February 6, 2013

The Carriage Association of America Toured my Stable and Carriage House!

Last Friday, a group from The Carriage Association of America (CAA) came to my farm for a tour of the stable and the adjacent carriage house.  Founded in 1960, the CAA is the oldest and largest international organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and use of horse-drawn carriages and sleighs.  Because the automobile has become our main form of transportation, it’s easy to forget the importance that horse-drawn carriages and sleighs once played in shuttling people about.  Horses, both single and in teams, were hitched to these vehicles and were coaxed on by a driver who, hopefully, was properly skilled in handling the equines.  When I acquired my Friesian horses and the farm, I had a strong interest in driving carriages.  I purchased a few fine carriages from a well-known horse and carriage expert called Steve Holm.  Although fun, challenging, and quite gratifying, I discovered that keeping the horses primed for pulling a carriage requires a great deal of time and effort, which proved very difficult to maintain.  My busy lifestyle is better suited to horseback riding.  I was honored that the CAA wished to tour my facility and whenever I’m invited, I am so happy to accept a ride on a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh!

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