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In
1981 Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Jarvis of Fenton, Michigan founded a
nonprofit organization for people who enjoyed driving horses.
This was the beginning of the MICHIGAN HORSE DRAWN VEHICLE
ASSOCIATION.
The
by-laws for MHDVA states, in part, that it shall be the
purpose of the association to aim for the preservation and
maintenance of carriages; carriage literature and related
items; the exchange of information regarding horse-drawn
vehicles and the development of the driving horse; to serve as
an accurate and technical source of information for the
benefit of it’s members and the general public; to encourage
the use of carriages and other animal-drawn vehicles for the
promotion of public interest in their contributions to our
cultural, social and economic history; and promote knowledge
of, and safety in, horse related activities.
Today,
MHDVA’s annual membership averages more than 60
families that live in all parts of Michigan, as well as other
States and Canada! The club is open to all breeds of horses
and ponies and welcomes any type of horse-drawn vehicle. Our
member experiences range from novice to the very elite. For
example we have members that don’t own a horse nor vehicle,
but take advantage of the shared knowledge, while the
professional members in our club include: national circuit
trainers and show people, show judges, carriage restorers,
harness makers, farrier’s, and veterinarians. Some even
belong to more than just one driving organization.
No
matter what your experiences, the club offers a lot for
everyone. Club sponsored activities include: events, clinics,
shows, fun drives, educational materials, and meeting…enjoy
it all. Each year the club has a table at the Michigan
Horse Council Stallion Expo to greet people who are interested
in the sport of driving. All MHDVA are welcome to sign up and
volunteer their time, to support the table. In addition to the table
our club holds a driving show at least once a year. Members
can participate as entries, or volunteer their help for the
show if they wish. On the first morning of the show, we
hold a driving clinic that is open to all for a fee. Aside
from the show clinic, we also try to arrange beginner clinics
during the summer months.
If
you enjoy variety, MHDVA offers fun drives (for both carriages
in summer and sleighs in winter) hosted by MHDVA members at
their private residents. They are open to all interested
members. We also look forward to drives arranged in other
areas, such as one held inLake City. during the month of
August. If you are interested in hosting a drive, please
contact the board to do so.
With
the variety of antique vehicles owned by MHDVA members, the
club is frequently invited as an added attraction to town
social events. Past events included the Mackinac Island
Carriage Festival, Ovid Carriage Days, and Greenfield Village
Gladwin Carriage Festival, to name a few. It is a chance to
have fun visiting vintage towns and be the highlight of the
event.
With
your paid membership, you will receive a periodic newsletter
that contains a listing of upcoming events, activities,
articles, classified ads and updates on past events. We urge
all members to feel free to send any interesting tidbits to
the newsletter editor for publishing and sharing of your
story! (Photo’s are always welcome).
Because
the summer months are found to be especially busy for all of
us, meetings take place only during the winter months. The
first meeting is the “Annual Dinner Meeting”, always on
the first Sunday in November, held at the various restaurants,
throughout the state. The club then meets January through
April for our informative “Ask the Experts” dinner or
potluck meetings. Usually held on Saturday, they meet at
different locations across the State. A business meeting to
discuss upcoming events and a guest speaker presenting a topic
chosen for that month follow each dinner. These meetings
are very beneficial and informative for all.
To
gain more knowledge about driving, the club has a variety of
sources for your personal enjoyment. The Ways and Means
Committee offers (to members only) a videotape library on the
different aspects of driving. Tapes may be checked out at no
charge by contacting the committee head. In addition to the
tapes, the club offers various books on driving for sale along
with other items that are driving related. You can purchase
these items also through the committee head or at the “Ask
the Experts” meetings. If you are seeking assistance with
training a horse or want to learn about driving, don’t
hesitate to talk to any member for references or assistance.
There are a lot of talented people in our group that train as
a business that can help. Welcome
to the club.
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Welcome to the 
