The National Drive An event devoted exclusively to the sport of carriage driving The National Drive is a three-to-six day event devoted exclusively to the sport of carriage driving. This year’s National Drive was held September 14-19 at the Hoosier Horse Park in Edinburgh, Indiana. The event is usually held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, but this year moved to the Hoosier Horse Park because of the World FEI Games. Since 2005 the Drive has become the largest single gathering of carriage drivers on the continent, with about 280 horses and carriages of all varieties participating this year. Highlighting the event is a series of affordable clinics, demonstrations and private driving lessons that feature some of the nation’s most prominent clinicians and driving experts. Participants can attend all or some of the scheduled events n the only requirement is a safety check for drivers to participate. Participants can drive at will from dawn to dusk. The week prior to the drive Hoosier Horse Park hosted the Indiana Combined Driving Event (CDE). The hazards from the cross country section of the CDE were open toDrive participants, along with cones courses. Several members from the Mid-South’s Nashoba Carriage Association participated in the event. Members included Anne Snowden, Tonna and David Sczepanski, Anna Shaw, Robin Jackson, Patricia Parmley, Brooke Ballenger, Laura and Donny Nuessle, Geneen O'Bryan, Claire and Dennis Root, Charley and Sherry Lee. Anne Snowden, President of Nashoba said, “I enjoyed it, particularly without the pressure of showing, and laughing it up and visiting with people during the day. The relaxed driving atmosphere and the many different kinds of horses and carriages lent to a wonderful week.” One of the highlights of the week was the presence of the Caison unit from Ft. Myers, FL. The Caison team came to the National Drive to complete the Driving Efficiency Test One. They will then go to Washington, DC and train the handicapped veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to drive. The carriage they drove was specially made in Holland by Van den Heuvel with a back that lowered to a ramp for a wheel chair. It could be raised to look like a regular carriage. “The young men were a tribute to our military and were a real asset to the National Drive,” Snowden said. Several vendors provided the opportunity to browse and shop for all kinds of harnesses and driving equipment, and there were many other tantalizing exhibits. Sherri Lower of Hats off Boutique gave a fashion show of designer outfits and hats for the carriage. Next year the National Drive will be held the Kentucky Horse Park. To learn more about this annual event visit www.nationaldrive.net.