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The National Drive - 2008
October 7 - 12, 2008
Information updated May 27th, 2008
*****UPDATE*****
The American Driving Society (ADS) is holding its annual meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park at the same time as The National Drive again this year. They are having a dinner at Spindletop on Friday evening (cost: $45) which is open to both members and non-members. Anyone who is registering for the National Drive can also sign up for the dinner. Just make a note on the registration form and add the $45 to the total owed for the National Drive. Dinner tickets will be included in the registration packets you will receive when you arrive. Also note that both ADS members and non-members are welcome to sit in on most of the committee meetings that take place. A schedule will be posted at the National Drive office in stall 1750.
*****DRIVER PROFICIENCY TESTING*****
The National Drive will be the first to offer the CAA Driver Proficiency evaluation. We hope that you 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.
The 4th National Drive, an inexpensive long weekend devoted exclusively to equine driving, has been announced by its organizers. The drive is designed to become the largest gathering of  recreational drivers in the country. Highlighting the weekend will be a series of clinics and demonstrations featuring some of the nation’s most prominent clinicians and driving experts.
Dedicated to six days of driving, the event will also provide attendees with ample time to visit the wonders of the Bluegrass and participate in several loosely organized activities in and around the drive such as a poker run, wine and cheese party, scavenger hunt, plus all the amenities normally available at the Park, such as admission to the museums.
The event is to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky, beginning Tuesday, October 7th, 2008, and last through Sunday, October 12th. Please click the blue link to visit the Kentucky Horse Park web site. Office and stabling will be open and available on Monday, October 6th, at 4pm. However, driving is not permitted on Monday. Participants can also stay overnight Sunday, October 12 but must vacate their stalls by 9am Monday. It will only cost the price of the stalls for Sunday night to do this.
The organizers, operating under the corporate structure as The National Drive, Inc. anticipate that about 250 turnouts will arrive for the weekend. 550 premiums stalls are available at the Horse Park. All National Drive participants will be stalled in the same area.
Organizers and Officers of The National Drive, Inc. are:
Mike Lyon, President and Recreational Driving Committee Chairman, 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.
Forms and information are available from Kathy Courtemanche, Secretary/Treasurer for 2008. Her address is 2624 Highway 1284 West, Berry KY 41003, Phone: 859-235-8721. E-mail: thenationaldrive@yahoo.com. Registration forms and information may also be downloaded from the Downloads page and mailed to Ms. Courtemanche. Please click here to go to the download page.
Registration for the 6-day/5-night event is $70/person. A special 3-day/2-night pass (arrive Friday evening) will cost $50/person. All clinics and demonstrations are included in the registration fee. Horse and tack stalls for the event are $30/night each. Bedding is not included but you don't have to clean stalls when you leave.
Early registration for the event is required. The Park requires that all horses be stalled (no hitching out of trailers, etc.)
All participants will need Coggins tests within one year of 12 October 2008. Ideally, we would like you to submit a copy with your registration. The state of Kentucky also requires you to have a current health certificate for each horse within 30 days of 12 October 2008. Kentucky state officials will 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 Horse Park. Horses without both certificates will be asked to leave the Park.
When you arrive at the Kentucky Horse Park, you will be charged a parking fee at the gate to the Park. This is a one-time fee, and you will be given a parking pass that will be good for use throughout the event. A park map may be downloaded from the Downloads page, providing directions to the barns and office once you are in the Park. Do not bring ATV's with you to the National Drive. The horse park only allows golf carts, mopeds/scooters. Drivers must be at least 16 years of age with a valid driver's license. Golf carts/mopeds/scooters are not allowed in the tourist/visitor areas of the Park. A golf cart license is required for all privately owned golf carts, and can be obtained for $25/event (or ($50/season) from Deaver's, the golf cart vendor office ((859)233-9702). No ATVs are allowed on the grounds!
The area offers a wide range of motels and bed and breakfasts, and camping is available in the Park Campground. Click the blue links for details on the motels. bed and breakfasts, and the campground.
Bedding and feed are available on the grounds from Dever’s, located near barn 17. If you plan to arrive after 5pm and need supplies, contact Kathy Courtemanche for your stall number(s) and then call Dever’s at (859) 233-9702) to order. They will have your supplies at your stall when you arrive. (Stall numbers will not be available until a few days prior to the event.)
The Driving Digest will furnish free coffee and doughnuts each morning.
The Carriage Association of America and its museum and gift shop is now located in its new headquarters on the grounds of the Horse Park. They will be open extended hours (10 AM to 7 PM) and will have refreshments and special offers for National Drive participants. Other association offices, such as the Hackney Horse Association and the American Saddle bred Association office and museum, The United States Pony Club, and the United States Equestrian Federation, will be open during regular work hours for visits by participants.
Information on famous Bluegrass farm tours will be available for visitors throughout the event.
No formal attire is required throughout the weekend but helmets are encouraged to be worn by all drivers and passengers. A safety check will be 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.
In addition to driving activities, several carriage-related vendors will be set up on the grounds.
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 on the park grounds. There will be no other private lessons given unless they are pre-approved by the National Drive. Contact Kathy Courtemanche 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.
We have reserved 40 rooms (a mix of King, Double, Smoking/Non-Smoking) at LaQuinta, 1919 Stanton Way, which is at exit 115 off I-75, about 5 miles from the Horse Park. This is a relatively new facility and one of the few to allow pets (under 50 lbs.) If you plan to bring a pet, ask for their requirements. To get the $72/night (plus 15% tax), call Greg Mason, General Manager at (859) 231-7551 and book with The National Drive block of rooms.
We have also reserved 30 rooms at the Holiday Inn Lexington North, 1950 Newtown Pike, about 4.5 miles and seven minutes from the Horse Park. Rooms are King or Double occupancy. They charge a $50. cleaning fee at check-in for pets. Call (859)233-0512 and book with the National Drive block of rooms.
We have also reserved 25 campsites at the Kentucky Horse Park campgrounds. Reservations can be made by calling Kristi Combs at (859) 259-4257.
For other local accommodations, click the blue links below to visit the appropriate 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.
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