CLUBS & BREEDS
Great Lakes Friesian Horse Association is dedicated to promoting the Dutch Friesian breed and includes members from the Midwest and beyond. On May 14-15, 2011, they sponsored a Bill Long horse driving seminar. For more information, see their website.
Haflinger Owners of Wisconsin. (H.O.W.) A very active horse club in Wisconsin stressing youth involvement and driving with Haflinger ponies. www.haflingerownersofwisconsin.org 2008 HOW Fun Classes Part 1 2008 HOW Fun Classes Part 2
International Morab Breeders’ Association. IMBA Region 4 sponsors a Horse Show the Sunday before Labor Day Weekend - Sept. 4 (new dates this year!) in Jefferson, Wisconsin, that offers many driving classes. (Driving classes held after lunch break.) Morabs are used for driving as well as riding events. www.morab.com 2008 Sunday Show 2009 Morabs at the Midwest Horse Fair 2009 Saturday Show 2009 Sunday Show 2010 Morabs at the Midwest Horse Fair Friday 2010 Saturday Show 2010 Sunday Show
Midwest Distance Driving Club: Promotes distance driving (similar to competitive riding) in Wisconsin and surrounding states. Clinics and a novice drive are held every spring and drives in state/county parks and forests are scheduled though-out the season. http://mdda.info 2008 Iron Oak Ride/Drive 2008 Glacier Trails Ride/Drive 2009 Iron Oak Ride/Drive
Oregon Horse Association, Oregon, Wisconsin. Mainly a riding club but they encourage carriages in their Holiday Parade in November. http://www.oregonhorseassociation.org
Wisconsin Morgan Horse Club. The all-purpose American Horse thrives in our state and is often put to carts and carriages. www.wisconsinmorganhorseclub.org
COMBINED DRIVING EVENTS
Hickory Knoll Combined Driving Event, Hickory Knoll Farm, Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Pleasant, safe and well-organized. Participants, volunteers and observers are welcome to this friendly event. www.hickoryknoll.net
2008 photos 2009 Safety Check photos
Iron Horse Combined Driving Event, Caledonia, Illinois. Well-designed top class hazards, excellent facilities, safe marathon course. www.ironhorsecde.com
DRIVING TRAILS
Good Neighbor Trail - At the 2010 DDC Annual meeting, member Penni Klein reported that the Good Neighbor Trail Master Plan is under way. Financial contribution from the Wisconsin State Horse Council and a letter in support of the project written by Board member Roger Houk contributed to this project by helping to secure a state grant. Penni is optimistic that the trail plan, after public meetings are conducted, will be approved and will include carriage driving as one of the trail uses. DDC member Tom Smiley attended one public meeting and explained the requirements of the trail for safe carriage driving. Here is a letter to the Wisconsin State Horse Council from Penni Klein who serves as Public Lands Manager for the City of Middleton.
HORSE FAIRS
Iowa State Horse Fair; held in Des Moines the second weekend in April. A smaller version of the Midwest Horse Fair. www.iowahorsecouncil.org
Midwest Horse Fair, Madison, Wisconsin. Over 40,000 visitors flock to this event held the third week in April. Breed demonstrations, seminars given by local experts, internationally known clinicians, and vendors galore. http://midwesthorsefair.com
INTERNET DRIVING LIST
CD-L is an automated Internet mailing list. It is an open forum for the discussion of all topics relating to the sport of carriage driving. Membership is worldwide, representing a dozen countries, and currently has over 1900 members. To join, send an email (using plain text format only)to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.DARTMOUTH.EDU
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
American Driving Society. Guardians of rules for all types of driving events. The ADS “Whip” and other publications are highly informative and interesting. www.americandrivingsociety.org 2008 ADS Midwest Driving Clinic
Carriage Association of America. Emphasizing historic, restored and authentic reproduction horse-drawn carriages and the proper appointments, horses, harness and attire to match. Publish an outstanding magazine. www.caaoline.com
Federation Equestre Internationale. FEI established international standards for eight equestrian sports: show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and para-equestrian. The World Equestrian Games, held every four years by the FEI, are comprised of the world championships for these sports and were never located outside Europe until in 2010, when they were held in Lexington, Kentucky. www.feigames2010.org
PARADES
Oregon (Wisconsin) Horse Parade held the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Sponsored by the Oregon Horse Association and the Village of Oregon Chamber of Commerce. Awards are given for (1) Best Holiday Costume, (2) Most Creative Costume, and (3) Best Group Theme. There are two divisions - Riders/Walkers and Carriages. Cost to register is $10 per horse or $5 per horse for 4-H or Oregon Horse Assn. members. http://www.oregonhorseassociation.org
PLEASURE DRIVING SHOWS
Columbus Carriage Festival. The Columbus Carriage Festival is honoring the Civil War over the Father’s Day weekend of June 15-17th, 2012. There will be the show as usual then we will also be having encampments, Civil War clothing fashion show, a Civil War band and a parade starting and ending at the pavilion. The roads will be closed for the parade and attendance will not be required but you will miss out being a part of history. The State of Wisconsin Department of Tourism has given the CCF a $27,000 grant for publicity and they have hired a Public Relations firm to help promote the event. Would any DDC members be willing to be interviewed regarding driving, showing and what it takes to get ready for this type of show? If so, contact Melani Lichtfeld at IIbitranch@gmail.com or 608-444-5333. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. 2009 photos - (just a few from Saturday), 2010 photos from Saturday. For more info, visit the CHCF Facebook page.
Villa Louis Carriage Classic, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The largest pleasure driving show in the Midwest. Elegant ambiance on the historic Villa Louis grounds. www.carriageclassic.com 2008 photos 2009 photos 2009 photos part 2
2010 photos part 1 2010 photos part 2 2010 photos part 3
SLEIGH RIDES
The ADS sanctioned Columbus Sleigh Rally is held in Columbus, Wisconsin, usually in February. In 2012, it will be held on February 11th at Firemen's Park and also use the golf course. Begins at noon. Carriages will be used in case of no snow. Mary Ruth Marks will judge. Three classes are offered for horse-drawn sleighs and drivers: (1) Currier and Ives, (2) Cones Obstacles, and (3) Cross Country Pleasure Drive. For more info, contact Melanie Lichtfeld 2010 Photos Also, Kim Kuhlman Photography - www.kimkuhlman.com
HOW holds a "Sleigh Day." It is held on the Huston Farms in Cottage Grove across from the 1855 restaurant. If no snow, carriages will be used. For more info, contact Kirk Gillespie. 2011 Photos from Andy Halbach. 2011 Photos from Jane Licht.
Sleigh Riding for small groups is offered by DDC members Mary Ruth Marks and Wes Licht .
THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTERS
Three Gaits Therapeutic Riding, Inc. Oregon, Wisconsin. One of the top therapeutic riding centers in the Midwest. Offers many driving classes at its 4th of July Horse Show. www.3gaits.org 2008 Show photos 2009 Show Photos 2010 Sunday Show photos 2011 Sunday Show photos 2011 Monday Show photos
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, Harvard, IL is offering a NARHA Demo Driving Workshop June 20-22, 2011. Completion of this workshop satisfies the Driving workshop requirements towards certification in the NARHA program. For more information contact Barb Menge (815)382-2107 or bmenge@hotmail.com
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN VETERINARY SCHOOL
The UW-Madison Vet School Offers important seminars for the serious horse owner. On February 20, 2010, the theme of the seminar is "Horse Emergencies." The Dairyland Driving Club and the Wisconsin Dressage and Combined Training Association, among other groups, have made donations toward a scholarship fund for the Vet School to use to encourage area first responders to attend the seminar. Here is a link to more information.
