New ground for me! A friend asked me if I’d help him at shows and drive in a couple cart classes for him. It’s been a long standing joke between us - I finally got him to enter a pleasure class last year, and now he’s pretty excited to get me in the draft ring. Anyhow, I’ve driven the horses before and I know and trust them all. So that’s fine. But what’s up with this draft ladies cart class thing? I’ve been told sparkly shirt, no gloves, no hat, no apron, a skirt with a slit up to my hip is a plus :eek: Oh, and no whip. That stays in the whip holder, for what I’m not sure. Apparantly my goal will be to get the biggest trot I can without breaking into the canter. I’m in foreign territory here! Any tips?
All I can say is yikes and have a great time!
Don’t go for the slit
Don’t go for the slit up the skirt, unless you have the legs for it (low tops do just as nicely, thank you):winkgrin:
Seriously, a business suit will do too. You don’t have to drag out your old prom dress or go thrift store hunting for one.
In ladies cart, you can drive with a whip in your hand or in the holder. It used to be that it was in the holder, to show that your horse was a “ladies horse” and didn’t need a whip but that is old fashioned and not usually a criteria these days. In fact, these days, most judges want to see action and a nice moving horse over a “ladies” horse. This is usually considered part of a breed show, so you will get judged on the horse, as well as your turn out, presentation and manners/way of going in the ring.
If you want gloves or a hat, that is fine too. You don’t want to look frumpy or olde fashioned or like you look in pleasure classes.
Yes, you want a big trot. These horses are supposed to be big movers and a hitch horse has action. What you really want is lots of hock and knee action. The bigger that better, for a lot of people that that means “fast” but actually it doesn’t equate for all horses. You want to practice before the show and figure out what speed gets the horse looking the best with the most appropriate action (knee to shoulder, no paddling, hocks up high).
You want a lot of bling. Your friend should know how to dress the horse, and the cart. You are allowed a header to drive with you, it is worth doing, especially if this is your first time. When big horses give trouble, it can be scarey. Yes, you will probably go FAST and it will make your heart pump a little.
Search images (show cart horse ladies draft) but make sure that the images you look at carefully are those of cart classes at A or B rated shows. A little county fair is going to be a mis-mash of entries.
Such as:
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/kile/lib/kile/JordonCole.JPG
http://www.beetreetrail.com/art/doccartfm.jpg
http://jaegerspercherons.com/jpg/JPCONNIEBRITT04.jpg
Here is a cart class (shires). They don’t step as high as Perchs or Belgians but you get the idea. I couldn’t find a ladies cart class but the basics are the same:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7zUV7EDzYE
I am assuming this is not a pleasure class. For shires, there is less of a need for a lot of action (such as the youtube video above). Percherons and Belgians are big into action.
You will need to walk and trot, both directions. Reverse is at the diagonal (there will be a ring master directing). You will line up and be inspected and need to back at that point, when directed. In the line up, a header is allowed.
And yes, there are a number of obnoxious older judges left who will look up the skirt or gaze a little too long at boobs of the buxom drivers. There are fewer and fewer of these types of judges each year though as we women get on show committees and put our foots down about who are appropriate judges for shows.
I hope this helps!
Last time I watched Drafts it was “revealing”!! Literally! The ladies appeared to be wearing prom dress fashions, lower cut tops, no sleeves, with long skirts. No aprons or hats. All driving Carts of the Road Cart variety.
Started out very exciting, one person running late, had to split a Pair and put in Cart. Lady is coming at a BIG trot, hits a small ditch, made a whoop-de-do bounce to reach the ring. She CAME OUT OF HER DRESS ON TOP, kept on coming. Put herself back in dress, still trotting towards the gate and entered ring!! Now THAT WILL GET THE JUDGE watching you!
To make it a Ladies horse, the reins needed to be on the mouthpiece setting, to show “softness” needed to allow a Lady to drive him. One of those Unwritten Rules all the folks know. Every lady driver had her one leg planted firmly on the dashboard, to allow her to remain seated against the pull of reins and slippery dress on seat. They all smiled regardless of the rein pull.
There were a number of entries in the ring, all going right along. I was in one corner, saw how the wind swept up the skirt’s edges while the drivers beat them back down as they went into the blowing wind. I heard the Judge laughingly remark to Ringmaster that he “hoped they all had their nice underwear on, because it appeared he would be getting a good view!” Another person also heard this, ran to the other corner and warned Ladies to put their legs down when passing the Judge! I started laughing when the ladies came around to that corner, legs BOTH on floor, past the Judge, leg back up on dashboard. Up, down, up, down! It LOOKED choreographed and was hysterical to watch in both directions.
Judge worked them and chose his horses for ribbons. Everyone left, changed drivers to the men. Of course while out of the ring, the horses ALL had the reins dropped back into normal settings, 2-3 holes below mouthpieces. Mens classes were much more sedate. None of those men had the foot on dashboard, getting THEIR shoulders pulled out!! Judge placed the horses, and out they went to change back to Ladies class. I think it was some kind of working class next, because they used the middle of the ring more and it was pretty rough ground. A couple more of the Ladies had clothing problems driving on the rough ground. I have to say, they managed to put themselves back into dresses FAST, probably a good thing they weren’t holding whips too!
The Judge was having more fun that was legal, probably got a cramp in his face!! Since he was the light horse Pleasure judge, he didn’t have to worry about being hired for the Drafts again. He was just filling in when the Draft Judge was late so the show would keep moving along. They had to share the ring. Luckily the Draft Judge arrived before the Hitch Driving started, so the Draft folks had a “normal” Draft Judge who was used to this stuff.
I haven’t watched any Draft Driving since then, but it always makes me smile thinking of it. The Pleasure Driving Ladies with their Light horses were so “Sunday Church” prim looking and the Drafts were “Prom Formal” next to them. Satins and slippery, ruffly dresses blowing in the wind. And the picture of that lady racing to reach the ring before the gate closed! She was certainly cool about a situation that would have sent me home in embarassement! Wow!
Such very different expectations from each kind of driving horse group, good idea to ask current trends. Know your local group or breed expectations, so you can blend in. The Pleasure Ladies clothing then, would have been way out of the norm, if worn in the draft classes.
“I’ve been told sparkly shirt, no gloves, no hat, no apron, a skirt with a slit up to my hip is a plus Oh, and no whip. That stays in the whip holder”
Hmmm, don’t forget, topless is a good thing if you can manage it without putting an eye out. A hound of some sort behind you is a plus. You can also blacken a tooth if driving a Belgian for extra-credit…all these are the impression the “little guy drivers” seem to have.
Of course, showing classily, nice turnout for horse and whip is best…no whip needs to be kept in the hand for commercial classes (or aprons either) .
I’ll say that picture of the first black Perch has some big time BLING!!!
and take a close look at the harnessing of the grey perch - breeching
looks like they are doing a version of a yankee or a pair breeching on a single - crossing under the belly with the straps??
We love watching the BIG GUYS up at the Sussex Fair in NJ
There are permanent stalls ont he grounds and we saw one Belgian whose Big Butt filled the top of the dutch door - no kidding the top ot the butt was just about at the top of the door and not much excess space side to side either
the classes can be pretty exciting too
we found it wass best for use pleasure driving folk if the drafts used the gat at the stable end of the ring and we used the gate where all the rings joined. This kept the drafts out of the fray of the traffic where we have a little bit of everything else crossing paths
Arabians, spectators, pleasure carriage horse and ponies, more spectators - just didnt need to add the BIG BOYS to the mix
Have fun with your class
“looks like they are doing a version of a yankee or a pair breeching on a single - crossing under the belly with the straps??”
Because the hitch and cart classes are on top of each other, this type of harness is fine (a choke strap (or pole strap) with quarter straps attached). It allows the switching between the hitch classes and the cart classes, without having to change out the harness. It is also kind of the traditional “look.” The state fairs rely on the draft horse associations to put on a “big” show and they don’t want any lags, as the audience will dwindle. Ergo: quick change out are critical.
Yep. It is a different world. But it is a lot of fun to get behind a big horse stomping like that!
I don’t do it much anymore in cart classes at the “big” shows because I won’t overcheck or sidecheck my horse’s head up to the skys and my horse’s shoes are moderate. I enjoy the classes, but I hate scotch bottoms and I hate putting my horse’s head up so high, that her ahole “pops” out, as someone once explained it to me (to be very crude). But I sure enjoy watching! Since, we ride our big ones in the dressage ring and in breed shows, it is a good excuse to not shoe or check like that.
Putting on my turn out gear for this one…
I would rather look nice, put together, a nice outfit that suites both my draft and myself, nothing to flashy, as this isn’t an AQHA western pleasure class but a driving class. If woman are now winning because they are showing T and A, well then I would rather be conservative and place a bit lower than get a high placing because the judge didn’t have his eye on what he should of been! It is unfortunate that some woman have resorted to wearing spaghetti straps, low cut blouses, and “cheapened” themselves all for the win. To me that isn’t proper or appropriate dress for a ladies cart class nor any driving class that woman are in.
And I am with Cielo Azure on the fact that like her, I don’t jack Smoke’s head up and want her knees to hit her chin at every stomp. She is a hitchy mare and I would rather she go smooth and fluid than be a fire breathing monster. She is 15 years old and still going strong, has good action, can get behind the bit and really go, that can’t be said for a lot of the big hitch drafts by the time they are even 8. Guess it is to each his own.
GRIN IBF, you are entering a whole nother world.
Yes for most shows you will see lots of short skirts, ruffles, bling, and skin. Carts are often wild colors like purple, bright yellow, white, lime green, royal blue, and red to match farm colors. I’ve helped several draft buddies with hitches and I was surprised my first show seeing the little young things sitting next to the driver in short skirt, heels, long hair flying, and low cut blouses.
When I showed drafts I always chose to wear a nice suit, carried my whip, wore gloves and had a smile. We did very well and didn’t jack up the check rein on the horses either. GH is right these horses can be a handful in a ladies class when the bit is changed, the crowds get excited, and the horses get high stepping as your sliding around the seat. The one bonus I did find with the drafts is the all had a great Whoa no matter what. Although sadly I’ve also seen some run aways and with big horses it’s not a pretty sight.
Do get to drive the horses before the show as much as you can. These big boys can get really charged at a show especially when combined with a fair. Never fun seeing city folks push a baby buggy right in front of a high stepping team.
Go have fun and enjoy the time.
Thanks guys!! Yes, the horses will be checked up and wearing scotches. Not something I’d do to my own, but to each their own I suppose.
I guess I should have also mentioned they’re Haflingers. Definitely draft, but we’re only talking 60" tall 
The road cart I’ll be in is maroon with sparkly gold pinstriping and the farm name is painted on the back too. I’ve got a shiny-ish red blouse (with a deeper V neck than is usual for modest me ) that should match the cart - maybe I’ll wear that and black slacks??
This is the mare I’ll be driving the most, and the cart too:
http://genesisfarmhaflingers.com/sold/britney.jpg
Will also be driving a collection of two years olds in futurity classes. That should be…“fun” :lol:
Okay, I was just informed I’ll be driving team classes too. Stay tuned for some REAL entertaining updates!
HackneyHorseDriver - as you can imagine, my mom is just THRILLED that I’ll be showing draft. She asked last night if I could wear my marathon vest and helmet :winkgrin:.
I still remember the lady in the Sussex Ladies Cart class with the short skirt driving with crossed legs - said she didn’t want to give THAT much of a show show and she thought it was classy.
As nj2 said the fair usually separated the drafts and pleasure drivers, more because the pleasure folks horses were freaking out at the steel wheels and chains jingling than the other way about.
We had one year with some cross entering going on. One of the pleasure drivers with a Draft decided to take advantage of the opportunity and try her had at draft driving. So there was a ring full of stomping, fire breathing hitch horses to either carts or hitch wagons and Cindy with her Bronson wagon and daisy cutting draft… ooops. Two of the draft drivers entered the pleasure division and didn’t get the whole thing when we were trying to find them jackets to cover their tank tops, aprons, hats and asked them to really carry the whip. We ended up being too fussy and frumpy for them, but we tried.
IBF and draft drivers - someone who shows drafts told me it was considered bad form to pass anyone in the ring in the draft division. Is this true? If so, IBF its something to keep in mind.
Correct, no passing and no circling!! If you’ve got a big mover, it really hurts to get behind a slower one. USE those corners :lol: Fortunately I’ve groomed for this friend and watched his classes for the last couple of years, but sheesh, forgot about things like that…thanks for reminding me!
Passing is definitely frowned upon. That said, if a horse in front of you is acting out or not moving or not going into the trot, you CAN pass it without penalty (just do not to do it in front of the judge).
Make sure that before the class is judged, you have given yourself a lot of room between you and the cart ahead of you. That usually gives you lea-way. Likewise, slow your horse down a bit at the walk (not in front of the judge) to put some distance between you and the horse in front, if they are slower than you.
It is fun!
I like to wear black pants, I think it is very appropriate “look.”
Cielo Azure…do you have any pictures of how you dress? This year I found a rather nice outfit with nice dress pants, a smart short sleeved jacket (yes I know short sleeves are frowned upon) and a blouse. Some of the smaller shows we go to are a bit more laid back and allow short sleeves as it can get very hot here in VA in the summer months.
We have always had to hold the whip in one hand and the lines as well. This year I broke down and got a more light weight driving whip for my village cart that wasn’t as heavy, as I have problems with the strength and muscles in my fingers. One judge told one lady pick up her whip and hold it, that it was a ladies driving class, so she did. Do you all wear brown gloves?
Not passing has always been a big one for me, I try not to. However, when your in a driving class with mini mules or mules who trot slow, it is very fustrating to have to rein your draft in, but keep them in a trot. There was quite a heated debate at the end of the year about it, the mule and mini folks going after us draft folks, till some turned around and said deal with it, it IS a ladies cart class. This year we have classes specifically for the smaller animals and for the mule and donkey folks too.
YIKES 17-18 h drafts in a class with 30 in minis? and no passing - now THAT can get exciting. Glad they decided to split the class.
Not advocating weaving or zooming by people, but I have this picture in my head of a mini-donk trit-ing along with a whole line of drafts backed up behind.
Your comments about ‘not in front of the judge’ also brought back a funny memory. When I was in 4-H the bareback horsemanship class was mixed Hunt and stock seat. The Hunt seat people were supposed to post. We had one ‘expletive deleted’ judge who thought it was funny to put the class into a trot and leave them there for close to 15 minutes. It was a summer show, the ring was big-time dusty and everyone soon learned you trot briskly with a snappy post past the judge and then relax the rest of the way around the ring. He never once turned around to see people doing all sorts of things behind him (not that he could have seen much in the dust storm that was kicked up). So I envison the backed up line of drafts behind the mini donk until just past the judge then a free for all trying to get by before coming into the judge’s view again.
IBF - your mom might be surprised as how fast those draft classes will be. Kinda like her ride with Lucy. PM the show and maybe I can get away and come watch. Best of luck, smille and have a good time.
