The ADS Board of Directors invites you to join us for the ADS 50th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting Weekend

October 9-13, 2024

Big Sky Farm in Southern Pines, NC

Registration is now closed for this event because we have reached capacity.

All ADS Members are welcome to attend the ADS Annual Meeting of Members on Saturday, October 12 from 4-5pm East at the Douglass Community Center Auditorium in Southern Pines, NC. Or, you can register for the free Zoom Meeting here:  2024 ADS Annual Meeting of Members-ZOOM Registration only (FREE) - 10/12/2024 

Tentative Schedule:

Wednesday October 9, 2024

9:00 Stables Open
9:00-5:00 Registration Big Sky Lounge

12:00-4:00 Hospitality at Big Sky Lounge - soda, water, snacks

12:00-4:00 Marked trail available to drive at will
The Silent Auction will be open Thursday morning through Saturday during the Gala.

Thursday October 10, 2024

8:00-10-00 Hospitality Big Sky Lounge - coffee, tea and pastries
9:00-5:00 Registration Big Sky Lounge
9:00-5:00 - Vendor Village open
10:00-12:00 Attelage (marked route with tasks and cones, 5k) judged by Sem Groenewald

11:00-2:00 Boxed Lunch Big Sky Tent

1:00- 2:00 Safari Drive, judged, equine and golf cart divisions, awards for most animals, fastest time and best suited for safari (5k)

2:00-3:00 Four-in-Hand Coaching Seminar with Paul Van Sickle
3:00-4:30 ADS History Over the Years with Natasha Grigg along with Holly Pulsifer, Ann Pringle and Robert Heath, under Big Sky Tent
4:30 VSE/Pony Measurement Training for Licensed Officials & Pony Measuring with Teresa Bron

6:30 Light dinner and cocktails for 2024 donors at the Benefactor, Coachman, Wheeler, and Leader levels or Annual Meeting $1,000+ Level Sponsors at Daphne White's home

Friday October 11, 2024

8:00-4:00 Hospitality Big Sky Lounge - includes a brunch from 9:00-11:00
9:00-5:00 Registration Big Sky Lounge
9:00-5:00 Vendor Village open

9:00-11:00 Golf Cart Cones Courses 

10:00-11:00 Blindfold Golf Cart Cones - 8-10 cones, timed, awards, golf carts provided

10:30 Picnic Drive through Southern Pines (8 miles roundtrip on gravel, clay, sand, and grass roads and paths, some macadam) led by Jamie O'Rourke, carriages return to Big Sky at 1:00. Those on carriages must pick up lunches before the drive.
11:30-1:00 Those not on carriages, picnic lunch in the tent with speaker
1:00-2:00 Introduction to the British Scoring Program with Gina Miner, Big Sky Tent
1:00-4:00 Marked Carriage Drive (5k) driven at will 

2:00 ADS Committee Meetings - Big Sky Tent
2:00-3:00 How to Become a Licensed Official with Teresa Bron, Big Sky Tent

2:30-4:00 Claire Reid’s Carriage House Tour curated by Jack Day
4:30-5:00 Scavenger hunt form due to Margaret Crevar in the office

5:00 Carriage House Tour, Cocktail Party & Horn Blowing Competition- Jamie O’Rourke’s “The White House” and Drumatee Stable in Honor of Mary O’ Rourke, curator Jack Day. Cocktail party sponsored by Jamie O'Rourke.

Saturday October 12, 2024

8:00-4:00 Hospitality Big Sky Lounge - includes breakfast frittata from 9:00-11:00
9:00 - 5:00 Vendor Village open

9:00-11:00 Pleasure Driving Cones Course Design Contest & CD Obstacle Design Contest - timed, judged, awards
10:00-12:00 Marked Carriage Drive (5k) driven at will 
11:00- 12:00 - Centennial Drives

11:00-2:00 Boxed Lunch Big Sky Tent
1:00 Guided Drive (6 miles) led by Jamie O'Rourke. Drivers pickup box lunch under tent and meet in the Warm-Up Area.

12:00-3:00 Educational Events Big Sky Tent 

• Dave Quist- Carriage Maintenance in field
• Tracey Morgan Dressage Clinic
• Farm Life - Sharon & Jim Granito

4:00-5:00 ADS Annual Meeting of Members at Douglass Community Center Auditorium 

6:00 ADS 50th GALA & Awards Dinner - Big Sky Tent 

Sunday October 13, 2024

9:00-12:00 ADS Board & Directors’ Meeting at Douglass Community Center Auditorium  

12:00 Four in Hand Annual Meeting at O’Rourke Carriage House

Golf Cart Rentals 

Worsley Golf Carts
919-775-2278

Hotels/Accommodations 

We have a hotel block reserved at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Southern Pines.

Stabling

Stabling is limited, so please make sure to purchase your stalls when you register. On-site RV spots have sold out, but you can google "RV parks in the Southern Pines, NC area" to make reservations off-site. 

Reserve your hay and shavings in advance by contacting Moore County Feed – 910-692-2385 *$10/bag, $15/bale for timothy hay. 

Please consider making a donation to the ADS Annual Meeting, click HERE to be routed to our Donation page. Donation Levels:

• $5,000 Gala Sponsor
• $2,500 Cocktail Party Sponsor
• $1,500 Hospitality Tent or Lounge Sponsor

*Maureen Grippa is organizing a Silent Auction during this event to benefit the ADS. Please consider making a donation of art, experiences, a stall at a driving event, high quality driving equipment, books, or other appropriate items. Please email Maureen to inform her of the donation you'd like to make: mgrippa1@gmail.com

Coming for the weekend? We suggest:

• For those who might want to play golf, we have several courses within

  10 miles. For tee times contact the following clubs:

  Hyland 910-692-6400

  Longleaf 910-692-6100

  Mid Pines 910-910-692-2114

  Pine Needles 910-692-8611

  There are many more in the area including Pinehurst.

• There is very nice shopping in downtown Southern Pines which is three

  miles from the show grounds. Also, the Village of Pinehurst is seven miles

  away.

• Go online and look up things to do the Southern Pines, NC and

  Pinehurst, NC. You with find among others hikes in Weymouth Woods,

  visiting our many breweries, kayaking on the reservoir, etc.

• NC is known for its pottery. Visit Seagrove NC for a great shopping treat.