(Cazenovia, NY – July 2014) A summer must-do for 38 years, the Lorenzo Driving Competition has always showcased horse, carriage, and Cazenovia’s long equestrian tradition.
This year, with underwriting support from Cazenovia College, Lorenzo is adding clinics and demonstrations of interest to all horse people, including equine chiropractic and acupuncture, and a how-to on giving your horse a therapeutic massage.
Families will be in the spotlight from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday when another new program, “Horsing Around at Lorenzo,” gives kids ages 7 to 12 a chance to try some activities that sneak in a bit of learning.
Children will be able to make their own bonnets and top hats like the drivers in the competition and then have a just-for-fun competition on their own agility course. (Can they turn in a better time and a cleaner round than the horses? We’ll see).
A take-home booklet will continue with Driving Competition Bingo and learning activities about carriage parts and horse terms. Jenna Wright, K-12 educator at the Cazenovia Library, created the program with support from the Friends of Lorenzo. Look for her in the picnic area of the show grounds.
The educational clinics will be held at various times throughout the weekend-long show, set for July 19 and 20 at the Lorenzo State Historic Site, Route 20, Cazenovia. While the competition showcases the sport of pleasure driving, the clinics are designed for every breed of horse person:
*Dr. Edward Arrington of Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy of CNY will demonstrate equine chiropractic work.
*Master equine body worker Karin Kohl will demo therapeutic massage for horses.
*Dr. Jean-Yin Tan of Syracuse Equine Veterinary Specialists will have a presentation on equine acupuncture.
*And for anyone who’s ever thought about taking up driving but decided it looked too complicated, Logan’s Place Farm of Cazenovia – the sponsor of the main show ring – will be on hand with a how-to on draft horse harnessing and hitching.
There is no charge for parking, to watch the competition or attend any of the demonstrations.
Also new this year is an Antique Carriage Turnout class, featuring carriages made before 1940, set for Sunday following lunch. The addition of a non-competitive Fun Drive – held Sunday morning after the Pleasure Drive class – offers anyone interested in simply driving the course a chance to enjoy some of Central New York’s most scenic off-road trails. Breaks in the competition offer the opportunity to enjoy performances by the Root Farm (equestrian) Vaulting Team or simply stroll around Lorenzo’s magnificent gardens and grounds.
And, in the spirit of giving back to the equestrian community, a Silent Auction will benefit From the Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship of New Woodstock, which provides horse-related activities and teaches riding to people of all abilities and challenges
A full schedule of events is available on the LDC website, www.lorenzodriving.com.