What is the Villa Louis Carriage Classic?
The Carriage Classic is a horse-drawn carriage competition held on the lawn of the Villa Louis Historic Site. The competition involves two venues on the lawn - arena competition where horses and ponies are shown put to various carriages and judged on driving abilities, equine performance, and overall impression; obstacle competition takes place on the lawn and includes driving through paired traffic cones in timed competition, cross country obstacles where drivers negotiate water crossings, bridges, and other obstacles that might be encountered on a country drive and other fast-paced obstacle driving classes with emphasis on speed and accuracy of driving.
What are the different events and when?
There are two main areas of competition, arena competition and obstacle driving, below are links that describe each class
Obstacles
Cones (Timed Obstacles) - Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - North Lawn by gray fort structure
Cross Country - Pace - Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - Noon - North Lawn, water crossing by red brick building
Gambler's Choice - Saturday and Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - North Lawn - immediately north of main arena
Reverse Psychology - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. -Main Arena
Your Route/My Route - Friday 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Main Arena
Arena
Reinsmanship - most divisions Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning - Main Arena
Turnout - most divisions Saturday morning 8:00 a.m. - Noon
Working - most divisions Sunday mid-morning ~ 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
What is the cost?
The Carriage Classic shares admission ticket sales with the Villa Louis Historic Site - admission to the event includes a guided tour of the recently renovated Villa Louis mansion complex. Daily and weekend admission rates are as follows:
Purchase Tickets Online
Weekend Admission
Adults - $25.00
Children (5-12) - $15.00
Daily Admission
Adults - $15.00
Children (5-12) - $7.50
Purchase Tickets Online
What about lodging and other attractions in the Prairie du Chien Area?
Check out both the Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce and the McGregor and Marquette Chamber of Comerce for a list of attractions and lodging opportunities.