UPPER FREEHOLD — Local competitors and volunteers and beautiful weather helped make this year’s Garden State Combined Driving Event (CDE) a great success.
The competition, formerly held in the spring, took place Oct. 8-9 at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Thirty-six competitors drove in four divisions. More than 50 volunteers helped out on both days, with the Horseman’s Association of Millstone Township and the Garden State Horse and Carriage Society well represented at the event.
According to information provided by the Garden State CDE, the sport of carriage driving officially began 30 years ago, when enthusiasts including Britain’s Prince Phillip asked the Federation Equestrian International, which governs international horse sports, to put together CDE regulations. The first CDE in this country was held in New Brunswick in Middlesex County. The competition has a format similar to the three-day event, with dressage, marathon and obstacle courses.
Former Millstone resident Judy Canavan, who now lives in Oley, Pa., drove her chestnut thoroughbred stallion Montana Light to first place in the marathon for the single intermediate horse division, although they came in fourth place overall. Canavan was thrilled with the course and the Horse Park facility, and said it was “just a pleasure to be here.” Her husband, Tim, served as navigator, or the person who sits on the back of the carriage during the marathon to ensure the driver stays on course. He called the marathon course “very challenging,” and complimented event management for running the competition like clockwork.
Upper Freehold’s Ruth Mulvey drove her 19-year-old black Morgan gelding Battersea Ideal in the intermediate single pony division.
“The course was very creative,” she said. “There were a lot of options for the obstacles.”
Liz Kwasnik, Upper Freehold, who chaired the event’s organizing committee, won the training single horse division with Bella Luna, a 7-year-old Cleveland Bay mare. Kwasnik said the organizing committee tried to make the event competitorfriendly to attract drivers from the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. A Canadian entry made the competition an international event, she said, adding that both competitors and volunteers had nothing but rave reviews for the Garden State CDE.
The Garden State CDE is in negotiations with the Horse Park for a date in late September 2012, according to Kwasnik. She thanked sponsors of this year’s event, including the Clarksburg Inn and Nearaway Farm, both located in Millstone, as well as Dr. Barbara Eisen’s Cream Ridge Veterinary Clinic and Walnridge Farm, both located in Upper Freehold.
Chet Halka, Millstone, placed second in the preliminary pairs division, driving his bay Oldenburg named Flip-Flop and his bay Brandenburg named Larrado. Halka called the marathon course great, although he almost missed gate No. 6.
“I had to go in a circle and find it,” he said .
Although Halka has driven for pleasure for many years, two years ago he decided to seriously pursue CDE competition. He trains with James Fairclough, of Top Brass Farm in Newton, who has represented the United States in the World Equestrian Games numerous times. Halka said that Fairclough makes people passionate about the sport.
“It was a hobby until I met him, then it became a passion,” Halka said.
Halka trains with Fairclough three or four times every two weeks. Fairclough said Halka has improved a great deal in a short period of time.
Halka said, “I tell people he’s the only person who can spend more money than my wife.”