Residents Turn Out for Special Evening With 'Fancy Carriage Ride'
by Candice C. Dunnigan

It was a lovely summer evening. Golden sunlight, dappled green leaves, blue sky still holding. Perfect time for a carriage drive. Six highly polished carriages, harnessed to groomed handsome horses, met on the parade grounds behind old Fort Mackinac as in days of yore. They were driven by owners and coachmen with friends and family, who wanted to be outdoors and savor a bit of Mackinac and its best, a sweet July night and an evening's outing on the carriage lanes.

The Mackinac Island Horsemen's Association

(MHA) came up with the idea three years ago and the rally held Thursday, July 6, was the second successful venture. Invitations were mailed to Island residents, who still maintain driving horses, to come and participate. Those that did each received a commemorative ribbon from the Association, as well as being treated to the bubbly, sparking juice, strawberries, shortbread cookies, cheeses, and carrots for the horses, served by members of the MHA. Everyone was "posh" and everyone had fun.

It was such a wonderful collection of carriages, horses, and people. Three vehicles were actual working antique carriages and three were attractive recent reproductions. Mr. Don Ekhardt, driver for Mr. and Mrs. Randy Stuck, arrived first, driving a beautiful Friesian mare, Pearl, owned by Paul and Maryanka Alexander of the East Bluff. Pearl pulled a flashy Kimball carriage. The rig had been a part of the HegartyPeterson-Porritt cottage family on the Bluff. The Alexanders purchased the carriage this fall and had the vehicle restored over the winter.

Island residents gathered to be outdoors and savor a bit of Mackinac and its best, a sweet July night and an evening's outing on the carriage lanes.

Mrs. David Sheppard and Mrs. Frederick Holt II (from British Landing and the Outback) arrived with Tom, a congenial genteel Belgian cross. In their buggy were three sweet smiling and beautiful little girls, the youngest participants, Miss Cecelia Murray, Miss Maggie Holt, and their friend, "Miss Izzy." The ladies and Tom also won the long distance merit, traveling by carriage three miles to attend.

Mrs. Randy Stuck drove her gig pulled by one of her favorite horses, a majestic Friesian named Todd. She was accompanied by Mrs. D. Eckhardt and the ladies looked picture perfect, as did their horse and carriage.

Mrs. John Barr drove her pair of black Hackneys, Onyx and Knight, in their new blonde "vis a vis." Enjoying the carriage with Mrs. Barr was her mother and Mrs. Richard Manoogian from the West Bluff. Mrs. Barr's driver, J.R., seemed to be happy just "riding shotgun" and having a good time.

The other two carriages were also quite outstanding and it was so wonderful to have them as part of the rally. Miss Katie Porter drove one of the original Rickel carriages owned by the Porter family from the West Bluff. Riding with her and also driving the reins was her grandmother, Mrs. Wiliam Rickel Porter. The smart lightweight "trap" runabout was pulled by Pasha, a beautiful gray Arab.

Pasha the Arab, known by many on the Island for being sometimes tempestuous, was a model of propriety and demeanor. He was actually broken from saddle into harness by Miss Porter. I know how many long hours she spent herself, working with him and believing that the animal would make a good driving horse. It was wonderful to see, as he was. The Porters then opened up the back trap seat of the classic carriage (hence the name) for a couple of MHA servers that got to ride with them in the rally.

While the horses were munching on carrots, and participants ate cookies and such, Grand Hotel's gleaming Hackneys arrived. What an elegant sight to see them approaching from the Governor's Hill. Driving the horses (named Alice and Royce) was head coachman Ben Mosley, accompanied by Darren Suszczynski. Both gentlemen were elegant and dapper in antique bowlers, jackets, and ties. Their carriage was Grand Hotel's "Bachelor Brougham," made by the carriage maker Demarest in the 1900s. The Brougham carried very special passengers. Mrs. Francis Doud, Mackinac's "Helga" (our oldest citizen at 99), looked lovely, as did her companion, Mrs. Mosley. Both were happy to participate.

A big hand goes to these eight horses: Pearl, Tom, Onyx and Knight, Todd, Pasha, Alice, and Royce. They handled the workings of the Girl Scout Troop, bicyclists, hourly buggies, a herd of saddle horses from one of the rental stables, passing drays, taxis, as well as several unloading three-horsehitch tour buggies, and even a wedding party that passed by. The horses enabled their owners, their drivers, and their guests to have a nostalgic, as well as enjoyable tool down the East Bluff, to Arch Rock, along Crooked Tree Road, Annex Road, and into the Annex. As one Mackinac Island Carriage Tours employee called out to us, with trays in our hands, "What is the fancy carriage ride about?"

The reply quipped back, "It's all about...that...a fancy carriage ride."

Have a great week.

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Island Horsemen's Association. Seasonally she resides at Easterly Cottage.