The Krymsun Kruzer & Lisa Ligon
Pleasure Driving is not a class where you can just wing it,” Select Amateur Deborah Jury from Eatonton, Georgia remarked. “The horses really need to be broke and prepared for this class.” Jury would know from experience since she unfortunately was injured during a pleasure driving accident the first day of the Florida Gulf Coast Circuit. She broke her collarbone in three places, had six broken ribs, and a punctured lung after a Select Amateur Pleasure Driving exhibitor lost control of her horse which ran head on into Jury at full speed. Her recovery is expected to take at least six months. Her brown gelding, THE PROFIT HUNTER, also sustained soft tissue injuries and has been recovering from the incident. When he has completely healed, the 2005 gelding will be sent to a pleasure driving trainer to see if he has any lasting traumatic memories of the collision before he is ever shown in the class again.
“It is a dangerous class,” Jury said. “But, I think there are things that show management and judges can do to make it safer. One suggestion is for a time to be set aside during a show day where pleasure drivers are allowed to practice in the arena without the distraction of exhibitors riding their horses in the pen at the same time. We only get about 10 minutes to warm up for the class in the arena alone and that is not enough time for us to prepare our horses.” Jury adds, “I also think judges need to react more quickly and pull a disobedient horse into the middle of the arena before it escalates into something that could have been prevented.”
Sanger, Texas based trainer Lisa Ligon who was a past AQHA Reserve World Champion in Jr. Pleasure Driving with THE KRYMSUN KRUZER says that she prepares her pleasure driving horses twice as dilligently as the riding horses because they need to be very unreactive to random noises and other horses. “I never show in this class unless I feel like all the stars are aligned in my favor, and I am going to have a positive experience for both my horse and myself,” Ligon remarked. “I believe some people rush themselves into these classes, misjudging the degree of difficulty involved since there is no cantering required. They regard it as a walk trot class and believe it shouldn’t be a big deal,” Ligon explains. “Exhibitors of this class are also frequently hurried along to prepare their horses in the mornings and throughout horse shows due to inadequate arena times and designated areas in which they can properly prepare their horses.” Ligon adds, “Exhibitors also want to take advantage of the larger classes even when they may feel uncomfortable and not ready to drive that particular day which can lead to the potential for more accidents in the class.” At most AQHA horse shows across the country, it is usually problematic to qualify for the World Show in driving because it is difficult to find a half point class to compete. There are only a few major circuits across the country that have a point class, and it is unheard of to have a two point class or 10 in the driving except at the Congress or World Show.
AQHA Rule 438 (b) (3) states that judges may order any person or horse from the competition for poor conduct of either… According to AQHA Director of Judges Alex Ross, “This rule would give the judge the right to disqualify an entry if, in their opinion, it is displaying poor conduct. In any class, this is encouraged, not discouraged, especially if it pertains to the safety of exhibitors. To disqualify a horse before the competition has started would be a slippery slope. As you know, to insure all entries are judged fairly and honestly on their performance that day, judges are discouraged from viewing the contestants before they actually show,” Ross said. “At split combined shows, each judge marks their own card. Normally, the decision to disqualify a horse should be concurrent but there are always times a judge has to use common sense and has to make a call outside of our normal procedures. I feel safety in pleasure driving would be one of these times.” Ross adds, “AQHA will implement a Steward Program in 2010. Overseeing the safety necessitated in various classes will be one of the steward’s many duties. I also feel it is important for professional horsemen to get involved if they see a problem.” Top AQHA Select Amateur competitor Lori Bucholz believes the addition of stewards at shows would greatly add to the safety, not only in the driving, but in general at the shows. “A steward would be able to watch the horses warm up and if he felt that a person or horse was not prepared for the class that day would have the authority to stop them from entering the arena. This is, in my opinion, something that our shows are lacking and that would be very beneficial to all exhibitors and animals. There are also rules in the AQHA handbook regarding safety as far as the driving is concerned. A steward would be able to enforce these rules.”
AQHA judge and World Champion Pleasure Driving trainer Stephanie Lynn discusses the recent accident at last year’s Congress and, most recently, the one in Florida. “Here is my initial thought; the judges should have gotten control of the class right away – same as at the Congress. The horse I watched at the Congress that caused the wreck was bad all morning, and the judges have the right to excuse any horse that they deem unsafe for poor conduct. Although difficult to do, it is our responsibility as judges to maintain safety and see that the rules are adhered to even if that means overriding Congress officials. The horse at last year’s Congress should never have been allowed to stay in the pen. It sounds like the same situation in Florida. The horse should have been excused from the arena,” Lynn said. “Owners, drivers and trainers have got to take responsibility for their horses and the repercussions from their actions. They may feel that they have control and their horse is okay and not going to be a problem, but sometimes they are not cognizant of the effect their horse has on those around it.”
Lynn, who is based in Summerfield, Florida, adds, “As for when a horse is ready to show, they first have to be ready to be put in the cart. A horse is ready when you can bump the shafts against his sides, repeatedly, while making noise, in a sense desensitizing them to the noises and the cart bumping and hitting their sides. It often takes a lot of time with poles imitating shafts against their sides. The horse has to trust the handler to not put him in harms way,” Lynn explained. “Horses should be allowed to look at the cart without blinders at first but should be longed, ground driven, and introduced to the shafts with the blinders on. They serve a purpose and should be used accordingly. As such, the horse needs an introduction to the blinders and should never be put in a compromising position with the blinders on such as taking them out of a stall or going through a doorway that is narrow where they may bump their sides and hurt or scare themselves. The driving horse has to trust his driver. If the horse is afraid of a situation without the blinders, putting them in a cart is only going to intensify the problem.”
Stephanie explains that a horse is only ready to show in the cart after much schooling and practice. “The horse has to be relaxed and well-behaved in all aspects before putting them in a cart in a class. A horse that responds by scooting when scared; balking when startled; jumping away from a quick movement; and stopping or startling at a sudden noise is not ready to show in the cart. Any sideways move in the cart has immediate and dangerous repercussions for other exhibitors,” Lynn said. “When a horse can handle the schooling pen at the horse show, they may be ready to show. Even then, the novice driving horse needs to be shown in a safe and calm environment–preferably in a small class. ‘Going for it’ is not a good policy for the first time driver.”
“All classes can be dangerous if you or your horse are not prepared,” Bucholz, who owns two AQHA World Champion Pleasure Driving horses, LARKS HAPPY DAYS and GOOD LUKIN LARK, who were shown and trained by Kevin Dukes, said. “The driving can be especially dangerous because you only have your reins and voice to stop your horse. In addition, as a unit, you’re so much wider and longer than when you’re just riding. It’s analogous to you driving a Honda Civic versus your truck and eight-horse trailer. You have more control and stopping ability in your little car than your rig, and when the accident happens, it can be much more traumatic in your truck and trailer because of the size. I think people may view the class and think, ‘It’s beautiful, it looks like fun and I get to wear great hats.’ The reality is you have to be very prepared; your horse has to be very prepared; and I think you have to have a heightened sensibility to the other horses and exhibitors in the arena.” Bucholz also mentioned, “I try to watch the other horses and drivers as they warm up and observe how they drive and how their horse is reacting. Of course, we all know horses may act prepared when they warm up but not be that great when we go to show. Another thing I try to do is know the other exhibitor’s name. It’s pretty easy to do since we’re a small bunch, but I think by doing so, if there’s any problem, or even if you’re just closely passing someone, you can at least call them by name so they know you’re near.”
Several-time World Champion exhibitor and trainer Kevin Dukes is very adamant that his horses and clients are all prepared for their class, Bucholz said. “He has strict rules we must all follow, not only for our safety, but for our horses and the other exhibitors and their horses. “For instance, if we have to drive our horses into the arena to show, then Kevin insists we all have a ‘header’. This is simply someone who walks next to our horses head to help lead them in the arena. It’s just another level of safety that may seem superfluous, but if something were to go wrong, that ‘header’ is there to insure the horse and exhibitor are safe.” Bucholz adds, “He also won’t allow a horse to be led in his driving bridle with blinders on. We lead our horse to the arena with their halters and then bridle them and then harness them at the arena. If we’re allowed at the show to unharness our horses in the arena, we also unbridle them there and lead them out of the arena with their halters and lead ropes,” Bucholz remarked. “He is also inexorable if he believes a particular horse should not be driven or shown on any day, for whatever reason. I think if you’re going to participate in this class, you and your trainer must always understand if either one of you is uncomfortable with the driving conditions of the day, then you don’t have to drive,” Bucholz said. “When I first started driving with Kevin, I asked him what to do if something started to go wrong in the arena. His comment was, ‘Listen to me; I will be screaming directions to you. Do exactly as I say.’ Although that comment was said with a hint of fun, I have had an instance when Kevin did have to scream directions to me and I did exactly as I was told!”
Weatherford, Texas-based trainer Dukes remarks that a pleasure driving horse must be “bomb proof,” and, sometimes, even the best of horses have a bad day and shouldn’t be shown. “There is no room for error in this event,” Dukes explained. “The drivers need to test their brakes and make sure they know how to stop their horse. ‘Whoa’ is the most important voice command that a pleasure driving horse needs to know. If the horse panics, then the driver may have a chance to get them back into control if they are able to stop them before the situation gets out of hand.”
Multiple World and Congress Champion pleasure driving trainer Brian Holmes from Purcell, Oklahoma specializes in this class and individuals from all across the country send their horses to his farm to be trained for this event. Holmes believes many exhibitors and trainers don’t take this class serious enough. “They don’t practice enough, and they overestimate their preparation for this class.” This class is dangerous because of what Holmes calls the “grandma” and “weapon” factor. “I think there is too much emphasis put on movement in this class. Safety, submission, and consistency should be awarded more than a beautiful mover with an inconsistent top line especially when there are Select Amateur competitors who only show in this event because of physical or health limitations,” Holmes said. “The cart also adds an extra element because if a horse gets loose, it can be used inadvertently as a weapon and can seriously injure someone.”
Holmes exposes the horses to different scenarios such as having the horse hit the shafts, wearing a heavy draft harness, rubbing the wheels against the wall, driving around other horses in carts, driving in and out of people riding horses, and pulling a heavy sled to teach the horses forward motion. “I don’t want to drive a horse only in ideal conditions. I want to be able to drive them everywhere, and not in a cocoon-like environment. It makes the horses more durable. At the Congress, you have to be resourceful and drive at 3 a.m. if you want some space to prepare your horses. It is rare to find a time where there isn’t riders packed in the practice arenas. The drivers and horses need to be prepared for this type of environment. If you can get your horses tame and quiet in the dark, it is easier to show in the daylight.” Many horse enthusiasts have seen the YouTube video, “Country Pleasure Driving Class Gone Wrong”, where it shows a horse getting scared and causing multiple accidents at a Region Arabian Championship Show a fews years ago. Most trainers said they would normally tell their clients to go to the middle of the arena and have someone grab the head of the horse, and then unhook the cart if another exhibitor’s horse wrecks. Most scared horses run around the outside of the arena. Holmes says that the horses should remain walking inside the middle of the arena because a scared horse runs blind and cannot see something that is at a standstill. People and horses that wait on the rail and don’t move around are “sitting ducks.” He says that they should try to slip out an exit and keep moving.
The key to developing a safer class is in desensitizing the horse and making sure it is prepared for adverse conditions. If a horse exhibits any signs of being upset or tense, then the drivers and trainers should have the fortitude to not show in the class. “Our Hunter Under Saddle horses today are truly beautiful but have a bigger motor and are more reactive than ever before,” AQHA judge and multiple World Champion trainer Gigi Bailey explained. “I used to break and show many drivers. However, there were some horses that I would have never even attempted to teach as I felt they did not have the mind nor the personality for it. A driving horse has to be safe. Even then, situations can still occur that will set off the best of them,” Bailey said. “As a judge I have encountered several instances where I did not feel the class was safe to run. I have done several things to ensure safety. I have given more warm up. I have shortened the time of the class. I have even asked that exhibitors consider not showing that day. As a judge, I feel that my first priority is the safety of the exhibitors, and my second is the safety of the horses. When keeping those items in mind, we as judges will possibly make better decisions for the show, the horses, and especially the exhibitors.”
Bailey ended her thoughts by telling a story about when she was giving a clinic at Penn State several years ago. “There were over 700 people in attendance that day, and we were talking about Pleasure Driving. A really nice older gentleman raised his hand and said that he had bought a cart and harness, hooked his horse to it, and drove away. To which I replied, ‘and you lived to tell us about it.’”
The driving class is a fun and beautiful class Bucholz concludes. “It’s great for exhibitors who may not physically be able to participate in other classes. It adds another discipline that a horse can do and another class in which exhibitors can show. However, it doesn’t matter how fun and beautiful the driving class or any other class is, it has to be safe. And for the class to be safe, you have to be prepared.”
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