European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Horse and buggy Bufi by Tara Bradley Steck associated press Erry Zaetta s idea of unwinding alter a trying Day As a Michigan parole officer involves a horse o carnage and an open country Road Zaela has found it s the most effective Way to shake Oil Long Days working with rapists child Mol castors. Burglars and murderers. With Tho Typo of work i do in Svery relaxing to coma Home Hilch up the Carriage put my loot on the dashboard and go Down Tho Road says Zaetta 42, who lives in the Del Oil suburb of Romeo. Sieve Suggs idea of relaxing involves restoring carnage As much As driving them his Blue cos twinkle and his Ian. Colonel Sanders like face Breaks into a Broad smile when he talks about lightly sanding and painting an old farm Wagon. It s nol a disease hut it s Habil forming says Suggs 54, who maintains a personal a museum of about 75 horse drawn vehicles on his 100-acro farm in Goochland a it s something we can hold on to something that s familiar. It s a connection a link to your heritage like roots you might  with the Advent of the automobile in the Early Days of the 20th Century horse drawn vehicles were sent to Iho scrap pile or pushed to the Back of the barn. Except for the Arras. Few people continued to use carriages Bui Aboul 25 years or so ago accompanied by a burgeoning interest in horses for recreation horse drawn carts and carriages began making a comeback. Old buggies were refurbished and Amish craftsmen and commercial arms eager to keep up with demand began manufacturing new models today carriages can be found rattling Down country lanes poised for posterity in personal museums or transporting people to picnics and weddings. Whether they re used for Sporl recreation or restoration projects carriages Are making a comeback. Our membership seems to a growing by leaps and Bounds says Frank Morrow of Beaver Falls president of the Carriage association of America which focuses on restoring and collecting carriages. When the Carriage association was formed in 1962 it had Only a handful of members. Morrow says. Today Iho group claims 4.000 Active members and 7.000 participating members the american driving society which is dedicated to the sport of driving began with 100 members in 1974 and now has 1,300. We re sort of growing in Spile of ourselves says Ann pm gee executive Secretary of the group based m Metamora Mich. Reasons Range from a fascination with elegance and tradition to a family s desire to us the Pony the children outgrew to an historian s love of Antiques All combined with a hint of exhibitionism. For Jud Wright 71, a Carriage dealer from Penryn. Calif., who judges driving competitions there is no greater thrill than to Don the proper coaching attire of top hat and Black suit and put Lour horses hitched to a snazzy coach through their paces. The renewed interest in carriages is in part a knee Jerk reaction says Charley Poppo 40, of Williamsburg Ohio. Our grandparents who grew up with carriages were thrilled to drive a car. They did t want to slow Down again he says. But a new generation comes along and this is a whole new fascination for  from Spring through fail in just about any Corner of the United states Carriage buffs congregate at Parks or targe estates id sea and be seen such meets usually feature iwo main competitions. The first is a pleasure driving even in which participants Are judged on the basis of performance the horse s response to the Driver s commands via the reins and the appearance of the Carriage harness Driver and auctioneer s out John King cleaning Tamsi and Cryst carring tamp Page 14 the stars and stripes App holi a to melt fj00cmca-mm cri00 it Liny us rom t auction to Len