This is part of a game called Caballus
English Pleasure Driving
The CDS uses "English Pleasure" to catorgorize what is actually a very broad spectrum of driving classes-- English Pleasure Driving, Formal Park Driving , Country Pleasure Driving , Classic Pleasure Driving , as well as Roadster , Heritage Driving , and Fine Harness . These are the type of classes primarily seen in Saddle Seat shows, often performed by such breeds as Arabians, Morgans, Hackneys, American Shetland Ponies, Miniature Horses, National Show Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, and Saddlebreds. Though the CDS does not limit any of our classes by breed, it is best to remember that the amount of action required in Formal Park would be very hard for some breeds to be able to do and compete against the more flashy saddleseat breeds. Formal, Informal, Country Pleasure, and Classic Pleasure Combination classes are also considered under the CDS' catagory of "English Pleasure Driving".
The following are a listing of the classes. Information on the various gaits are at the bottom of the page.
Classic Pleasure Driving: A Classic Pleasure horses has less animation than a Country Pleasure or English Pleasure horse. The Classic Pleasure horse should be safe, mild mannered, using pleasure horse. He should demonstrate flawless manners and be agreeable to all commands given by his driver. Though the horse should be athletic and energetic, he must at all times demonstrate a quiet, calm, and extremely tractable attitude. To be shown at Walk, Pleasure Trot, and Road Trot. Excessive action or speed will be penalized by the judge.
Country Pleasure Driving: A Country Pleasure horse has less animation than an English Pleasure horse, but more action than a Classic Pleasure horse. The Country Pleasure horse should have good manners and be entirely suited to give a pleasurable drive. The horse must give a distinct impression that it is a true pleasure to drive. To be shown at Walk, Trot, and "Show Your Horse". Excessive action or speed will be penalized by the judge.
English Pleasure Driving: An English Pleasure horse has less animation than a Formal Park horse, but more action than a Country Pleasure horse. The English Pleasure are just as much show as the Park horse, but with less animation. The same excellence of type and presence are required of the Pleasure horse, but the Pleasure horse need not have the brillance or action of the Park horse. As a pleasure horse, he must demonstrate impeccable manners and a quiet, deliberate, and willing performance. The hrose should give the appearence of enjoying the work he is doing and is clearly a pleasure to ride. To be shown at Walk, Trot, and "Show Your Horse". Extreme action or speed will be penalized by the judge.
Formal Park Driving: An Park horse has more animation than an English Pleasure horse. The Park horse is expected to present a picture of beauty, brillance, animation, and elegance. The performance of the Park horse should demonstrate both vitality and energetic character, while at all times remaining collected, balanced, rhythemic, and percise. While animation and presence are prerequisites of any Park horse, the horse should still demonstrate a poetry of motion that is achieved by a combination of athletic ability and willing attitude. At all gaits, the Park horse should be airy, elastic, elegant, cadenced, and obedient. To be shown at Park Walk, Park Trot, and "Show Your Horse". Extreme speed is to be avoided and will be penalized by the judge.
Roadster: The main gait of the Roadster is the trot, and a Roadster must show three distinct speeds of the trot-- the jog trot, the road gait, and at speed. At all speeds, the roadster should work in good form, with chins set and legs working beneith them. Long sprawling action in front, trailing or dragging hind legs, or spraddle gaiting all indicate an inbalanced trot and will be severely penalized. Animation, action, brillance, and competition ring presence all characterize a Roadster showing at jog trot or road gait. When asked to show at speed, the Roadster must show speed without losing form. Roadsters may be asked to walk by the judge, though the trot is the show gait.
Fine Harness: A Fine Harness horse should posess elegance and refinement, but with the energy directed at animation, not speed. Similar to Formal Park, the Fine Harness horse requires animation and elegance, but should have more refinement and less speed overall. The fine harness horse must demonstrate a Park Walk, Park Trot, and "Show Your Horse."
Heritage Driving: Heritage Driving is a class seen at Morgan shows. It requires the use of period costumes and vehicles, in order to simulate the period of Justin Morgan. In order to accomodate this class into an all breeds classlist, the Heritage Driving class in the CDS is open to all breeds, and all vintage period vehicles and costumes. Judged on the authenticity of the turnout, as well as the proper match of horse(s) and type to vehicle.
Combination Classes: The combination classes recognized under the CDS' English Pleasure catagory are Formal Combination, Informal Combination, Country Pleasure Combination, Classic Pleasure Combination. Please go to the Combination page for more information on these classes.
Description of Gaits
WALK: The walk should be an elastic, ground covering and collected four-beat gait
maintaining proper form and consistency in stride. It should be executed in a brisk manner
that is compatible with the type of class. It should display the horse’s good manners, type of
stride and attitude. The walk is relaxed.
PARK WALK: The park walk is a highly collected gait, exhibiting much “primp”
at a slow, regulated speed, with good action and animation. It should have snap and easy
control. It can be either a two-beat or four-beat gait. It is performed with great style,
elegance and airiness of motion. A good park walk should be snappy, collected, animated, elastic and on a straight line.
PLEASURE TROT: The pleasure trot is an easy going trot with elasticity and freedom of movement. A balanced trot features
coordinated motion with straight, true, shoulder motion of front legs, with flexing hocks carried close together. The trot must be mannerly, balanced, cadenced and free moving.
TROT: The trot should be square, collected and balanced. A balanced trot featurescoordinated motion with straight, true, shoulder motion of front legs, with flexing hocks carried close together. To be performed at a moderate speed and collection. The trot must be mannerly, balanced, cadenced and free moving.
ROAD TROT: The road trot shall be balanced and ground covering. At the road trot the horse exhibits more power and motion
than at the trot. It is performed with a lengthened stride but no decrease of collection. Form should not be sacrificed for speed.
Excessive speed should be penalized.
PARK TROT: The park trot shall be animated, square, collected and balanced. The park trot is a gait that requires extreme knee flexion and use of the shoulder for balanced, graceful extension. Speed to be penalized. The most desirable park trot gives a
balanced appearance from front and rear. It should be executed in a highly collected manner.
"SHOW YOUR HORSE" (Strong Trot): "Show Your Horse" or strong trot, should show a clear but not excessive increase in pace and lengthening of stride while remaining well balanced and showing appropriate lateral flexion on turns. The
speed is determined by each horse’s own natural ability to increase stride, to maintain collection and not to lose form. Horses that string out behind are to be penalized. Extreme knee flexion or extreme extension are encouraged if combined with a bright and willing
attitude and an unlabored, pleasurable appearance. The strong trot must be mannered, balanced, cadenced and free moving.
JOG TROT: A free, easy, two beat diagonal gait without a tendency to mix gaits. The jog-trot is called to display the purity of the horse’s gait. It is executed in a highly collected manner. The horse’s energy should be directed toward animation rather than speed.
ROAD GAIT: The road gait trot is executed in a highly collected manner. It is faster, stronger and bolder than the jog-trot; with a fuller extension of stride to obtain desired speed.
ROADSTER AT SPEED: Either called for with "Drive On" or "Show at speed." When asked to drive on Roadster classes, the horse must show speed in form. The desired speed is the maximum rate at which a horse can trot while still maintaining
proper form, control and balance.