Table of Contents

• Breed Description 
• Fine Harness
• Pleasure Driving
• Roadster

Hackney and Harness Ponies

The Hackney is a breed of carriage horse or pony that originated in England and is one of the oldest breeds in the horse kingdom. The Hackney pony cannot be over 14.2 hands (58 inches) in height.

The high stepper of the show ring, these ponies have extreme action both in front and behind. Judged for brilliance and show ring presence, the Hackney presents a picture of sheer daintiness and perfection being driven to a four-wheeled vehicle called a viceroy. The Hackney is shown only at the trot, but in most cases is judged at two speeds - the park trot and the faster "Show your pony," but never should sacrifice form for speed. 

Custom demands that the pony be shown with docked tail and mane braided close to the neck. At the trot, the pony should snap the knees and hocks and show high, straight, true action.

The Harness pony has a full, flowing mane and tail and resembles the Saddlebred Fine Harness horse in conformation and way of going. They have grace and high action but cannot exceed 50 inches in height. Like the Hackney pony, they are shown to a viceroy both ways of the ring at the park trot and the faster "Show your pony."

Fine Harness horses perform two gaits both ways of the ring: the walk and the trot. It is considered bad form for a harness horse to canter or "break"; judges will penalize this. The Fine Harness horse does an animated, springy walk. Speed is not a factor. The good-performing Fine Harness horse should be beautiful, fine, alert, and airy. Like the Five-Gaited horse, the mane and tail are long and flowing, and boots are worn on the front feet. The boots of a Fine Harness horse are not needed for protection because speed is not a factor, but are traditional and add to the elegant appearance of the horse.

The Pleasure horse should be a typical Saddlebred with quality, style, presence, and suitable conformation and have prompt, comfortable gaits that give the impression of being agreeable to ride in the show ring or on the trail. Easy, groundcovering action is desired  and special emphasis is placed on a true, flat walk. Transitions from one gait to the next should be smooth and effortless. Three-Gaited, Five-Gaited, and Driving Pleasure horses have long manes and tails and do not wear boots except in Five-Gaited events.

The Roadster is the speed horse of the show ring, and these driving and riding classes are exciting to watch because of the fast pace set by competitors. Horses must be of the Standardbred breed or the Standardbred type, of attractive appearance, balanced in conformation and with manners which make them safe risk in the ring. There are also classes offered specifically for the popular Roadster ponies under 12.2 hands (50 inches).

All Roadsters are shown at three different speeds of the trot: jog, road gait, and trot at speed; "breaks" (cantering) are penalized. At all speeds, the Roadster should work in form with straight and true action. Animation and show ring presence should characterize the road horse, especially at the jog and road gait.

Roadsters being driven or ridden enter the ring in a clockwise direction at a jog, and are then asked to road gait, then turn to a counterclockwise direction and jog, road gait, and trot at speed.

There are bike (two-wheeled vehicle) and wagon (or buggy) (four-wheeled vehicle) classes. Usually the buggy horse is a larger horse than the bike horse. When Roadsters are ridden under saddle, much enthusiasm is expressed by the crowd.