Featured Article (September 2001)

Virginia Drivers Take New Direction

Turn to the Left When I Say Gee,
Turn to the Right When I Say Haw
-- Chubby Checker
"Pony Time"

Humming the 1961 song to myself, I sat gingerly in the cart behind a very quiet Clydesdale named Blanche. Like a lot of riders, I shared a curiosity about driving and wanted to experience it first-hand. So on a whim I signed up for a one-day clinic at Penny and Doug Crittenden's Feathers Farm in Casanova. Instruction began with the basics of breaking your horse to drive and ended with learning simple tasks like starting, stopping and turning. That's when the "gee" and "haw" really came in handy!

Here in Virginia, opportunities to learn how to drive abound. Fred Scott, Lynn Hewitt and Pam Umberger are popular and well-respected driving instructors located in central and southwestern Virginia. Each of these three offer their own clinics in addition to teaming up to teach together several times a year.

Driving enthusiast Scott raises cattle on his Bundoran Farm in North Garden. "My involvement in agriculture is what led me to buy my first team of horses, harness and wagon," said Scott. A decade later, what seemed to be an impulsive purchase is now a serious quest to pass along knowledge to others. His vehicle collection includes a variety of tradesman and agricultural conveyances. "We have a lot of fun at our clinics but we don't allow carelessness or foolishness. Discussions about risk management follow an in-depth lecture on safety," he added.

If you want training in singles, pairs, tandem, three abreast, unicorn and four-in-hand, you can do it all at Umberger's Coppercrest Farm in Wytheville. She primarily drives Morgans but has a few Saddlebred crosses and a mixed breed pony. Students are welcome to bring their own horses or ponies if they are already driving safely. "I am most pleased by the number of people that make the effort to attend clinics, read books, watch videos and strive to learn to do it right," shared Umberger.

“Driving is appealing because you can take your kids along," confided Hewitt of Chevaux Canadiens at Renegade Ridge Farm in Raphine. She now imports Canadian Horses after seeing them used for public carriage work at Colonial Williamsburg. Hewitt enjoys the hands-on part of driving and utilizes her 25 years of experience to teach others. Her resume includes working on various movies and television productions with her horses and also helping to form several driving organizations.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY DRIVING CLUB

"Interest in driving is booming. More and more people realize this is an art that will be lost unless we carry it on. And driving is just super for people who have physical limitations that prohibit them from riding any more," said Hewitt, one of the Shenandoah Valley Driving Club's founding members. "But the best part about driving is the ability to share it with others. It's an easy way to make a lot of people happy," she concluded.

According to Sue Hecht of Indian Cove Farm in Brownsburg, the club's 70 members represent a broad geographic area and include a significant number of non-drivers. As head of the Steering Committee she added, "We are a highly diversified group with a strong interest in pleasure driving and also in competitive showing." Activities include monthly picnic drives in the spring, summer and fall, and instructional seminars on topics such as arena driving. Learning opportunities include clinics like one recently taught by Georgia-based club member Tom Hilgenberg. A past President of the American Driving Society, he is currently an internationally acclaimed combined driver.

After moving to the Valley in 1988, Hecht bought an American Saddlebred horse to ride. "At the time, I honestly felt I had put on a little too much weight to ride. Driving appealed to me and since this horse had been trained to do it, we did," she shared.

Hecht read books, won a ribbon at a show, and then took lessons, in that order. "I learned by making errors on things like appropriate dress. Luckily driving people are known for sharing helpful hints with newcomers," she added.

Club member Jody Preston of FoxHill Ordinary, an equestrian bed and breakfast in Fairfield said, "Driving is just like eating potato chips, we were going to use just one of our horses and now they all are doing it." A Morgan breeder, she believes the social aspect makes driving not only entertaining but safer too. By all accounts, driving alone is not recommended. "We are basically buggy people," joked Preston.

PIEDMONT DRIVING CLUB

"Driving is an elegant looking sport but using common sense is mandatory. Safety is always of utmost importance," said Piedmont Driving Club President Anne Watkins. The safety checklist includes making sure your equipment is in tip-top shape, everyone wears a hard hat and the horse or pony is reasonably quiet, brave and doesn't kick. "The breed is immaterial. In addition to horses and ponies, donkeys and mules drive too," she added.

Watkins is one-half of a husband and wife team of former foxhunters now converted to both English-style pleasure and combined driving. "We have the horse disease," she confided. Like many of the club's members, Watkins drives both singles and pairs. She owns an Anglo-Cleveland Bay and also Hackney Horses. Founded twenty years ago, Piedmont's membership now numbers between 60 to 70 including families and non-drivers.

"The sport of driving is experiencing a renaissance. The Amish in Pennsylvania are smiling all the way to the bank as craftsmen in the carriage and harness business," Watkins stated. Auctions are another excellent way to acquire equipment. The most popular sales events are run throughout the year by Martins of Pennsylvania. "I don't think driving will die out. There are lots of people now interested in keeping the traditions alive with emphasis on proper attire and putting on a good show," she added.

In addition to picnic drives and clinics, Piedmont runs a major driving show at Foxcroft School in Middleburg. This year's 20th Anniversary show will take place Saturday, September 22. Classes are offered for singles and multiples in Turnout, Pleasure Driving, Obstacles and Dressage. According to organizer Maryalice Matheson of The Plains, "This annual event is rated one of the top driving shows on the East Coast. Spectators are welcome and admission is free."

In addition to her involvement in the club's establishment in 1982, Watkins also serves as the Carriage Association of America's Virginia Representative. Next year's annual meeting will be held in Hot Springs.

JAMES RIVER DRIVING ASSOCIATION

"As the population ages, driving is a great way to keep in touch with horses," offered Cheryl Childress, Secretary and Past President of the James River Driving Association. Approximately 90 single or family members from the Greater Richmond area meet monthly for activities including clinics, low-level fun competitions, picnic drives or special guest speakers. Interests range from private to commercial carriage trade and from mini to 4-in-hand with coach.

Consistent with the other driving organizations, safety is a focus. Childress cautioned, "If you have a runaway horse when driving, you have a runaway horse attached to an inanimate object weighing several hundred pounds." She recommends that prospective drivers get good advice.

"A fair number of people gravitate towards driving due to health issues that limit their ability to ride, as was the case for me twenty years ago. And driving is the answer especially when kids come along. This is a horse sport the whole family can do together," stated Childress. Mainly a pleasure driver, she does some low-level combined driving with a Morgan-Percheron cross and a Welsh pony. "As different as these two equines are, they are similar to drive. Both enjoy obstacles and parades," she added.

Over 20 decorated horse-drawn carriages accompanied by sidesaddle riders participate in the annual Maymont Victorian Floral Carriage Festival in mid-October. The 100-acre estate is located in the heart of Richmond and features a large collection of antique carriages. "In addition to decorating with flowers and ribbons, spectators enjoy the new trend toward carriages with a theme. Spectators can look forward to a follow-up to previous year's creatively decorated vehicles commemorating women's liberation and also the French Revolution," said Dot Ruqus, Maymont Carriage Curator and Association Treasurer.

"The number of driving devotees is continuing to grow. This sport provides an excellent way to keep and enjoy a horse or pony after the kids have grown up," concluded Childress.

POTOMAC RIVER DRIVING ASSOCIATION

A founder and current Vice President of the Potomac River Driving Association, Marged Harris of Hamilton said, "With our 130 members we basically cover the waterfront. The association offers safety clinics for beginners, plus more advanced opportunities for seasoned drivers to fine-tune their expertise."

In addition to driving year round, members keep active with the "Too Hot to Trot" series of clinics held at Morven Park every Wednesday evening in August. The big annual show scheduled for the first weekend in June benefits both the Winmill Carriage Collection and the Virginia Regional Therapeutic Riding Center at Madcap Farm. "Our Association tries to give back something to the community and to be as inclusive as possible," she stated.

An attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency, Harris is drawn to driving because she no longer has the time to maintain the physical fitness level required to foxhunt sensibly. From one Hackney Pony seven years ago, she now drives two pairs of Hackney Horses. "This is a great sport for aging baby boomers. It is very social and allows you to fill your weekends with horses," she confided.

When developing their mission statement, the Association decided to put a particular emphasis on supporting juniors. One of the rising stars Kenny Smith disclosed, "I took up driving as a way to stay involved with horses after tiring of the rated hunter shows. It was not difficult to learn. At first I had no interest in competing, but now I've changed my mind." As a beginner, the 14-year-old from Shepherdstown, West Virginia finished in the ribbons at his first show. Driving a small Welsh cross pony named Autumn Applejack, this enthusiastic and talented junior excelled in the Winmill Pleasure Driving Show's Gentlemen To Drive class.

Delighted with her son's interest, mother Candy Smith said, "Driving is a wonderful activity we can do together." As Association Membership Chair she added, "We provide education and formats for every skill level and all ages."

BEYOND PLEASURE

A member and supporter of the local driving organizations, Kate Shields of Hastening Farm in Unison, breeds and drives Section D Welsh Cobs. She currently competes her mare Hastening Mayflower and the mare's son Hastening Pilgrim in Advanced Level Combined Driving.

After moving here from England twenty years ago, she imported a stallion and some mares and took up driving. "Combined driving appealed to me because it is technically demanding with various components including dressage, obstacles and the marathon," she stated. Long-listed for the 2000 World Singles Championship, she was the only driver to qualify two horses.

“Dressage is terribly important, but the marathon is most challenging for me personally," she confided. Shields looks forward to the busy schedule of upcoming contests concluding with the October 25-28 Fair Hill International in Maryland.

Shields added, "There is hard core support for combined driving. People travel from Vermont to North Carolina to go to an event. It would be wonderful if we ever get a major combined driving competition here in Virginia." This looks likely as plans are currently underway for a carriage course at the Virginia Horse Center's Oak Hill property in Lexington.

Arena driving is all the rage in England and like many traditions, it has recently taken root in the United States. Muffy Seaton, a nationally known single, pair and four-in-hand driver is also an arena driving enthusiast. "Arena driving is a great way to keep your eye sharp and your horses going in the winter. Components include dressage, cones and hazards so it's great for people with small ponies, older horses and those not in marathon condition," she said.

In England arena driving is done only at the advanced level, but here in the U.S. the sport has been modified to offer something for varying degrees of ability. The competition is not spread out over a lot of land and, therefore, is spectator friendly. Organizers enjoy the fact that you do not need as many volunteers to run it. The American Driving Society is in the process of issuing guidelines to help promote this type of competition. Seaton plans to hold at least five local Arena Driving Trials during the coming winter months.

When not driving Dartmoor Ponies, Seaton breeds them at Shepherd's Purse, her farm in Bluemont. The three-time American Horse Show Association National Pony Champion is currently preparing to compete for a slot in the first World Pony Championships to be held in France in 2003. "Now we have somewhere to go," she concluded.

The beauty of the sport of driving here in Virginia is that there is truly something for everybody. From spectators to international competitors, driving only continues to increase in popularity.

Lisa Friel is a freelance writer and photographer based in Alexandria, Virginia.