by Kyle Moylan, Sports Editor
UPPER FREEHOLD — Due to economic reasons, the Garden State Combined Driving Event, scheduled to be held at the Horse Park of New Jersey on May 29 and 30, has been canceled.
The Horse Park has hosted the event since 1992, but the decision to cancel the event was out of its control.
”It’s all about meeting expenses,” said CDE organizer Heather Walker. “Garden State must be self-supporting as it has been for as long as I have been associated with the event. However, sponsorships are down: longtime loyal, generous supporters are giving half of their customary donations. Further, we polled a good number of drivers who were expected to enter Garden State, and it appears that the numbers will be significantly reduced. So we have no chance of breaking even.”
Garden State offered preliminary and training classes approved by the American Driving Society until 2002 when it moved up a level and introduced the advanced division, recognized by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The following year, the CDE event was sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation. Since 2007, classes for all four levels of driving have been offered. The event has been a USEF selection trial since 2003 and hosted the USEF National Pairs Championship in 2005.
The Garden State Combined Driving Event is the only show of this level in the state. All donations and entries to the event received to date will be returned immediately, according to Ms. Walker.
”This is unfortunate for everyone,” said Horse Park President Nancy Hutcheson. “We have enjoyed getting to know the driving community, and so many people have told me how much they like the show.”
According to Ms. Walker, an evaluation will be made later in the year to decide “whether or not it is feasible to conduct a combined driving event in 2010.”
A press release on the Horse Park of New Jersey Web site notes another major International Equestrian Federation event held at the Horse Park in May, the Jersey Fresh CCI***/CCI**, is in serious financial trouble as are other shows in the area.
”I am no economics expert so I can only give you my opinion. I believe that people in the equestrian world are in the same boat as everyone else, reluctant to spend money on nonessentials until the economy levels out,” Ms. Walker said. “I am an optimist, and what I hear is that things will pick up by the end of the summer.”
While a few more events may be canceled for economic reasons, Lynn Matthews, a volunteer at the Horse Park, was optimistic overall about the industry.
”Horse people are very special,” she said. “These are tough times, but I think people that own horses care about them like they were their own children. I don’t own a horse, but I do have a dog. I’d rather give up my horse than my dog.”

