By Wanda Chancellor
Mike Lyon is what I call a horse husband. His late wife Sue was an excellent horse woman and Mike enjoyed the horse people he met at shows and activities where Sue was competing. After Sue died, Mike did not give up his participation in the horse world; instead, he intensified his efforts to promote carriage driving, the sport Sue loved until her death.
Mike Lyon is the organizer and driving force of the National Drive, held each year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. His efforts have done more to promote the sport of driving than any other driving activity. To me, the secret of his success is that he brings in people who do not compete, but maybe just drive around their own farm. He adds a social aspect to their driving with an emphasis on safety and learning.
Each horse and carriage goes through a safety check at the beginning of the week and suggestions are made by a safety officer if there are improvements to be made. Melissa Boyd, an American Driving Society judge and competitor, was the safety officer this year as well as a driving clinician. Safety talks were given each morning at the coffee and donuts meeting - before the drivers hitched up to follow the trails through the Horse Park.
Driving for pleasure is peppered with learning while at “the Drive.” Not only are there free talks on different driving topics scheduled, but also personal lessons are available with driving clinicians and can be scheduled throughout the week. This year’s clinicians were Bill Lower and Bob Giles from Florida and Mary Ruth Marks from South Carolina.These clinicians were very busy every day, giving lessons to seasoned competitors or to beginners just getting involved in the sport.
The National Drive allows lots of free time to drive, or you can participate in planned drives like the Trace Pace, where horses follow a prescribed course and try to finish within a certain window of time. The Kentucky Horse Park has a breed show every day for the tourists who come through. While “the Drive” is in the park, tourists are also treated to a Carriage Parade put on by people who want to strut their carriages, horses, and driving attire. On Sunday, a Mimosa Drive caps off the week. Everyone dresses in their best, with shiny horses and carriages, and drives through the park with a refreshment stop where they are judged while toasting a week of great fun.
Next year’s drive is October 9-14 and will surely outnumber this year’s horse count of 237, which included two four-in-hands. The National Drive has proven to be so successful that Mike and his crew are planning a Spring Training Camp, May 4-6. Check it out at www.national drive.org.
