The National Drive - 2010

BACKGROUND


The Drive has come to be viewed as the largest single gathering of recreational equine drivers on the continent. Highlighting the event is a series of clinics, demonstrations and private driving lessons featuring some of the nation’s most prominent clinicians and driving experts. Participants can attend all or none of our scheduled events – the only thing required is that one passes a safety check. Participants can drive at will from dawn to dusk.

Due to the conflict of schedule with the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010, we are moving The National Drive to the Hoosier Horse Park which is near Edinburgh, Indiana (slightly SE of Indianapolis).

Moving The National Drive to the Hoosier Horse Park was not a casual decision by your board members. We have known for several years that we would not have our traditional week at the Kentucky Horse Park. Faced with the problem of where to hold a growing national event like The National Drive, and after looking at several sites, your board decided the Hoosier Horse Park would fit extremely well with our mission and expectations. (We will return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, October 4-9, 2011.)

Organizers and Officers of The National Drive, Inc. are:

•             Mike Lyon, President and Past Director, ADS
•             Thom Mezick, Vice President and Owner/Publisher, Driving Digest Magazine
•             Charley Lee, Director and draft horse writer, trainer and clinician
•             Maureen Sayre, Director
•             Lyle Petersen, Director and Past President/current Board member, ADS.

    * The Drive officially begins on Tuesday, September 14 and ends at dusk on Sunday, September 19, 2010. Participants can arrive on Monday, the 13th, and leave on Monday, the 20th, but cannot drive on either of these days.

Especially for the 2010 National Drive, The U.S. Forestry Service has agreed to allow carriage driving on the roads of the federal lands adjacent to the Hoosier Horse Park, opening up miles of driving. In addition, Hoosier Horse Park officials have agreed that the entire facility will be available for our event – no other event will be scheduled while we are there! Since the HHP is adjacent to an Air Force base, expect that there will be airplanes and helicopters nearby.

DETAILS

Registration for the 6-day, 5-night event is $70 per person. A special 3-day, 2-night pass (arrive Friday evening) will cost $50/person. All clinics, demonstrations and activities are included in the registration fee. Horse and Tack stalls are $30/night each. Private lessons with the clinicians are at their hourly rates and are scheduled directly with the clinicians after arrival at the park.

Registration forms and information may be downloaded from the Downloads page and mailed to Mrs. Kathy Blank, 1292 Charlie Morrison Road, Columbia, KY 42728 – Phone (270) 378-5330; email: tnd2010@live.com. Click here to go to the Download page. Contact Mrs. Blank directly if you wish this information mailed to you.

Early registration for the event is required. All horses must be stalled (no hitching out of trailers, etc.)

All horses will need a Coggins test within one year of September 20, 2010. A health certificate for each horse within 30 days of September 20, 2010 is also required.  Ideally, we would like you to submit a copy with your registration. The state of Indiana also requires you to have a health certificate for each horse within 30 days of September 20, 2010. Indiana state officials can stop vehicles on the highway to check both Coggins and health certificates. Both must be presented to the Secretary before you will be allowed to unload your horses at the HHP. Horses without both certificates will be asked to leave the Park.

There are about 325 stalls and they are in excellent condition. Most are 12 x 12 foot stalls; the remainder are 10 x 10. All have a large overhang to help protect carriages in case of inclement weather. Please bring a hose with a water splitter attached to make it easier to bring water to your stalls as there is only one hydrant/barn.

We will have hay for sale at the Park and shavings (the preferred bedding) will be available for sale at the Park office. The Park prefers you buy bedding from them. You do not have to clean stalls when you leave.

A restaurant, which serves real food and seats around 40 people is on the grounds while a plethora of restaurants is available within a few miles of the Park.

Golf carts, scooters (ATVs to be used only as transportation, not ATVing) can be rented or attendees can bring their own without additional costs. You can contact Heartland Golf Cars, 7005 State Road 37 North, Martinsville, IN, 46151; (800) 303-4473 or FAX them at (317) 831-6313.

No formal attire is required throughout the weekend, but helmets are encouraged to be worn by all drivers and passengers. A safety check is mandatory before turnouts are allowed to be driven anywhere in the Park. Safety inspectors will be on hand all week to ensure compliance with all safety procedures. Melissa Boyd will again join us as Safety Coordinator. She will be in the barn area all during the Drive and will be available to anyone who needs assistance or has questions.

We will again sponsor a clinic on reinsmanship and pleasure driving. This will be an introduction to the type of classes normally held at pleasure shows. Each session will be open to 15 participants. Drivers will enter the ring together and then be given individual instruction during the session. This will be a chance for anyone who would like to experience the show ring without the pressure. Classes will have a sign-up sheet at the event office and is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Spectators welcome.

We will also again offer the CAA Driver Proficiency evaluation. We hope that your participation in this program will help to increase your awareness and knowledge of driving and how to do so safely and correctly. See Driver Proficiency page for details.

Vendors will be housed in a large, roofed building and may reserve space by calling The National Drive Secretary: Mrs. Kathy Blank, at (270) 378-5330 or by email: tnd2010@live.com

The area offers a wide range of motels, and camping is available at the HHP campground. Click the blue links for details.

The Driving Digest will furnish free coffee and doughnuts each morning.

Four clinicians will be on hand to present clinics and offer lessons during four days of the event. Participants must make lesson reservations directly with the clinicians after arrival at the Park. There will be no other private lessons given unless they are pre-approved by The National Drive. Contact Kathy Blank at (270) 378-5330 if you plan to have a personal trainer accompany you to The National Drive.

All participants must sign a waiver of responsibility shielding the Park and the Organizers from liability of injury. When you sign the waiver, you are agreeing to the rules for the event which are shown on the downloads page.

Cancellation Policy:

•      Cancellations more than 90 days ahead of the event will receive a 100% refund.
•      Cancellations from 30-90 days ahead of the event will receive a 50% refund.
•      Cancellations less than 30 days ahead of the event will receive no refund.