Wade House Announces Annual Carriage Driving Days, July 10 to 12
Dozens of carriages – old and new – will participate in the elegant sport of carriage driving at this popular three-day weekend event
GREENBUSH, Wis. – Experience the elegance, skill and pageantry of horse-drawn carriage driving July 10-12 at the annual Wade House Carriage Driving Days. Set on the grounds of the historic Wade House, this three-day event invites visitors to watch drivers and their horses compete in a variety of carriage-driving competitions while enjoying a memorable day in the countryside.
“Wade House Carriage Driving Days offers a rare opportunity to watch a sport that puts skills from a bygone era into practice,” said Bridgitt Zielke, site director, Wade House. “Drivers, dressed in traditional hats and gloves, guide their carriages through a series of competitions that test their skill and teamwork with their horses. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, this event offers a unique opportunity to experience a tradition rooted in history while visiting one of Wisconsin’s treasured historic sites.”
The event begins in the visitors’ center, where guests board a horse-drawn wagon for a ride to the arena. Throughout the day, elegantly dressed drivers skillfully guide their horses and carriages, both modern and antique, through a variety of competitive classes. Arena, Obstacle and non-divisional events test precision, control and horsemanship as competitors vie for the coveted blue ribbon.
The Arena competitions include “Turnout” where drivers are judged on how well the horse and carriage function together and the cleanliness of the driver’s outfit; “Reinsmanship”, where judges rate drivers by their ability to control the horses and drive the carriage and “Working”, where the performance and manner of the horse are judged.
The Obstacle competitions include a timed cones course, where teams navigate a series of obstacles as quickly and accurately as possible. Competitors also participate in a pleasure drive pace, traveling a marked outdoor course though trails, fields or wooded areas and aiming to finish as close as possible to a predetermined “pleasure time” rather than achieving the fastest time.
Non-divisional classes provide additional entertainment for spectators and include a Gentlemen’s Driving Class, Drive and Ride competition, Carriage Dog Class, Ladies’ Driving Class and Concours d ’Elegance, which recognizes the most elegant turnout of the show.
Certified judges from the American Driving Society award the coveted blue ribbon to the carriage team that excels in each competition.
Additionally, guests can tour the 27-room Wade House, an original 1850s Stagecoach Inn along with visiting the Dockstader Blacksmith shop, Herrling Sawmill and Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, which houses Wisconsin’s largest collection of carriages and wagons.
Wade House Carriage Driving Days will be held rain or shine. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 12. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Single-day tickets are $17 for adults and teens, $15 for senior citizens, $8.50 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children under five. Weekend passes are $27 for adults and teens, $25 for senior citizens, $12.50 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children under five.
For those who are interested in learning more about carriage driving, Wade House is offering carriage driving clinics featuring clinician Joe Yoder. The clinics include a variety of educational opportunities for drivers: Wade House Driving Clinic: Individual Lessons for drivers with their equine partners on July 7 and 8, Wade House Driving Clinic: Learning Audit on July 7, 8 and 9 and Wade House Driving Clinic: Lunch & Learn on July 7, 8 and 9.
For further information or to purchase tickets, visit wadehouse.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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