Horse Week: Carriage drivers turn out for Hunters Hill Fun Day

Held on Saturday, September 5, the event offered something a little different from the Association’s usual competitive Horse Driving Trials calendar, with the emphasis firmly on giving drivers and their horses and ponies an enjoyable and relaxed day out while raising funds for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

The event was organised by Lewis Black and Alwyn Morrison, who devised a World Cup-style course incorporating cones and two obstacles.

Rather than competing for prizes or championship points, each turnout was given two opportunities to tackle the complete course. This allowed drivers to enjoy their first attempt before returning for another run, perhaps a little quicker, a little smoother – or simply determined to put right whatever had gone astray the first time!

An optional 3km road drive was also available, giving horses and ponies the opportunity to stretch their legs before taking on the arena.

The relaxed format proved extremely popular and demonstrated another side of carriage driving. While the sport can be fiercely competitive at championship level, days such as Hunters Hill provide an opportunity for drivers of different ages and levels of experience to take part alongside one another in an encouraging and friendly atmosphere.

Most importantly, the event also had a charitable purpose.

Thanks to the generosity of those who entered and supported the day, a fantastic £550 was raised for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, adding another successful fundraising effort to NICDA's 2026 season.

Events of this kind do not happen without a considerable amount of work behind the scenes.

NICDA extended its thanks to Denise and Terry Taylor, who spent the day stewarding, and to the Morrison family, who helped with the construction of the course and continued working throughout the event to help steward the arena.

Special thanks were also extended to event organisers Lewis Black and Alwyn Morrison, whose work in planning and preparing the World Cup course helped make the day such a success.

The Association was particularly grateful to Smith Brothers Eventing for making the excellent facilities at Hunters Hill, Ballymac Stud, available for the event. The venue provided an ideal setting for a relaxed end-of-season gathering and was greatly appreciated by competitors and organisers alike.

There was plenty happening away from the driving arena too.

NICDA chairman Dominic Muldoon was kept particularly busy with the Association's merchandise stall, displaying the new clothing and merchandise being produced as NICDA prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2027.

Interest certainly wasn't lacking, with more than 100 items ordered from the 50th Anniversary clothing range during the event.

The milestone will mark half a century since the Northern Ireland Carriage Driving Association was established in 1977, and preparations are already well under way to make the anniversary a memorable one for both present and past members.

The Hunters Hill event was also captured by photographers Margaret Lavery and Orla O'Connor of OC Photos, who spent the day recording the horses, ponies, drivers and atmosphere around the venue.

Their photographs provide another lasting record of what has been an exceptionally busy year for carriage driving in Northern Ireland.

The 2026 season has seen NICDA members competing throughout Northern Ireland and further afield, but Hunters Hill showed that not every successful day has to be measured by dressage scores, penalties or finishing positions.

Sometimes success can simply be measured by horses and ponies enjoying their work, competitors heading home smiling, volunteers pulling together – and a worthwhile charity benefiting at the end of it all.

With £550 raised for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, more than 100 anniversary merchandise orders placed and a thoroughly enjoyable day of carriage driving completed, Hunters Hill certainly ticked all of those boxes.

Attention now turns to the Northern Ireland Carriage Driving Association's next outing at Danescroft Equestrian Centre, Lisburn, on Saturday, September 19, where another World Cup-style event will take place.

Dominic Muldoon's popular merchandise stall will also be making the journey to Danescroft, giving members another opportunity to view the 50th Anniversary range and place their orders as NICDA continues the countdown towards its landmark year.