Coaching Day, Stratford's premier fundraiser, was founded more than three decades ago by the late Dr. E. Douglas Vere Nicoll of Charlottesville, Virginia, and the late Mrs. Hugh D. Auchincloss, Director for Rhode Island and mother of Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The 2008 Coaching Day Co-Chairs are Mrs. E. Kimbark MacColl, Jr., Director for Oregon, and Mrs. Bonnie Buchanan Matheson, Director for Rhode Island. Mrs. Franklin Leigh Burke of Georgia is Honorary Coaching Chair for this year's event. Proceeds from Coaching help ensure that Stratford Hall continues as one of America's finest National Historic Landmarks.

Activities planned for Coaching 2008 include:

• Parade of 19th-Century Road Coaches and Carriages
• Performance by Lancaster High School Band
• Trumpet Call from the Great House Chimneys
• Colonial Hunt Tent Exhibit by Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society of Fredericksburg, Va.
• Windsor Chairmaking Demonstration by William Jenkins of Locust Farm, Westmoreland Co., Va.
• Demonstrations by Ashland Bassets of Warrenton, Va. (morning)
• Demonstrations by Farmington Beagles of Charlottesville, Va. (morning)
• Tilting the Ring Competition
• Tailgate Picnic Competition & Awards in 3 Categories: Most Elegant, Most Tempting Cuisine, and Most Humorous. Prizes: Pendleton Blankets, Spirit Indian Styles
• Pony Rides for Children by The Wards of King George Co., Va.
• Caricature Drawings by artist Phil McKenney of Westmoreland Co., Va.
• Gymnastics on Horseback by Paradise Vaulters of Gloucester Co., Va. (afternoon)
• Blue Star Vaulters of Suffolk, Va. (afternoon)
• Tandem Riding by Pam Umberger of Copper Crest Farm, Wytheville, Va. (afternoon)
• FIRC Icelandic Horse Drill Team of Mathias, W. Va. (afternoon)
• Medieval and Samurai Archery Demonstrations by Parodi's Paradise Medieval Martial Arts of Gloucester Co., Va. (afternoon)
• Varina Rising Star 4-H Club Miniature Horse Exhibit. (10 to 3)
• Concessions open most of day: Sho-Nuff Bar-B-Q of Montross, Va.; Kettle Corn from Cobham of Warsaw, Va.; and Stratford Hall Dining Room.

Join us for this special event that comes only once every three years! General admission tickets can either be purchased at the Stratford Hall gate on the day of the event or in advance by calling 804-493-8038, extensions 8504 or 8039. You can save money by buying tickets in advance. General admission tickets are $12.50 per person in advance, and $15 at the gate; Children under 12 are free. Tailgate tickets are $75 per vehicle for up to four guests (additional persons are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the gate.) Gates open at 9:00 a.m. Coaching is held rain or shine. For further information, please call 804-493-8038, extensions 8504 or 8039.

In nineteenth-century England, the only scheduled overland transportation was via public road coach. The advent of the railroad and automobile virtually ended coach driving of this type, and the sport of coaching was born. The sport grew out of the gentleman's desire to show proficiency at handling a road coach. Only a few families, such as that of the late August A. Busch, Jr., former Chairman of Anheuser-Busch, preserved the unique art of four-in-hand driving. August Busch's grandfather began the family's now-famous collection of around 64 coaches and carriages.

Drawn by a team of four horses, the coach is driven by a highly skilled "whip." The public Road Coach and private Park Drag are the only vehicles that may be deemed coaches.

A Road Coach is a public vehicle that carries passengers or mail on a scheduled, appointed route. These coaches, like steamships, bear a name and display the names of the places they served. Generally of heavy construction to bear the rigors of the 19th-century English public roads, the coaches are drawn by four horses that were chosen for their suitability for work. The rear seat is wide enough to carry four people, with the left-hand seat occupied by a guard.

A Park Drag is a private coach fashioned after a Road Coach, but of lighter construction. It is a large, enclosed, four-wheeled vehicle drawn by four horses. The exterior is highly finished in subdued colors. The rear seat is built to carry two grooms in livery. The Park Drag was built for pleasure driving by the owner, for use at meets of the Coaching Club, polo matches, driving to race meetings, or on similar occasions.

The name Phaeton was first used in France in the 18th century to describe a four-wheeled carriage. There are many types of Phaetons but they may all be classified as sporting carriages intended for pleasure driving.

A Dog Cart is a vehicle with two or four wheels used for informal driving in the country.

A Meadowbrook Cart is a type of two-wheeled road cart built on Long Island.

A Wagonette is a light horse-drawn wagon with two lengthwise seats facing each other behind the driver's seat.