If you have not driven around other animals, vehicles, you
should try to practice. I have seen nice driving horses spook at
other driven horses, since they never saw them at home! Reversing
in a driving class, usually is like Follow-the-Leader. Ringmaster
is the place everyone turns, goes diagonally across the ring and
changes direction on the rail. Much safer with vehicles.
Tips
above for Obstacles that are common were good. You probably
should practice holding the whip in right hand while driving.
Whip should reach the animal shoulder when you are sitting with the
reins. NEVER slap the reins on rump to start! Hitting on
the rump with anything can make horse kick, this is NOT the
movies. Whip touches on animal sides, like a rider's leg, aids in
moving over, bending. You seldom would actually hit equine with
whip. More like a gentle flick-touch for bends, to start if he
ignores your voice "WALK On!" Reins should have contact with his
mouth all the time, but gently. No loose haning reins, like
Western Pleasure ridden. Driving along gives you no time to pull
up slack reins, THEN rein him around.
We do some Pleasure
Driving, usually under ADS rules. We don't use overcheck or
sidecheck reins to hold up heads. Actually the check reins
interfere with how a horse works, impeding his use of body in moving
weight and in deep sandy going.. Yet locally, in 4-H rules they
REQUIRE a checkrein on the kid's horses. So READ your rules, know
what rules you will be showing under. I think Mini shows also
require checkreins. We add the checkrein, just leave it so loose
that it doesn't bother the horse. Old time thinking made
checkrein into a safety thing. Horse couldn't kick carriage
if he couldn't get head down, so it was put into the 4-H driving.
He also can't work, if he can't get his head down with a heavy load or
is pulling in deep sand.
Your READING of rules should
GREATLY help you in knowing what is expected of horse and driver in
each class. They spell things out, like gaits, usually 3 Trots,
collected walk, relaxed walk, backing up. Stylish is for a higher
action type of going, Roadsters go FAST!! The point scores
show how the Judge rates what he sees on the rail. Sometimes the
horse gets more points, others it is the Driver. So you as the
driver, can change how you do things in each class.
Clothing may count, read the rules. Most accept driver dressed in
nice slacks or skirt and long-sleeved shirt or blouse. Jacket and
tie for guys. Available cheap at Goodwill or consignment clothes
stores. No-slip, darker oxford shoes, polished. No socks
showing. No Sneakers! Something comfortable besides jeans
and T shirts, conservative like you would wear to church.. ADS
now requires all drivers under 19yrs, to wear approved helmets in all
ADS activities. No pretty hats for them. Other shows don't
have a helmet rule, but you won't get marked down for helmets
either. My daughter wears her helmet in all Driving
activities. Laprobes and brown gloves are usually required in
Pleasure type shows, maybe not in 4-H.
Gamblers Choice
gives scores to the obstacles done in a certain time, like a
minute. You can have a selection of obstacles in the ring.
Folks want to do the higher scoring obstacles, but sometimes they are
very hard. You may be able to do several lower score obstacles,
get more points in same time it takes for one high score
obstacle. Sometimes you can do an obstacle twice, if you do a
second one between, so can REALLY rack up a big score in the short
time. Some allow cantering, others DO NOT. Know your
rules!
Perhaps you could post some photos as you prepare
for your show. We can tell you what we see as you stand
still. Good to be thinking ahead, preparing the animal and
yourself to compete skillfully.