In 27 years, Katie Whaley has only missed one Walnut Hill Farm Carriage Driving Competition, but she had a good excuse–she was in Europe competing in a World Championship. In those 26 years, she’s probably accumulated more championship ribbons than anyone else.

This year, Whaley added three more championship and three more reserve championship ribbons to her already impressive collection from Walnut Hill, held Aug. 16-20 in Pittsford, N.Y.

She earned the pair pony championship, tandem horse or pony championship, single large pony championship, reserve champion amateur (champion was John Skivington), reserve ladies champion (which she shared with Susie Buchanan behind champion Kirsten Brunner) and reserve champion four-in-hand or unicorn pony (champion was Claire Reid).

Currently a resident of Southern Pines, N.C., the always elegantly turned out New York native drives Section B Welsh Pony geldings with equally elegant names: Tuxedo, Spats and Bow Tie. She’s owned these Canadian-bred ponies for about six years. Tuxedo and Spats are multi-talented, having traveled to Europe last summer with Whaley to compete in the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championships at Catton Park, England.

At Walnut Hill, Spats was Whaley’s personal champion, serving as leader in the tandem, wheeler in the unicorn, and one of the pair, as well as in the single pony classes.

“This is the first time I’ve shown him as a single. He’s gotten much braver–there’s a huge difference–and he’s very independent. He knows his job, and he worked very hard at this show,” she said proudly. His tricolor was well-earned against 24 entries in the single large pony division.

Tuxedo, a full brother to Spats, is “very solid–he’s the worker bee.”

Bow Tie hasn’t competed in two years because of a Cushing’s-related diabetic condition that resulted in founder. He’s being treated by a veterinarian from Virginia and will be on medication for the rest of his life, so his work load was light. He served as leader in the unicorn (two in the wheel, and one in the lead) and leader in the tandem driven by her mother, Kate Whaley.

Even though Katie is well known in combined driving circles–having been successful with pairs, four-in hands, as well as a single horse or two–she enjoys pleasure driving perhaps a bit more. “If I had to choose, I’d probably pick pleasure driving. [The competitors] don’t take it all so seriously. I like the tradition,” she said.

For those who think pleasure driving is a wimpy cousin to the excitement of combined driving, Katie would have them think again. “People don’t realize what good drivers pleasure drivers are. In pleasure driving, you can’t canter in the obstacle classes, so you have to be really fast and accurate,” she explained.

Extra care is also required when driving an antique carriage, and even the traditional reproductions aren’t equipped with all of the sharp turning, shock-absorbing devices of CDE vehicles.

In a progressive obstacle class, the final set of cones offers only 2 inches to spare for the entire equipage to fit through. “To be in the ribbons, you have to be clear and fast,” said Katie.

And she was–and won the blue. In fault and out, “everyone [in the tandem class] in the ribbons went around at least twice. I think I went three times!” Another blue ribbon to hang on the stall door.

Katie often finds herself competing against her mother, Kate, and beating her is not always a given. “We have such a good time together,” said Katie. “She’s so quiet and good around the ponies. She drives my ponies when I’m away and puts such a good base on them.”

What gives Katie an edge over so many impressive turnouts? According to Walnut Hill’s Chairman Bill Remley, it’s “practice, practice, practice, attention to detail and quality ponies.”

Dana Bright, one of three judges at Walnut Hill, summed up Katie’s success in two words: “Ring craft.” According to Bright, “She’s well prepared and drives beautifully. You can tell she has a plan. She knows exactly how much she can ask of her ponies.”

Both Kate and Katie have a real knack for putting together knock-out turnouts.

It’s more than just having great ponies, beautiful carriages and a well-polished harness. They have set the standard for elegant yet appropriately restrained carriage fashion. Katie’s talent eventually turned a hobby into a full-time business as her company, Hats By Katie, became official in 1990, and her artistic touch has earned her a world-wide reputation.

Hats By Katie is one of the most popular booths in the Carriage Lane Boutiques at Walnut Hill, although she hires Eric Sanders to handle the sales so she can concentrate on her performance in the ring.

In order to be able to thoroughly enjoy Walnut Hill, the Whaleys have help: Gary Lergner and June O’Connell, from Southern Pines, N.C., Bridgette Ruston, from California, and Donna Palmer, who traveled from England and has been with the Whaley’s for a month.

Ann L. Pringle