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Introduction to the Sporting Day
The purpose of a Sporting Day of Traditional Driving is to preserve and celebrate the
carriage-driving style of bygone days, which encompasses horsemanship, driving acumen,
care and preservation of carriage and harness, and the intangible qualities of good sportsmanship.
The Sporting Day focuses on traditional driving and includes three phases: a Turnout
Inspection, a Country Drive, and the Cones Course. Traditional driving, as we define it,
makes use of one of the recognized styles of driving--English Classical (or its German
modification, known as Achenbach), Hungarian, or American--whichever is appropriate
for the type of carriage, horse, and harness being used. All types of carriages are accepted,
but antique vehicles or traditional reproductions of the same are preferred. In the same
vein, traditional leather harness that is appropriate to the vehicle is preferred over synthetic
harness.
Drivers must carry a whip throughout the day while driving.
Although intended--for participants and spectators alike--more as a celebration of
traditional driving than a competition, the Sporting Day of Traditional Driving does
contain competitive elements. Each turnout, however, is competing against an ideal,
rather than against the other turnouts in attendance. The optimum score of 100 is
broken down among the three phases as follows: a possible 50 points for the Turnout
Inspection, 25 for the Country Drive, and 25 for the Cones Course. The organizers may
choose to present any number of awards; one winner per class is the standard.
Any situation not covered in these guidelines will be referred to the judge(s), and the
judges’ decision is final. Anyone who is clearly unqualified to drive in company or who is
driving dangerously or recklessly will be asked to leave.
- You can get a .pdf file with more details by clicking
here.
- Members will be able be access a large amount of information on Sporting Days of
Traditional Driving in the members-only section of this website.
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