I am a recently retired university administrator living in the geographic center of New York State.  This area is known as "Horse Alley".  There are two colleges with great horse programs, Morrisville State College and Cazenovia College, that bring many events and activities to the area.  Colgate University is also part of this region (and happens to be the university from which I retired after 39 years) and has a riding team.  Horses have been a part of my life since I was in middle school (with a lapse during college and having children). As a young girl I saved my babysitting money (.50/hour) and my father told me if I could buy a horse,he would find a place to keep one for me.  I don't think he thought he would ever have to worry about his end of that deal but I saved $150 and with the help of my grandfather (who was a skilled horseman) a green young mare was found for me.  My grandfather finished the mare and we brought her home.  So began my bond with horses.  My neighborhood friends and I would jump on our horses and ride the backroads and fields around our homes. I spent many hours with that first horse, pouring my heart out to her while grooming or riding.  

When I had children, with a little nudge from me,they began taking riding lessons.  Since I had no formal riding training, I decided to join in the lessons rather than sit in the cold arena as a spectator. My children grew up and moved on to other interests but my interest in horses and riding continued to grow.  I had several horses over the years but fell in love with Friesians at a horse expo we attended with the 4-H club my children belonged to. After drooling over the breed for several years, my husband told me on my 50th birthday that if I really wanted a Friesian I better do it before I felt too old to get one.  So off I went in search of my dream horse.  I had found a farm only about 45 minutes from my home that imported Friesians and had visited several times just to visit the beautiful horses.  This time I made an appointment and went searching for a dressage prospect.  I fell in love with a 2 1/2 year old that I thought would be a good fit and I could get started in the spring with his training.  His name is Klaas and he and I have been together for 12 years. I originally rode Klaas but after several years decided to try driving and have fallen in love with pleasure driving.

I joined the Cherry Valley Carriage Association to surround myself with other drivers and to learn as much as I can about driving and carriages.  The club puts together pleasure drives and clinics and does a great job of promoting driving.  If anyone reading this wants to be part of a great group and learn about driving, I encourage you to visit the website (www.cherryvalleycarriage.com) and join us!

I personally love the elegance of pleasure driving shows.  I still consider myself to be a novice but love the comraderie and atmosphere of the sport. I am fortunate to have an American Driving Socieity (ADS) rated show just 30 minutes from my home, the Lorenzo Driving Competition.  The show is held every year on the third weekend of July at the historic Lorenzo State Historic Site overlooking the beautiful Cazenovia Lake in Cazenovia, NY. Again, this is a beautiful area with much to do and see and I encourage people to come for the show.  You won't be disappointed. There is no charge to attend the show as a spectator and it is a beautiful setting overlooking the lake.  

The pleasure driving shows display beautiful carriages, ring classes, obstacle classes, and pleasure drives.  I especially enjoy the gorgeous hats worn by the lady drivers.  Each competitor is required to dress with driving aprons, hats, gloves and whip in hand. It is fun to put together modern day outfits/hats for shows and each season you can completely change your look or tweak your outfit as you evolve. Of course it is always fun to shop for the latest in accessories for you and your turn out (horse and carriage). I drive a two-wheeled vehicle called a road cart but there are a variety of types of carriages.  You can also drive a single horse or multiples (2, 4, 6, etc.).  Also in the winter I have just begun driving Klaas with a sleigh.