Some members of the High Country Carriage Driving Club

The High Country Carriage Driving Club operates out of the Calgary Polo Club grounds south of the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We are driving enthusiasts promoting the sport and fun of carriage driving.  Each year we get together for Fun Days of Driving, Treasure Hunts in Carriages, TREKs, trips to the mountains, organized Pleasure Driving Shows, Combined Driving Events and numerous clinics to support our drivers while they hone their driving skills.

THE HISTORY OF OUR CLUB

Marg and Ray Ellard, along with Miles and Jan Heseldin, founded the club in July of 1992.  The story goes, as told by Jan, that just after she and Miles built their house and arena, Marg and Ray drove in, Marg hopped out of the car and said “I hear you want to drive horses – let’s start a club.”   They posted notices in tack shops and at the UFA and held the their first meeting in the arena viewing lounge a few months later.

After some members made the trip to the World Pairs competition in Gladstone, N.J., in the fall of 1993, it was decided that the best way to introduce the sport in the Calgary area was to present a first-class Combined Driving Event (CDE) to spark interest and to provide a target for drivers to upgrade their skills.  Up till then training CDE’s were run with the  help of those who had competed elsewhere.

Marg and Ray worked tirelessly organising the first High Country International CDE in 1994 when most of us didn’t have a clue about combined driving. Jack Pemberton and Holly Pulsifer were  the senior officials.  Marg always maintained that if we were going to do it, we were going to do it right and a first-class event was the only event to have.  Always ensuring safety as well as  promoting training and skill, Marg and Ray taught us well and left a legacy of excellence

Interest in the Club escalated. Clinics by  well-known drivers and judges were filled immediately.  This new interest stemmed not only from new drivers but also from experienced drivers who had tired of the show ring and/or wanted to test their skills beyond fun rallies.  In 1995, an even more successful CDE was held.  The spectator and media interest from these two events grew substantially and the difficult decision was made to move the 1996 CDE and future International CDE’s to an area where new facilities could be built including a marathon course to allow for competition up to advanced level.

Through the generosity of Chinook Valley Inc., the  High Country Carriage Driving Club Events facility is now located adjacent to the Calgary Polo Club.  Nine marathon obstacles – all viewable from a berm in the middle of the Section E field – were designed to allow the inclusion of Advanced  Level Four-in-Hand teams.  The dressage field can simultaneously accommodate a full-size dressage ring,  full-size practice ring, cones course,  and warm-up area.

With the training of animal and driver paramount,  The High Country Carriage Driving Club has held driving clinics since its inception.  Clinicians have included some of the top trainers, officials, coaches, and top drivers  from around the world.  High Country holds upwards of 4 major clinics yearly and has its own “stable” of certified coaches on its membership list.

We welcome new members and invite anyone interested in the sport to contact us.