GSCA OUTINGS listed by Location--
click location for descriptions & Flyers below (as available):
Allentown NH Bear Brook State Park Outing
Annual Dinner Meeting and FUNd-raising Auction
Andover NH Rail Trail at Potter Place Day Outing
Auburn NH Manchester Waterworks Day Outing
Auburn NH Winter Fun - Outing in the Maze Day Outing
Brentwood NH Intro to Driving Clinic
Bristol NH Profile Falls Day Outing
Canterbury NH Meet the Members Social
Carver MA Myles Standish State Forest Meet-up, Camping Outing
Chocorua NH Look to the Mountain Camping Outing (aka Tamworth NH)
Deerfield MA Deerfield and Northwood Meadows Day Outing
Hartland VT Hearth House Camping Outing
Lebanon NH Sleigh Day
Loudon, NH Loudon Roads and Woodland Trails Day Outing
Mason NH Mason Rail Trail Day Outing
Milton Mills NH Branch Hill Farm Day Outing
Randolph NH Presidential River Trail Day Outing
Sanbornton NH Pemi River Trail Day Outing
Shelburne VT Shelburne Farms/Meach Cove Mid-week Stabling Outing
Temple NH Stepping Stone Event Center Day Outing
Thornton NH Sullivan's Valley Day Outing
Warner NH Snow Games Day Outing, riders also welcome
- Membership and Liability forms can be found at GSCA Membership and Liability Forms
- Information-- GSCA Driving Safety Tips [.pdf]
- Join GSCA Facebook Group to track Outing updates, or contact Outing Host!
- You must be a current GSCA member in order to drive, ride, be a carriage passenger, or handle/harness/hitch/tack up a horse at any GSCA Outing (per GSCA's insurance carrier.)
Registration Required - What that means
- Renew/Join GSCA for the current year
- Send your filled out liability form (no electronic signatures allowed) to the Vice President
- Send required information to the outing host
Printable 2023 Calendar with Host Contacts [.pdf]
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GSCA Annual held at various locations each year, most recently at the Red Blazer Restaurant in Concord NH. |
(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Early every year the GSCA holds our Annual Club dinner meeting and FUNd-raising Auction. On the agenda are a tasty meal, a speaker or presentation, brief business meeting with Election results, and then items donated by club members are auctioned off. This Annual Auction is the GSCA's only FUNd-raiser of the year, and it is a lively event! So come one-- come all to our sociable Annual Dinner Meeting and FUNd-raiser Auction! PLEASE BRING DONATION ITEMS FOR AUCTION as this is GSCA's only fundraising event! Donations help keep Outings free to Members!
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Snow "Games" Day Outing, Warner NH, drivers & riders since 2019
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Started in 2019, for Drivers and Riders!
Ever wanted to see how fast you and your horse can race around hay bales? If your horse can pull a sleigh, plastic sled, a person on skis, or anything else safely or you just want to ride and you'd like to see how well you can maneuver through round hay bales, come to this event!
There'll also be a loop just to enjoy driving/riding.
This is a fun event IN which you compete only against yourself.
Enjoy getting out to meet your friends and new folks while having a fun filled day! Have a cup of hot cocoa and chili.
NOTE: Pre-registration is suggested just in case the event needs to be postponed/cancelled. See flyer for host information.
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Manchester Water Works Day Outing, Auburn NH, drivers & riders
since 2008 Melissa Every
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
The MWW area provides 6 to 10 miles of trails to enjoy via carriage or horseback, including criss-crossing, tree-lined lanes and dirt/gravel roads, some circling ponds both large and small. There are both walkers and bicycles using the trails. The most important thing for horse people to remember is that these trails are open at all times for us to use, the only thing that MWW asks is to pick up your horse's manure or clear it off the trail. GSCA Hosts have provided manure cleanup on trails since the beginning of this Outing.
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(see GSCA Friends & Partners for date)
("MEETUPS" are NOT "run" by club hosts, are NOT covered by GSCA liability insurance.)
Come explore twenty thousand acres of great driving and riding. Miles and miles of fire roads, and many one-way campground roads. MORE ROUTES available each year. Some outer boundary trails are a little sandy and stony, but there are miles and miles of grassy trails, also roads. Explore Maple Springs Wildlife Mgmt area just south of the park.
No motor vehicles are allowed on the trails or fire roads. You may encounter an occasional gate to go around, for riders. The bugs typically are not bad. Horse Camping (Charge Pond Area C) accommodates all size rigs but for those who have a camper larger than 30', reserve one of the outer sites which tend to be larger than those in the middle of area C. Plenty of trees for highlines or bring your own paddock. There are some water faucets scattered among the sites.
More information about Myles Standish State Forest can be found on their web site, http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-south/myles-standish-state-forest.html Specific routes for carriage drivers can be found here .
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Look to the Mountain Drive and Ride, CAMPING Outing, Chocorua, NH
since 2000
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Members can ride and drive miles of scenic Chocorua and Tamworth dirt/gravel roads. Follow the shady brook trail and enjoy great riding through Hemenway State Forest. Ride or drive to beautiful Chocorua Lake and up to the spectacular vista at Mountain View Farm. There are several hills on this ride, but an unconditioned horse going slowly will manage.
Camping is at Coruway Farm at the foot of Mt. Chocorua where LeGrand Cannon penned Look to the Mountain. It is a popular summer outing where folks come for a day or camp for several days. It’s a vacation destination for you and your horse!
For detailed map of surrounding dirt roads and trails including Sandwich Wilderness area go to the Wonalancet Outdoor club - http://www.wodc.org/map.htm
NOTE - Please inform Leah of the day and approximate time of your arrival
NOTE - land owner requires all horses be vaccinated for West Nile Virus.
NOTE - no day trips on Thursday or Sunday
RULES -
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
New England Horse and Trail (NEHT) affiliated
Ride or drive the beautiful dirt and grass roads/cart paths of Branch Hill Farm along the Salmon Falls River.
Branch Hill Farm property has always been open to the public for multiple uses. A network of 45 miles of woodland access roads provides fire protection as well as multiple recreational opportunities to the public. There are approximately 10 miles of river frontage on the Salmon Falls River, the Branch River, and the Jones Brook.
The land also serves as a living laboratory for educating all age groups about good forest and field management. It was Carl's wish that his protected land would provide "an oasis of forests, fields, wildlife, recreation, clean water and air for generations to come."
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
*** REGISTRATION REQUIRED -
Multi day Outing for Drivers (on Shelburne Farms grounds) and Riders and Drivers in Meach Cove and surrounds.
Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont is a 1500-acre estate originally owned and built by the Vanderbilt-Webb family in the 1920's. The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (who also "did" Central Park) and contain large barns and outbuildings in the "chateau" style, a working dairy farm, and lots of livestock.
The farm has been a public trust for many years and is open to the public year round. The famous Shelburne Inn, the former family residence, sits on a hill with a sweeping view of Lake Champlain and New York's Adirondack Mountains beyond.
Meach Cove Farms adjacent to Shelburne is a similar estate with dirt roads, farm fields and trails along the big lake. Stabling is available at Meach Cove.
If this sounds like the perfect place to ride or drive a carriage in style, it is!
Various Weblinks -
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Not Your Everyday Driving Clinic
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Come join GSCA folks at Rocky Rest Stable for a fun day of learning and better ways to communicate with your horse, whether you are a rider or a driver. - Introduction to Carriage / harnessing - What to know before hitting the trails with young or old horse or pony - Long Lining Basics for both Carriage and under saddle work |
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since 2019
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) New England Horse and Trail (NEHT) affiliated Come join us for a spectacular drive/ride along the Smith and Pemigewasset Rivers. An approximate 6+ mile out&back dirt road meanders through the woods and across brooks which feed into the two rivers that become the Merrimack River in Franklin, NH. The area is wonderfully maintained by The Army Corps of Engineers and NH Fish and Game. Along the way, you will view the rivers, open meadows and home sites of the former Old Hill Village, which was moved to higher ground after numerous floods. Bridges safely cross the tributaries and you hear the babbling brooks and see many birds and sometimes deer. The drive will be a down and back with an excellent spot for turn around, totaling 12 miles (NEHT members note.)
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Loudon Roads & Woodland Trails Day Outing, Loudon NH, drivers & riders
since 2019
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) New England Horse and Trail (NEHT) affiliated Enjoy the hilltop vista of surrounding towns, hills and valleys of our NH countryside. Distance offered is approx. 6 miles for driving and riding. Riders (or drivers) seeking more distance may do the route twice for 12.2 miles. Drivers follow local dirt roads with minimal traffic, with only one small section of tar. You may choose to stay on the flat, smoother roads (out-and-back) or continue on to the unmaintained Class 6 woodland roads to complete a loop into Loudon and Canterbury woods and back. The woodland road has many hills and will be an energetic challenge for horses and riders! The woods road is rough but suitable for “sturdy” carriages and carts. Bring your own lunch and/ or bring something to share with fellow horse people! We ask that you leave no trash, and spread any manure across the fields.
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
TWO directions out on the Northern Rail Trail, including some loops!
Trot out for miles on perfect footing! Amble along quiet byways near ponds and brooks. Something for everyone, come join us for carriage fun, or ride your horse! Enjoy the newly-reconstructed section of the rail trail plus additional quiet rural backroads to drive or ride if desired and mountain trails for riders to explore!
Your opportunity for carriaging on the Rail Trail (usually gated) with state permit, per arrangement with NH Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Routes will be out and back. Distance options-- up to 12 miles with loop-out routes for carriages includes dirt and tar roads in quiet neighborhoods. No Highway crossings on carriage route. Riders can go either direction on Rail Trail, and up to 16 miles including loop-outs. One well-marked highway crossing (out & in) on this route. Rail Trail is level with well-maintained stone dust footing. Rail Trail width is well suited for carriages, with long sightlines and wider areas/pullouts to pass another carriage. Other users of Trail are joggers, bicyclists, walkers with dogs and horseback riders. Spacious paved staging area. Potter Place Railroad Station Museum exhibits and rail car caboose are adjacent, with permanent porta-potty for the public. |
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since 2016
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) Ride and drive the road less traveled on the Army Corps of Engineers trail along the Pemigewasset River floodplain, the Sanbornton side of the famous Hill Village. Gates usually closed to wheeled vehicles will be opened for a unique opportunity to drive this secluded trail. The trail has a short steep road in but once on the flood plain it is quite flat. The river/floodplain trail is road-wide and is dirt, sandy, and in places with some gravel on top, depending on the repair conditions. In spring this area is flooded and under 10-20 feet of water; be sure to look up into the treetops where you’ll see large logs wedged horizontally, where they settled as the flooding subsided. Mileage offered is 6-13 miles total. For more information about the trail/road map, please see PemiRiver Trail Map |
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Sleigh Day and horseback riding,
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) *** REGISTRATION REQUIRED -
CONTACT-- Carolyn Townsend (see Sleigh Day Flyer). Please let Carolyn know ASAP if you will be coming. Her snowmobile friends will be packing the wide trails. Five miles of groomed trails to sleigh on! Plus 60 acres of open Here is a great chance |
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Presidential Rail Trail, Randolph NH, drivers & riders First Held 2021
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
GSCA is offering a 12 mile (6 out and 6 back) route of the Presidential Rail-Trail,a section of the Cross-NH trail. This is a gem of a rail trail, hugging the Presidential Mountains offering spectacular scenery; forest, beaver ponds, fall leaves in September and wildlife if you are lucky.
The footing varies from small stones to forest litter to some larger ballast stones in places. The rail trail with its grass edges, is wide enough to allow carriages to pass one another.
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Newbie/Green Clinic - Intro to Driving Clinic, Brentwood NH, drivers only First Held 2021 |
(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Interested in driving but not sure how to start? Not sure about your harness? Want to try a cone or obstacle course? Attend the Intro to Driving Clinic to get help from veteran drivers and clinicians in any aspect of driving.
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First Held 2021
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) Come join GSCA for a barbeque/Pot Luck Lunch and Swap meet. Meet up with folks while enjoying some time off. The hamburger/hot dog barbeque is free to members and if you could please bring a pot luck item... This is a BYOB, bring your own chair ... Mary-Jo will be offering wagon rides! If you want to swap/sell any horse items, bring them with you and your own table to show case your items. |
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Bear Brook State Park Day Outing, Allentown NH, drivers & riders |
(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) New England Horse and Trail (NEHT) affiliated
Enjoy riding or driving at Bear Brook State Park, the largest developed state park in NH at over 10,000 acres. Drivers will enjoy two different loops while riders will have those two loops plus another loop to choose from. Enjoy going past marshes, bogs, and ponds and hearing/seeing the wildlife.
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Deerfield and Northwood Meadows Outing, Deerfield NH, drivers & riders
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Enjoy a ride or drive out of Neil and Deb Harvey's place in Deerfield NH. For riding - there is an approximate 12 mile ride from the farm to Northwood Meadows State Park via single track trails and class 6 roads. Enjoy the horse allowed trails in the state park. For driving - there are some cart roads, including a road along the outside of a hay field, on the farm property. This outing is better for those drivers getting use to driving outside an arena than a driver who wants mileage and exploration. |
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Outing Hosts - Jean H. and Leslie B.
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Come join us all for a great fall day of fun!
We are holding an old-fashioned SOCIAL at the lovely farm of Ginger and John Laplante in Canterbury, NH!
Mingle! Visit with old friends and new! Share horse talk!
Food supplied AND bring your own! _____________ Chili Cookoff plus Dessert Bakeoff contests!
Bring your own homemade Chili! Or dessert more your thing?… best pie or cookies perhaps? Put on your apron and show us what you’ve got! Best Chili and Best Dessert will be taste-tested, with a Prize awarded for the Best of each!
____________ Along with your famous Chili and Pies, we will serve pulled pork, baked ham, cold soft drinks/water. Feel free to bring your own side dishes to share; BYOB and folding chairs as you wish.
And, as in old times, feel free to bring your favorite social games… horseshoes, cornhole, bocci ball, badminton? Add to the fun!
Anyone wanting to help out with prep or ideas or MUSIC, please contact :
Leslie Baxter (603) 860-6487 or Jean Harvey (603) 667-1880 Free to GSCA Members & immediate family. GUESTS welcome*
*GUESTS WELCOME for $10 ea., OR GSCA Family membership for $25 covers all GSCA activities for 2023 calendar year!
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Winter Fun - Outing in the MAZE
Auburn NH, drivers & riders
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) Enjoy sleighing, snowshoeing, skiing, ski joring or just trail riding on the beautiful groomed, wide trails of the Manchester Water Works "Maze" property in the snow! The trails are reasonably wide and curvy and are groomed by the local snowmobile club. Snowmobiles, hikers, dog sleds and fat tire bikes may be present. RSVP is required due to weather conditions. See flyer for instructions.
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Mason Rail Trail, Mason NH, drivers and riders
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Enjoy the peace and quiet of the Mason Rail Trail nestled among the forest of Mason. No houses - go as far as you like before turning back. For drivers, there are a couple of dirt road crossings with a distance of 9 - 11 miles back and forth. For riders there are a few road crossings, a small bridge crossing and water at Pratt Pond. The cart path through Russell-Abbott State Forest is a hidden gem and allows riders the ability to come back a slightly different way. Registration ( aka notification to host ) required due to horse limit. |
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Hartland VT Multi-Day Camping Outing
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( see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date) ************* You must be a current GSCA member and have a signed 2023 Liability form on file with the GSCA Treasurer. For membership and liability forms, please visit https://www.granitestatecarriage.org/index.php/news-resources/membership-and-liability-forms ************* Multi-day Drive-Ride camping outing at Jean Harvey's Hearth House Farm in Hartland VT. Enjoy driving/riding on dirt roads, limited trails and fields. Primitive camping ( bring your own paddock ) and porta potty provided. Mt Ascutney and Mt Toms' horse trails are just a short trailering away. Hearth House Airbnb on premises - first come first serve. Please contact the outing host Jean Harvey jeanharvey [at] saltaccounting.com for any event related questions and please RSVP! |
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Sullivan's Valley & Mill Brook Rd., Thornton NH Day Outing Outing Host - Terry Penny terryannepenny [at] gmail.com
Sullivan's Valley Outing Flyer
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( see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Sullivan’s Valley is a pleasant area made up of several wide, wooded, dirt town roads.
There is a large and a small meadow that is located on home owners’ association property that can be used for parking. Only a handful of year round residents, so even though the roads are public, there is very light traffic! Lovely foliage is possible! The route will wind through 8 miles of wooded, wide dirt roads. There are some hills, and some of the roads can be rocky, so if your horse has sensitive feet you may want to put boots on them. It is late in the season so good news, will be NO BUGS!! Very beautiful and quiet drive/ride! Please contact the OUTING HOST Terry Penny [penny722 [at] myfairpoint.net for any Outing-related questions and please RSVP Terry or indicate GOING on GSCA Facebook event Notice!
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( location TBD)
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(see GSCA Calendar of Activities for date)
Our Schedule of Outings is initiated at our yearly Planning Meeting in November. Outing hosts attend and any questions or issues are discussed between experienced hosts and the club officers. Everyone is welcome at the planning meeting. The most recent planning meeting was held at the home of Eric Wilking in Brentwood, NH. BYO lunch. All members and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend in support of our Hosts! BRING YOUR IDEAS for new Outing locations!
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