Whether you refer to it as coaching, driving or horse and buggy, riding through the countryside in your carriage behind four beautifully matched prancing horses remains a very popular, if rarefied sport in Hunt Country and the equestrian world.

Fortunately for carriage driving enthusiasts, the National Sporting Library and Museum of Middleburg, Virginia plans to celebrate the opening of its new art museum with one of the largest coaching gatherings in the country October 7th -9th.

According to Carolee Klimchock, who just completed her research on coaching as a John H. Daniels Fellow at the NSLM, coaching was very central to people's lives for hundreds of years.

"My Ph.D. topic at Yale is "Guilded Age Coaching Culture," Carolee explained. "As I was refining my search for a topic, I kept coming across coaching as an aspect of life that delineated, defined and described life at the turn of the 19th century."

Carolee finished her Bachelor's at Smith College in Art History, and completed her Masters at William and Mary in American Studies with a focus on consumer culture.

"My research kept taking me further and further back in time," she noted. "Coaching, in all its aspects, permeated all levels of society and culture. Not only the quality of horses, but the entire coaching culture from improvements and new models, related fashions and regulations, and the many levels of standards for coachmen kept surfacing. Eventually, it was clear that this form of transport as an essential part of American society at the turn of the century and had many hallmarks of society when so very much was changing."

Quickly realizing that newspapers covered coaching extensively, Carolee's research expanded axiomatically, and when she learned of the John H. Daniels Fellowships at the NSLM, she quickly applied.

"I was absolutely delighted when I learned that I would have some time at the Library as a Daniels Fellow," she said. "But, I had no idea what a treat it would be to be here and to learn about this spectacularly beautiful and fascinating part of the world."

Everyone at the NSLM welcomes the Daniels Fellows with open arms.

"These scholars represent an exceptionally important aspect of our work here," offered Director Rick Stoutamyer. "Supporting and furthering their pursuits is a big part of our reason for being."

Among Carolee's favorite discoveries at the NSLM were the collections of Sportsman Magazines and Moseman's Catalogs.

"The fabulous, enormous, leather-bound volumes are priceless to a researcher," she emphasized. "I was so fortunate to be treated to carriage rides by NSLM board members Jacqueline L.Ohrstrom and Hector Alcalde. Allan Freitag, one of the coachmen, was really thrilled when I invited him to meet me at the Library to look through these fascinating volumes. He generously helped me understand many of the terms and vocabulary, and we both had a lovely time perusing these rare books."

The exceptional young New Yorker who loves eclectic fashion and has a charming sense of style, loved learning about ladies who refused to marry the Duke-in-waiting, preferring to elope with their coachmen instead.

"My research has surfaced many women who 'refused to play the traditional game…' I identify with that," she concluded, smiling.

Many special events are planned for the celebratory opening weekend of the new National Sporting Library and Museum, including the Coaching Event.

The gathering will provide a rare opportunity to view over twenty-five beautifully restored four-in-hand coaches put to (or pulled by) magnificent teams of four horses, to hear about the history of coaching, and learn about different types of vehicles.

Several NSLM members are major participants in the sport of coaching, including Hector Alcalde, Jacqueline L.Ohrstrom and George "Frolic" Weymouth.

For more information about The October Coaching Event and the National Sporting Library & Museum, please visit www.nsl.org.