JULY 2011
with Maryland’s Combined Drivers by Louisa Emerick
Maryland driver Anna Klumpp of Still Pond participated in both the Elk Creek CDE and the Brandywine Carriage Show.
Debbie Spaulding fi nished second in the Elk Creek CDE in the Training Pony divi- sion with her pony Kennebec Shenker.
Theresa Alexander of Potomac at the Brandywine Carriage Show
Paula Ridin of Frederick
Dr. Rich Forfa competed in the Preliminary division in the morning at Elk Creek and then manned the vet box for the af- ternoon.
Marcy Wozniak of Mt. Airy
Maryland has a large equine population and numerous venues horse enthusiasts may pursue. Perhaps one of the lesser known pursuits is that of carriage driving. T e sport off ers a variety of pleasure, recreational, and competitive outlets for those who fi nd being behind the horse as fun and challenging as being astride one. T is sport was fashioned after three-day eventing, using horse-drawn carriages in the three phases of competition; dressage, marathon (cross-country), and cones (stadium). T is relatively new equestrian sport evolved through the ‘80s and ‘90s spreading from the New England area to the south and west. In contrast, the world of pleasure driving has a much older and distinguished history. T e Devon Horse Show, one of the oldest and most prestigious of horse shows, was originally a showcase for the coaches and carriages of Philadelphia’s wealthy Main Line residents. T e Devon logo was, and remains, a driving horse. Recreational driving has been enjoyed for hundreds of years as a way to appreciate a lovely ride in the countryside with friends. Group picnic drives are popular as are planned drives to histori- cal sites allowing carriage access. Fair Hill NRMA, located in the Cecil County, was recently the site of the Elk Creek Combined Driving Event. As one of the Fair Hill International’s sponsored events, the driving event is billed as a low-key fun event. Organized by Lisa Singer and Di- ane Trefry, both well known to the sport, Elk Creek prides itself on providing an event that allows the new driver a safe and edu- cational experience as well as challenging the experienced ones by off ering a “pre” advanced experience. T is concept enables many to have a more relaxed atmosphere without sacrifi cing an appropriate challenge for the level. T e best way to evaluate the experience was to watch the smiles on so many faces! T e last of the CDE competitors pulled out on Monday morning. Just fi ve days later, Margaret Grillet, show manager, and her Brandywine Carriage Driving Show committee transformed the site from dressage and cones into four pleasure driving rings. Sixty entries competed in forty-six classes. Margaret orchestrat- ed a “Follow Your Flock” scheduling that kept division competi- tors on the same rotation through the rings. By the end of the day, the system was running smoothly and “fi rst show” drivers expressed their interest in pursuing new goals for the next show! Results can be found on
www.drivingnewsusa.com. T is year, the Mid-Atlantic Weekend of Driving will return to
Fair Hill for four days, August 18-21. T e weekend is open to any ADS member, or any member of an ADS club, and is geared more toward those who want to enjoy the driving experience without competing. T e driving world, being relatively small compared to other equine disciplines, has nevertheless created an enthusiastic social circle of driving friends especially among the recreational drivers. Margaret Grillet and her committee have planned a fun weekend with lots of activities including the Carriage Association of America’s Driver Profi ciency Program off ering drivers an op- portunity to learn and earn a CAA Driver Profi ciency Certifi cate. Whether the priority is competition or recreation, many drivers
To read more about Combined Driving and
Tracey Morgan of Beallsville with Kenny Cox
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
fi nd out what driving clubs you can join, visit the Archives on
equiery.com and search for “Carriage Driving, Alive and Well in Maryland,” by Louisa Emerick
enjoy being part of all facets that are off ered so you may see the same competitors at a CDE on one weekend and in the pleasure driving show the next. T ere is a lot going on for Maryland’s car- riage drivers and for those who have always wanted to see what it is like to enjoy a diff erent experience with our equine friends!
JULY 2011 | THE EQUIERY | 43
Louisa Emerick
Louisa Emerick
Louisa Emerick
Hoffprint Images
Hoffprint Images
Louisa Emerick
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