East Jutland Driving Association celebrates anniversary with rally at the Green Museum

Horse and carriage with driver Anders Horsbøl Nielsen ready for traditional driving

Visit the Green Museum on Saturday, August 12 and experience a historic day filled with traditional driving and timber hauling when the East Jutland Driving Association celebrates the Danish Driving Association's 50th anniversary with a competition with beautiful horses and carriages.

Anniversary atmosphere and traditional elegance will take over the historic surroundings of the Green Museum when the East Jutland Riding Association opens its doors for an unforgettable anniversary event on Saturday, August 12th from 10 am to 4 pm. The occasion is the celebration of the Danish Riding Association's 50th anniversary, and everyone who visits the museum can experience the beautiful horses, beautiful carriages and dedicated drivers in a tribute to the breathtaking form of transportation of the past.

Traditional driving is at the heart of the event, where it is about preserving the classic driving style with original carriages and carriage types. It will be a day filled with competitions, where the skilled drivers present their equipment to the judges and, among other things, perform skittle driving in the historic courtyard surrounded by Gl. Estrup's historic breeding buildings.

Along the way, they will also have to prove their skills in route driving, where an approximately 14 km long route challenges the driver's skills and the horse's endurance. It will be a true test of the cooperation between driver and horse, which will be tested by various tasks such as reversing and driving in a straight line.

In addition to traditional driving, timber driving will be a highlight of the anniversary event. This ancient profession, once indispensable in the forests, is brought to life with impressive precision and cooperation between driver and horse. Although mechanization has taken over in modern times, timber driving is still a beloved hobby and a fascinating insight into the past.

Chairman of the Østjysk Køre Selskab, Ivan Bak, says: "We are proud to be the hosts of this anniversary event. The members are passionate about providing the right period costumes, harnesses and carriages, and train hard to ensure that horse and driver are as skilled as possible. So being able to hold the event in the fantastic historical setting that the Green Museum offers brings history to life."

The Green Museum, which is the host of the anniversary event, also offers a historical atmosphere and the perfect surroundings to pay tribute to traditional driving and timber hauling.

Director Anne Bjerrekær says: "We are very pleased about the collaboration with Østjysk Køre Selskab. The members, with their dedication and enthusiasm, ensure that a central part of Danish history is brought to life. For centuries, the work between man and horse has ensured traction for plows, wagons and heavy timber, as well as for hunting carriages and the landowner's carriage. On Saturday, you can see horses and coaches competing in the outdoor area, and in the museum's exhibitions you can also see a number of historic carriages."

Hanne Pedersen with the horse Vincent at the European Championships in Austria