It is mostly recreational driving around here as well. Folks out driving around their homes would be the highest number of folks Driving.
With organized functions, there are about 3 very nice Driving shows, all 2 day deals, over the good weather season. Lots of classes offered, showing at a higher skill level, but still very fun. Get out the best harness, carriage and fancy hats.
There are some driving classes in riding shows if you hunt for them. Far and few between. Some Fairs, have driving classes, allow you to haul in for the day to show. Usually for the Drafts, but may have light horses too. One Fair has Drafts and Ponies, no light horses in Open though there is a huge 4-H driving particiption at that Fair. They have one whole day of 4-H Driving, showing with all kinds of equines in all kinds of classes. Fairly good skill level with the kids showing. Used to be more than 40 kids in the Driving program. Some of the Fairs require you to stay for the week it is on. So that limits entries as people don’t have that much time to get away.
Another organized drive would be picnics, with several scheduled around the State. A number of Parks will allow us to come for the day or weekend (camp out) and drive on their roads. Some really nice areas to see. Unfortunately, there is not much of a turn out to the picnics, 3-5 carriages is a good drive. Metamora has club picnics, with driving on member’s farms and local dirt roads, with the food as the attraction. Since folks live close by, these usually get a fair amount of folks attending. 10-25 vehicles may come. All Driving gatherings do eat well!
And lastly we have one MI CDE each year. It is an hour from us, a bonus! Further for other “local” driving people because it is on one side of the state, not a central location. Michigan is fairly large, so distance depends on your home area. I would consider anything within a couple hours to be pretty close, not far to travel.
The next closest CDEs are Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky, all about 6 hours in a car. A bit longer in the truck, hauling horses. I stop longer at rest breaks, to let them relax, give drinks. But if you want to play CDE, you have to go where the competition is. Having several CDEs within 4 hours, would be GREAT! I do appreciate the 6-8 hour drives after hearing of the Western State folks who think 12 hours is “close” and still inside their own state. We are LUCKY!!
Eastern folks just don’t appreciate the distances some States contain. I know my mouth fell open when some folks told us they didn’t attend anything over 2 hours away, “Much too far!”. Husband and I looked at each other and both silently said “Mackinac” which is at least 6 hours from us, traveling fast. Mackinac is the name and location of the Bridge that leads into Northern Michigan, the other half of the State. We are about an hour and a half above the State line to Indiana. So about 7 1/2 hours travel to reach Northern Michigan, with lots of State left to drive over, before you hit another State line.
The driving clubs are often invited to attend Parades, so members who like that activity have a chance to dress up and go. I would call that Recreational too. Some Parades are very large, 300 or more units. Others are much smaller, the local Harvest Festival, Victorian Days, Historical celebrations (Costumes desired), but fun to be in. Metamora has a weekend of Celebrating the Horse. They have horsey themed activities, Blessing the Hounds, a short parade of the Hunt, followed with local folks riding and some carriages thru town. Club members have a horseless carriage display at a location, showing a nice variety of vehicles, with informational signs for people walking around the small town area. Much fun conversation with visitors, questions and answers.
I do think the Michigan local Driving groups work really hard at having a good time. Activities take place all over the State, not just Metamora. There is certainly a variety of activities to choose from, to suit your Driving desires.
