Press Release:

Northampton Driving Society’s 37th annual carriage driving competition returns to Silver Shoe Farm in Batavia on Sunday, June 25. This promises to be a special occasion with Kacy Tipton-Fashik, the general manager of The Grand Oaks equine resort in Weirsdale, Florida, judging the event. David Remley, whose late parents founded the internationally-known Walnut Hill Driving Competition, will be the ringmaster.

Morning classes will feature horses, ponies, very small equines, and multiples of the same in the ring for working and reinsmanship classes. These are judged on “turn out” – the pleasing appearance and appropriateness of horse, harness, vehicle, and attire – the horse’s obedience and way of going and the driver’s (the “whip”) reinsmanship skills. Afternoon classes will entail driving an obstacle course of cones and scoring for speed and agility.

Mr. Remley will commence the show with a coach horn demonstration at 9 a.m. Food and shopping opportunities will be provided by Burning Barrel BBQ, Buttercrumbs Bakery, The Brick House Boutique, Rusty Bitz, Green Compass CBD, and Creative Upcycling. Leonard Oakes Estate Vineyard will be hosting a wine tasting between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Silver Shoe Farm is a lovely facility at 3336 Pratt Road in Batavia, operated by the well-known Cable family of blacksmiths and Nicole Cable, herself a carriage show competitor, judge, and trainer.

Free admission! Bring your lawn chairs. Fancy hats will be admired but not required!

Photo submitted by Audrey Cooper

Press release:

Horses and carriages! After skipping 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northampton Driving Society will hold its annual pleasure driving show on June 13 at Silver Shoe Farm, 3336 Pratt Road in Batavia.

Time is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The judge will be Jeff Morse, current chair of the American Driving Society’s pleasure driving committee and a longtime Morgan breeder and driving competitor. 

As always, there will be classes for both novice and experienced whips, and for equines from very small to horse. Marathon vehicles will be permitted as well as more traditional carriages.

Competitors are judged on “turn out” – the overall visually pleasing and appropriate combination of driver, horse, and vehicle – driving skill, and equine responsiveness. There will be cones classes in the afternoon which add the dimensions of patterns and speed.     

A food truck and vendors are planned to add an extra dimension to the showing and spectating experience.

There is no admission charge for spectators. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the day!

File photo by Howard Owens, taken in June 2015 at Silver Shoe Farm's annual pleasure driving show.

Silver Shoe Farm, on Pratt Road, Batavia, hosted today its 8th annual carriage driving competition, drawing drivers from throughout the region.