JMF Anna Beam Gone to Glory!

JMF Anna Beam with Tom Simmons at Gilroy CDE

  Last week, one of my favorite mares crossed into glory aided by her lifetime owner and trainer Tom Simmons.  She was a rare and unique mare that gave me one of my most thrilling moments in driving horses in sport. 

  It was at the last Myopia Combined Driving Event in 2000; and as far as I know, it was the last 5 phase CDE ever done in America.  After a run of 25 years, Myopia Driving Event, held at Groton House Farm, Hamilton, MA. was host to the AHSA (now USEF) National Pony Championships.  My Morgan horse, Lance was entered but had cut his fetlock two weeks before the event and could not compete.  My trainer suggested I use his Morgan mare Anna Beam who was no stranger to Combined Driving under Tom's direction.  At the time, Anna had been retired and became one of Tom's best broodmares.  She may have been a broodmare but she kept condition by putting on what we called "The Anna Show".  Tom would open the farm gates regularly just to have her trot by us at full speed for her joy of life and our thrill to watch it.  



  Once a Morgan horse has been conditioned over the years, it does not take long to bring them back into peak performance mode, and she was no exception.   She always had that special something that Morgan mares have that make them so desirable for sport.  Anna had willingness and ambition enough to rise above and beyond what was asked of her.  One has to be careful in the initial training of ambitious mares so as not to wake up the "sleeping genie" of speed performance, or it will be a lifelong trial to try and put the genie back in the bottle.  It is always there...no need to make it a habit! 



   What had attracted Tom about her as a baby was her special quality of being able to trot like the Currier and Ives images of trotting horses.  The artists depicted what they saw with no exaggeration and it was real enough in Miss Anna Beam.  Tom couldn't resist allowing this mare to express her full brilliance and beauty of motion.  Her trot was so true that it had a special sound that still resonates in my head as I think of that day in the Fast Trot C Section of that event in 2000.  

Anna Beam being driven by Tom Simmons with daughter Renee Simmons navigating at Yellowframe Farm CDE in Southern Pines, North Carolina

  The total length of the marathon was just over 17 kilometers and the fast trot C section was 4.2 kilometers at 16KPH.  It felt exhilarating even as I was holding her back a bit until my husband/navigator told me we had met the minimum time allowed.  I let her go over that last stretch before the finish line and here came that memorable moment forever etched in my mind.  The sound she made with her hooves hitting the ground was unlike anything I have ever heard before.  It sounded like perfectly timed footfalls that struck the ground with a "phump" sound.  The crowds lining the course all stopped to watch this trotting machine fly by with their jaws dropped open.  I could barely see the finish through my watering eyes from the speed.  Tom has always said Anna is a Standardbred trapped in a Morgan body.  Tom never thought Anna was a great beauty but here he was wrong.  She had the great beauty of being a noble creature who was allowed to be who she was, and show what was in her to give.  At Myopia, more than one person came up to me to tell me she was the most beautiful horse they had seen.  Beauty is as beauty does!    



A year or so ago, I was talking with Jodi Cutler who was one of the judges.  She does not remember my dressage, done at a road trot, where I circled the arena prior to entering and almost took out the judges stand.  I remember seeing Jodi and Sydney Smith of Great Britain, standing up and stepping back as I flew by.  A seven minute test done in half the time.  Not very admirable in dressage, but awesome in marathon and cones.  Anna drove in those phases like a cat and snaked her way through the seven hazards at my mental direction.  She was thrilling to say the least.



We finished the event successfully even though we were just out of the ribbons.  The vets found her in good condition. I really want to thank Tom Simmons for giving me the opportunity to experience Anna in Combined Driving and in my life with horses.  

Me driving Anna Beam at Southern Pines

Anna Beam has gone back to where ever she came from; but her memory, along with her sons and daughters still grace this earth.  


I salute you Anna ... you will live forever in my mind and heart.  A grand old mare!

an additional note:
Looking at her pedigree, I see that back in 1918 there WAS a Standardbred, Pluto Watts, in Anna's lineage. He was a decendant of Hambletonian who was a decendant of the Thoroughbred, Messenger. So you see...speed was in her blood. What a mare!

Anna's son LH Harlan County 5 yr. old gelding

Be the Captain of your Ship

 There is an attitude that every horse owner should attain before walking to the barn to greet their horse for whatever is planned for the day.  Like clothing, this attitude is the uniform that the horse will see every time.  It is calm, quiet, slow moving, consistent for every contact with the horse whether it be feeding time, training, pleasure time or competition. 


Stack the cards in your favor, every single time, so you will succeed.  This may not be the most fun part of working with a horse, but it is the most important part to insure safety for all. It is necessary every single time so that the fun part will be there for you when you have built the confidence for yourself and the horse has the same confidence in you.  Whether it be for riding or driving, this holds true for all equines, minis, mules etc. 

Ask your trainer or mentor for a protocol for each and every drive you make.  Go through that exact same routine every time.  You will know what to do and so will your horse.  I would not ride or drive with others until you can keep to your protocol even in the presence of others.   Stick to organized activities and lessons for as long as it takes to gain the confidence and skill to know how to react, better yet, avoid situations that can put an abrupt end to the sport you are pursuing.  It is work, costs a bundle in lessons, equipment and commitment....but, it can pay off wonderfully in a lifetime of accomplishment and pleasure.

You must be the Captain of your Ship.


Protocol is a definite set of rules or actions that one performs to insure a safe ride or drive.  It is understood by you and the horse.  If one step is missed, you are courting disaster.  Think of it as a "pre-flight check list" that a pilot does each and every time they take the plane out to fly.  There is a definite protocol to be followed by the law and by common sense.  In driving, protocol is the routine....Routine.  I can't stress how important it is especially for a new driver or an inexperienced horse.

Sometimes people think I am distant and not too friendly in public.  What is really happening is I am focused and following my routine to make sure my horse and I will have a safe and successful drive.  I try to analyze and make decisions about everything right down to who I choose to drive my horse near if I am in a group.  There is a reason I do everything I do with a horse because not only is my life at stake...but my horse and the people and animals around me.  Driving is serious business and can be great fun, but it is serious business and one must treat it as such.

It is good to take lessons from trainers.  Learn what their protocol or routine is for every drive.  Then here comes the thinking part of it for you...you have to think and assess if it is correct for your situation and act accordingly.  If you have questions, ask your trainer but try and think for yourself.  You can't lean on trainers for ever.  You must try and gain the ability to assess situations for yourself and make decisions that will be best for you.  You know yourself better than anyone and by doing what is best for you, you are taking responsibility for you and your horse and being the "Captain of your Ship".

Things to consider are:

• How often do you drive your horse and what do you need to do to prepare him for work?  If he has been out to pasture all winter, bring him back to the barn for a few days to get into "work mode" and re-establish your routine.  Remember how it is going back to work after vacation?...it can take a little time to get back into the groove...aka:  routine.   Get your equipment out and ready to use (don't do like I sometimes do and remember my sunglasses after I am hooked).  Think ahead to avoid having to leave the horse unattended or at risk of moving before giving the "go ahead" command. 

• Groom what is only necessary to insure no dirt under harness parts.  In other words, don't spend an hour aggravating a horse getting him spotless before you go out and get him dirty.  Do the bulk of your grooming after work.  His coat is warm and releases hair, dirt and sweat more readily after work.

Teach horse to stand while harnessing and hooking.

• Harness efficiently and exactly in the same way every time.  Never hurry and expect the horse to stand and wait until you ask for movement.  You don't see the passengers telling the captain to hurry up and cast off.  It is the captain's decision...every time. 

• Lead the horse to the vehicle in the same way every time.  I lead by the reins near the bit and make a big circle to the left and stop in front of the carriage.  If at home, hook him in the same place every time.

Take your time and your horse will expect to wait.

The captain directs the helper every step of the way.

• Make your actions exactly the same each time...your horse has a computer for a brain and wants routine.  He wants to be assured of what is coming next.  It is a secure  feeling for him.  It is like having a job description where one knows what is expected.  

•  When hooking, do it yourself and don't let people stampede you into doing things differently or their way  (unless you are working on what is correct with your trainer or mentor).  If you need help, direct the person to take your orders and stress the importance of doing things your way.

• Be careful of having headers for your horse.  Some people can bring their nervous energy to you horse's head and make your horse nervous.  They grab and hang on when they shouldn't, or do nothing when they should.  Just be careful and explicit in your directions if you have help.  Stress calm and quiet.

First time hooking keeping it short and simple.

• Keep your initial drives short, purposeful and direct your horse every step of the way.  Don't "showboat" like the captain of the Costa Concordia or deviate from your plans. 

• Keep working with a trainer or mentor and employ your own brain in the decision making process.  Just don't take orders.  Start taking command and know why you are doing what you are doing.  

• Training (every time one touches a horse, they are training or UN-training) is a serious business.  I continue to learn from the best.  What is taught is so simple, yet so hard to achieve.  Simplicity is the challenge. 

I am still on my learning journey.  All I can do is give you something to think about.  It is your journey and your responsibility...wear it confidently like a uniform.

             Assume command of your ship! 

Driving my favorite ship "Lance"   photo by  grandson  Caleb Ott