​Come Drive with Us!

​​The Connecticut Valley Driving Club, Inc. (CVDC) promotes all aspects of carriage driving by providing historical context, offering educational and sporting opportunities, and encouraging safety.  We welcome new members! Download our 2023 Membership Form here.

Upcoming Events

  • Cones Day at Lord Creek Farm, Lyme, CT. - MAY 6 MOVED TO rain date  - May 7)   Experience driving several non-competitive cones courses and games.  A short casual pleasure drive with a picnic lunch to follow. For members new and present.  Click this link for details: lord_creek_farm_cones_fun_day_2023.pdf
  • Panel Discussion: Safety with Horses on Multi-Use Trails - Thurs., May 25 6pm 21 Copse Rd., Madison  Combined LCRVHC and CT Valley Driving Clubs will hose a program on safety with Horses on Shared Multi-Use Trails.  Bring a picnic supper, clubs will provide bottled water and a dessert selection. ACO Liz Amendola will speak about loose dogs, reading dog and handler body language, etc. Kristin Elliott Leas will speak about minimizing spooking by desensitizing your horse to dogs, bikes, and other terrors. Both will talk about knowing your horse and setting an emergency plan when riding with a group. Discussion/Brainstorming format. Please RSVP to  lcrvhc.org@gmail.com so we have enough chairs. 

  • SAVE THE DATE: JULY 16 - North Stonington Fair Carriage Show 8am - 4pm.  Drivers and volunteers welcome!
  • See the EVENTS tab for a more comprehensive listing.

Seminars/Clinics

The club offers periodic seminars and driving clinics that allow members to gain knowledge and drive with experts with experience in combined driving and pleasure showing.  Past clinicians include Larry Poulin, Lisa Singer, Jeff Morse, Robin Groves, Scott Monroe, and Andy Marcoux. Clinics cover harnessing, reining, driving, proper use of aides, and improving the performance of the carriage horse.

Field Trips/
Club Activities

There is usually at least one "Field Trip" each year to locations a little farther afield. In the past, we have visited the Long Island Carriage Museum (arriving by ferry); John Greenall's Carriage House in Vermont; Newport Coaching Weekend in Rhode Island.  We also hold pleasure drives at local venues, including State Parks, Fun Days and Scurries to practice cones and obstacle courses , and offer educational seminars and speakers to learn more about the history and sport of carriage driving.

Competitions

Many of our members enjoy competing in the sport of carriage driving, predominantly at shows held in the Northeast.  Whether its competing at a Combined Driving Event (CDE), Horse Driving Trial (HDT), Arena Driving Trial (ADT), Derby or a Pleasure Show, there is fun to be had by all!