Carriage Pleasure Driving

Horse lovers get a rare opportunity to see carriage pleasure driving in Sergeantsville Sept. 22.

By: Susan Van Dongen
   As one of the Army’s chief veterinarians in World War II, the late Dr. Welling Howell was a remnant of a bygone age, when cavalry still moved around on horseback, not via tanks and helicopters. Stationed in some of the most remote areas of the South Pacific, Dr. Howell attended to the health of hundreds of horses and mules used to navigate the mountainous terrain.
   "He could hear from their hooves whether they were healthy or not," says Wanda Howell, Dr. Howell’s widow and an officer in the Delaware Valley Horseman’s Association, founded by her late husband. "He used to say, ‘We started World War II with horses and mules and ended it with the atomic bomb.’"
   After the war was over, Dr. Howell returned to Central Jersey and continued to care for equines, using his innate abilities to oversee the health of all flat-track racehorses in the state. When he started his private practice in Lambertville, he specialized in horses. Since the area was so rural, the animals were as integral to daily life as the family car would be today. People needed them to be healthy, and Dr. Howell was determined to teach proper health care and horse management, especially to children.
   This is what sparked Dr. Howell to found the DVHA in 1947.
   "He thought a club would be the best way to teach children how to take care of their horses, as well as good horsemanship," Ms. Howell says. "It started with a colicky horse that belonged to a kid from Mt. Airy. The children didn’t know how to take care of their horses, so the DVHA was formed for their benefit and education."
   Fifty-two years later, the DVHA has blossomed into a well-respected organization with a busy show season that gives members and non-members the opportunity to show their skills in a wide spectrum of divisions, including hunter, jumper, western and dressage.
   Last year, carriage pleasure driving returned to the show schedule and was so successful the DVHA will sponsor another Carriage Driving Show Sept. 22 at its 10-acre showgrounds on Route 604 in Sergeantsville.
   Classes (different groups of drivers) start at 8:30 a.m. and include working, reinsmanship, timed obstacles and errand obstacles for ponies, horses and minis. Classes are divided into novice, open and junior levels, as well as "Ladies to Drive" and "Gentlemen to Drive." Dana Bright of Felton, Pa., will judge.
   Ms. Howell, who is the show manager, says there are not too many carriage events in Central Jersey, and this is a great opportunity for enthusiasts to experience the sport, as well as folks who may just be interested in watching these splendid four-legged athletes.
   "It’s an opportunity to see something that doesn’t happen very often," she says. "You’d usually have to go to Devon (Pa.) or Madison Square Garden. It’s a fun thing to watch and the grounds are lovely. It’s a wonderful spectator sport."
   Admiring the animals, most of which are beautiful, chestnut-colored Morgans, is only part of the enjoyment.
   The average person visiting a carriage driving event for the first time will also be struck by the variety of vehicles and tack (bridles and harnesses, for example), as well as the drivers’ attire.
   According to Kathy Newcomb, owner of Blythewood Farm Morgans in Stockton and a show participant, proper clothing is essential.
   "Driving attire for carriage pleasure shows requires that men and women wear a hat, driving apron and gloves, and a whip must be held in hand at all times," she says. "Skirts, dresses or nicely pressed slacks are appropriate for ladies. Suits and ties are expected for gentlemen. Both men and women are expected to wear a jacket, although ladies can wear a long-sleeved dress or blouse without a jacket."
   Such is the strict adherence to proper clothing that the "turnout" (driver, horse and carriage combined) might be given lower marks by the judge if the combination is deemed inappropriate.
   "In general, the formality of the attire should match that of the vehicle being driven," Ms. Newcomb says.
   Much like avid antique car collectors, Ms. Howell says carriage enthusiasts can go over-the-top with the prices of vehicles and tack — not to mention the cost of purchasing, boarding and caring for a horse.
   "The horse world has changed from the days when you could buy a horse for $150," she says. "Today, they start at a couple thousand and they go up, way up, from there."
   Central Jersey carriage driving enthusiasts can find some of the highest quality gear just a few hours away in Lancaster County, Pa., where Amish craftsmen custom make and repair a variety of items.
   "It’s a treasure trove for carriages, and all the tack you’d need," Ms. Howell says. "They are some top-notch Pennsylvania Dutch craftsmen tucked away in those charming little towns."
   One of the advantages carriage driving has over jumping or racing a horse is that it’s a lifelong sport.
   "I have an 80-something friend who drives (her carriage) every day," Ms. Howell says. "Driving appeals to all ages, but especially to people who may be getting a bit older and are looking for something less strenuous than jumping. Many of my friends, who have been great jumper-riders in the past, seem to really enjoy (carriage) driving. It offers the same type of competition. It’s the answer for people who want to keep enjoying a horse or a pony and want to do something without too much fear of being hurt. It’s a fascinating sport."
   Dr. Howell would be pleased to know that the DVHA has a thriving youth division and is still dedicated to teaching young people about the care and management of their horses.
   "Horses were always his first love and, in fact, it was the DVHA that brought us together," Ms. Howell says. "It’s a club that has really blossomed but we’ve tried to remain family oriented."
The Delaware Valley Horseman’s Association’s Carriage Pleasure Driving Show takes place at the DVHA Showgrounds, Route 604, Sergeantsville, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m. Class entry fees are $12; free admission for spectators. For information, call (609) 397-1626 or (609) 397-8080 (day of the show). On the Web: www.dvha.org