We have some exciting events planned for 2023!! Check Back Often!! Details will be posted as they are finalized. We have decided to also list some regional events that members may find interesting. Please email Chris at schillingca@charter.net if you want your event listed. Also check out the following organizations for their events. The American Driving Society (ADS) www.americandrivingsociety.org The Carriage Association of America (CAA) www.caaonline.com The Saratoga Driving Association www.saratogadriving.com The Colonial Carriage and Driving Society www.colonialcarriage.org Western NY Combined Carriage Association (WNYCCA) www.wnycca.org Gladstone Equestrian Association - Driving www.gladstonedriving.org Cherry Valley Carriage Association www.cherryvalleycarriage.com
January 1/22/2023 6pm Member meeting and Silent Auction fundraiser at the Van Wyck Homestead. We will be introducing our 23022 officer slate and setting up committees for our various events. Remember, it takes a community to make things happen! We will also hold our Silent Auction of driving/horse and household items... think Tag Sale!! This is our first of two fundraisers so remember to bring items to sell and money to spend!! We will have potluck desserts and coffee.
February Sleigh Rally this event will be held at a private farm near LaGrangeville, NY and will be for members only. Obviously, it is weather dependent, so get the horses in shape and those sleighs ready!! We will befollowing the long range forecasts and getting the word out via email and Facebook!!
2/18/2023 The Saratoga Driving Association will be holding there Spring Clinic and Quiz Bowl in Latham , NY from 8:30-4p. Several of our members have expressed interest in attending Reach out to that club for details
March 3/12/23 Member Meeting/Field Trip We are meeting at Congelosi Trailers in Montgomery, NY at 12:30 for a 1 pm start. They are hosting us for a trailer safety and maintenance clinic just in time to head out on the road for fun and adventure.
3/3-3/5/2023 New England Region/CAA Annual meeting in Newport, RI A fun and educational event coupled with the Annual meeting. Several barn and carriage house tours are scheduled, as well as speakers and a movie screening. COntact Judy Ballantine at judy.Ballantine@gmail.com or Joanie Mitchell at foxden98@gmail.com. 3/12/2023 - 3/16/2023 Sovereign Hilltop Farm (Millerton, NY) and Margaret Beeman present an Indoor Challenge Course. Appropriate for ground Driving or in hand work the course will be open for sign-up times Sunday through Wednesday with a Challenge clinic on Thursday. Contact Margaret directly 3/18-19/2023 WNY Equifest in Hamburg, NY info at www.the-fairgrounds.com 3/25/23 Connecticut Horse Symposium 9 am- 2 pm at UConn, Storrs, CT. This will take place in the heated Horsebarn Hill Arena with a Vendor Fair from 9-1:30. 9 AM - 12 PM Join Bob Burrelli for a fun and interesting clinic! Bob is also excited to do a Question and Answer session if time allows. For details https://animalscience.cahnr.uconn.edu/horsesymposium/ 3/25-26/2023 Cones and Obstacles Clinic with Sarah Bates at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Go to horseparkofnewjersey.com for more information and entry form. It's due by 3/22/23!
April 4/6/23 5:30 pm Member Meetingtentatively planned for the Van Wyck Museum, we are looking for a speaker for this meeting.
4/16/23 Pleasure drive at Rockefeller State Park Preserve (Pleasantville, NY) Join us for a relaxing drive at the preserve. There are routes for every level and the carriage trails are well maintained although boots are beneficial. The group will head out at 12 noon although individuals familiar with the park may go out at leisure.
4/16/23-4/19/23 Dressage Ring open for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm with a DressageChallenge on Thursday 4/20/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic.
4/20/23 - 4/21/23Club Field Trip to Martins Auction has been cancelled. The executive Board has deceided to attend the Bird-in-Hand Auction in June instead.
4/15/23 Colonial Carriage and Driving Society Spring Clinic at Orleton Farm in Stockbridge, MA. 4/29/23 WNYCCA Fun Drive in Avon, NY
May 5/7/23 Beginner Driving Clinic at Thomas Bull Memorial Park (Horse Arena) Montgomery, NY 12549 at 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM Join us for a hands-on introduction to Horse & Carriage Driving. Meet a variety of horses from minis to draft crosses with the different carriages they use from a simple 2 wheel buggy to a 4 wheel wagonette. Followed by a demonstration of dressage and a cones course. Time to get to work learning to harness, ground drive and hook the horse to a cart focusing on safely working around these large animals. After you have mastered your skills it's time to take the reins and drive a horse. Before that we will have lunch and a safety review. Cost will be $60 for non-members (includes individual membership for this year) or $40 for current members. Registration will be limited to 10 participants to insure everyone has adequate driving time. Stay tuned for registration form.
5/14/23-5/17/23 The Cones Course isopen for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm Sunday through Wednesday with a Cones challenge on Thursday 5/18/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic.
5/13/2023 5 pm HVDHA Square Dance at 13 Maybrook Rd, Campbell Hall, NY at the Hamptonburgh Fire District. Although this is not a joint event with our club this year, we wish our Draft Horse friends good luck and lots of fun. For a fun family activity please support them. 5/13/23 WNYCCA Spring CT (Dressage/Cones) at Avon Driving Park 5/13/23-5/14/23Gladstone Equestrian Association HDT at Hamilton Farm Golf and Equestrian Center. It is expected that stabling will be at the USET barn. 5/28/23 WNYCCA ECHO #1 at Avon Driving Park
June 6/11/23 - 6/14/23 The Marathon Obstacles Course isopen for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm Sunday through Wednesday with a Marathon challenge on Thursday 6/15/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic. 6/16/23 or 6/23/23 Live Auction and Strawberry Festival w HVDHA This fun, annual fundraiser is hosted by our friends at the beautiful Lawrence Farms Orchards. Our own Dick Lahey will be calling the auction. It is a major fundraiser event and relies on your donated items and deep pockets. Horse related items are preferred, but quality household items with lots of life and utility are accepted as well. There will be many cool and interesting items for sale. Start time will be 5 pm sharp and buyers will be asked to gather and load items promptly after the auction so the generous Lawrence family hosts can get to bed.
6/29/23 - 6/30/23Club Field Trip to the Lancaster County Carriage & Antique Auction Lets head down to Bird-in-Hand, PA and check out the Annual Auction to support the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company and takes place on the Smucker Homestead. There is an early bird auction on Thursday afternoon and an all-day auction on Friday. Lodging is on your own, but group activities will be scheduled.
6/11/23 WNYCCA ECHO #2 at Raspberry Hill in Penfield, NY 6/17-18/2023 New York State Morgan Horse Society presents Summer SporthorseWeekend: A Skillbuilding workshop for Dressage Riders and Carriage Drivers at the Sockade Polo and Saddle Club in Glenville, NY go to www.NYSMHS.org for details 6/16-18/2023 WNYCCA 3-day Clinic in Honeoye, NY 6/23-25/2023 Brookfield Competitive Trail Ride/Drive at Pure Country Campground in New Berlin, NY contact JoLasher65@gmail.com 6/29-30/2023 Lancaster County Carriage and Antique Auction, Bird in Hand, PA takes place annually on the Thursday & Friday before the last Saturday in June. There is an Early Bird Auction on Thursday afternoon and an all day auction on Friday, held on the Smucker Homestead. This is a significant fundraiser for our Hand-in-Hand Fire Company https://www.bihfire.com/events/auction/
July 7/13/23 or 7/20/23 Club Meeting in Brewster, NY with Hands on Learning activity tbd
7/4/23 WNYCCA Fun Drive at Mendon Ponds 7/14-16/2023 Lorenzo Driving Competition in Cazenovia, NY See ADS Omnibus for details 7/29-30/2023 WNYCCA 2nd Annual Avon Driving Park Pleasure Show Find Prie Listand Registration at WNYCCA.org
August No club activities planned as it is FAIR month and we hope to see everyone at the Fairs!!
8/3 Ulster County Fair Driving Show
8/4 Ulster County Fair Draft Show
8/27 Duchess County Fair Driving Show
8/10-14/2023 Orleton Farm Driving Competition in Stockbridge, MA See ADS Omnibus for details 8/20/23 WNYCCA ECHO #3 at Cornerstone in Pittsford, NY
September 9/7/23 through 9/10/23 Our Driving Get away weekend will be in conjunction with the Mid Atlantic Region of ADS at their Regional Drive MARD in Elkton, MD. Last year we rented a great little off site Air BNB. If we get at least 10 members to commit there is another lovely Air BnB w stabling and paddocks nearby, but we need deposits very early to hold. For event info see the American Driving Society Omnibus Get your forms in ASAP for stabling with our group. This is a fun, social event with education thrown in and the driving at Fair Hill is wonderful. 9/10-9/13/23 The Second Cones Course isopen for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm Sunday through Wednesday with a Cones challenge on Thursday 9/14/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic.
9/17/23 WNYCCA ECHO #4 at Double H Acres in Lima, NY 9/22-24/2023 WNYCCA NERFD location TBD TBD Genesee Valley CDE and CT in Geneseo, NY. See ADS Omnibus for details
October 10/15/2023 Our Third Annual MHDA Fall Driving Event at Tymor Park Plan on attending, volunteering or participating. This is a single day event with Dressage, Marathon and Cones course. Entries will be limited to 12 and our Judge for the day will once again be First Dressage test will begin at 9:30 am and participants will move directly into the marathon phase. Cones will take place following a short lunch break. Bring your own lunch. Our entry fee this year will be $50 per entry.
10/15 -18/2023 The Halloween Obstacles Course isopen for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm Sunday through Wednesday with a Obstacle challenge on Thursday 10/19/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic. 10/22/23 Picnic Drive at White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, CT. Prepare for an early afternoon drive through this beautiful preserve. The foliage will be spectacular!! We will picnic on the grounds afterwards so bring a basket. We will be reaching out to some fellow driving clubs to join us again.
10/8/23 WNYCCA Fun Drive in Letchworth, NY 10/15/23 WNYCCA Fall Trail Challenge (Dressage, Cones, XC, Hay Maze) at Raspberry Hill in Webster, NY 10/29/23 WNYCCA ECHO #5 Spooktacular at Old Stuart Horse Show Grounds in Victor, NY TBD Garden State Combined Driving Event at the HorsePark of New Jersey in Allentown, NJ See CAA website for event details
November 11/12 - 15/2023The Indoor Dead Drag Course isopen for practice at Sovereign Hilltop Farm Sunday through Wednesday with a Dead Drag challenge on Thursday 10/16/23. Contact Margaret directly for details and to book practice or lesson time or sign up for Clinic. 11/19/23 Annual Election meeting and Quiz Bowl at the Marlboro Elementary School at 5 pm. Brush up on your horse knowledge as our own Dick Lahey will be testing you in friendly competition. We will also be electing our new officer slate for 2024. 11/9 - 12/2023 The Equine Affaire in West Springfield, MA
December 12/3/23 Holiday Party at The Ship's Lantern Inn, Milton, NY The food was excellent and the company even better. We are planning on reprising the fun in 2023!! Bring a Gift to swap if you like!! 12/10/23 The Annual Rockefeller Jingle Ride and Drive at Rockefeller State PArk and Preserve in Pleasantville, NY. This will be our first year participating in this event as a club, so decorate those vehicles and get ready to have fun!