F
ormal Driving:
1. One person per vehicle allowed.
2. Formal Driving horses are not required to back.
Qualifying Gaits:
1. Animated Walk - A lively, animated and graceful walk that could be loosely termed a four-beat gait, but which does not
give the appearance of being a jog or a prance. It should be judged as a separate entity and not merely as a transition gait.
2. Animated Trot - Executed in a highly collected manner. The horse’s energy should be directed toward animation rather
than speed. This gait requires extreme knee flex- ion and use of the shoulder for balanced, graceful extension. It is most desirable that
a horse go above “level arm” but it is not desirable to lose extension to the point where the horse does not significantly move
forward. The hocks should remain well under and be lifted and not driven to the rear. The most desirable animated trot gives
a balanced appearance from front and rear.
3. At the command “show your horse” the driver has the privilege of showing the entry to its best advantage at the trot, but
excessive speed must be penalized.
Qualifying Gaits:
Walk - A highly collected four-beat gait exhibiting much “primp” at a slow, regulated speed, with good action and animation.
It should have snap and easy control. It is a four-beat gait performed with great style, elegance and airiness of motion.
Normal Trot - Natural and cadenced with impulsion and power from behind, the front airy and light. The action is balanced,
bold and brilliant, characterized by free shoulder action. The horse is to have leg flexion with extension, the foreleg extending fully forward at full stretch with floating motion combined with hock action that is powerful and well raised, and the
hind leg being brought forward with a driving stride. 3. Strong Trot - A strong trot is to be faster with a lengthened stride,
maintaining balance, ease and freedom of movement.
C
ountry Pleasure Driving:
1. Walk - A highly collected four-beat gait exhibiting much “primp” at a slow, regulated speed, with good action and animation. It should have snap and easy control. It is a
four-beat gait performed with great style, elegance and airiness of motion.
2. Normal Trot - Natural and cadenced with impulsion and power from behind, the front
airy and light. The action is balanced, bold and brilliant, characterized by free shoulder action. The horse is to have leg flexion with extension, the foreleg extending fully forward at
full stretch with floating motion combined with hock action that is powerful and well raised,
and the hind leg being brought forward with a driving stride. 3. Strong Trot - A strong trot is to be faster with a lengthened
stride, maintaining balance, ease and freedom of movement.
1. It is imperative that the horse give the distinct impression of being a pleasure to drive and display a pleasurable attitude. To
this end, all gaits must be performed with willingness and obvious ease, cadence, balance and smoothness.
2. Excessive knee action must be penalized.
3. Excessive speed must be penalized.
Qualifying Gaits:
Walk - A four-beat gait, brisk, true, and flat-footed with good reach.
2. Normal Trot - A two-beat gait, to be performed at medium speed with moderate collection. The normal trot must be mannerly, cadenced, balanced and free-moving.
3. Strong Trot - This is a stronger trot, performed with a lengthened stride, powerful and reaching, at a rate of speed which
may vary between horses since each horse should attain his own strong trot in harmony with his own maximum natural
stride. The horse must not be strung out behind. The horse should show moderate collection without exaggeratedly high
action in front. He must present a willing attitude while maintaining form. The strong trot must be mannerly, cadenced,
balanced and free-moving.
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