Carriage Glow part of show of horsemanship and style

With lanterns lit, carriages from throughout the last century will be on display Saturday at the Linn County Fairgrounds.

The Carriage Glow, which will feature the historic carriages at dusk, is one part of the larger Eastern Iowa Carriage show happening today and Sunday.

'We want to promote good horsemanship and pleasure carriage driving in the Midwest,” said organizer Laurie Renda.

The weekend features various competitions of horsemanship and carriage driving.

Carriages and their drivers are judged on both technical skill and the overall impression they impart. That means drivers must pay attention to details like matching the right horse to the right carriage

'There's an art to getting the proper cart and harness to the proper horse,” Renda said.

They should also try to match themselves to their carriage.

'You should dress according to your vehicle - if it's a formal vehicle, you wear formal clothes,” Renda said. 'I have a sporting carriage, so I'm wearing houndstooth.”

One category includes dogs, who ride in the carriages alongside the driver. The competitors are judged on how good of a companion the dog is.

Renda, 52, of Cedar Rapids, is part of the American Driving Society. She organized the show in partnership with 4-H; admission to the main events is $5, with all proceeds going to 4-H.

The Saturday evening Carriage Glow, which will include dessert, is a separate, $25 admission.