Noon: Lunch on your own
All events will end late-afternoon.

SUMMER HAY MOWING EVENT
June 28, 29, 30, 2012
Pryor, Montana

As many have wanted to experience cutting hay with horses, we will have a hay-mowing event in beautiful Pryor, Montana. You don’t know where Pryor is? Imagine that! It’s 32 miles south of Billings. Take the S. Billings Blvd exit from Interstate 90 and follow the road and signs to Pryor. Home base is the Jorden home, two miles south of the town of Pryor.

We are gathering as many mowers as we can so we can keep several teams mowing at once. The horses get tired rather quickly so we switch out teams often. We have endless acres to mow in the area, so we can mow until our horses give out.

Housing will be provided by local members. At the Jorden ranch, there will be RV hookups and camping areas and some beds in the house. We will share meals together and divi up the costs. There will be lots of time for tall tales to be told, wild stories to be shared, and experiences to be embellished. We have plenty of places to house your horses as well. No doubt we will get a wagon and cart ride or two in as well. There is the Crow Indian museum to be seen and maybe a visit to Lyle Johnson’s art studio.