Pleasure Driving

Horse is to enter to the right *counter clockwise* & work both ways of the ring at a flat walk & running walk. Reverse to be executed on the diagonal at a walk of at the direction of the ringmaster.

The horse is to line up, stand quietly, & back readily. Pleasure horse qualities paramount.

The horse is judged with the same general qualities as the flat shod pleasure horse. The following are suggestions to be used in judging:
70% on manners, performance, condition, style & way of going
20% on fit, condition & appropriateness of harness & vehicle
10% on conformation & neatness of driver

Snaffle Bit is required; separate over-check bit is optional.

Fine harness vehicles are prohibited in pleasure driving.

The recommended pleasure driving appointments & rules are as follows:

1. Harness is traditionally black leather with square patent leather blinkers, snaffle bridle with side check or over-check, & running martingale.
2. A whip of length appropriate to the horse & cart.
3. Driving vehicle may be two or four wheel & out of suitable appearance & safety. Show management may choose to limit classes to two wheel or four wheel vehicles. Breeching is not used with wire wheels & is recommended with wooden wheel vehicle. Only the driver is allowed in the cart. Exception: Youth driver may have one adult attendant in cart.
4. Neatly attired header may enter ring at line up for safety reasons & be allowed to unfasten over-check & wipe the horse off, but should not hold the horse. If the header holds the horse, it must be penalized.
5. Ladies shall wear conservative dress, blouse & skirt, shirt & jods with apron, saddle suit or day coat & jods. Men should wear business suit, saddle suit, sport jacket & slacks. Gloves are recommended, apron & hats are optional.
6. An uncontrollable horse must be immediately dismissed with assistance if necessary. The judge must excuse a competitor with unsafe vehicle or harness.
7. Show management may offer other classes such as antique or period, drive & ride, & obstacle.