Show driving is a captivating equestrian discipline that emphasises the beauty, elegance, and historical significance of horse-drawn carriages. Judges assess the overall turnout, condition, and authenticity of the equipment, the quality of the horses’ movement and the driver’s skill in presenting the carriage.

Carriage driving at Australian shows is often seen in two forms – Light Harness and Heavy Harness.

Light harness classes are those for the lighter-boned breeds of horses and ponies. Animals are generally shown in these classes in vehicles such as viceroys, sulkies, jinkers, gigs, joggers, buggies and other relatively light two and four-wheeled vehicles.

The Heavy Harness classes, often termed the Business and Delivery classes, cater for the heavier draught breeds of horse and various crosses with these. They are often shown in delivery vehicles such as milk and bread carts, spring carts and wagons.

The ACDS runs an annual National Show, which moves around to a different state each year, and annual State Shows. These ‘all harness’ shows have much more extensive programs than most agricultural shows, with a wide variety of classes for the range of horses and ponies and vehicles driven by carriage drivers.

It is essential not to be put off when you realise you do not have all the ‘correct’ gear. If your horse, harness and vehicle are safe, go in the classes. Make sure your horse and turnout are as clean as possible, and have your hat, knee rug or apron, gloves and whip. You could be very pleasantly surprised about how well you do!

Royal Shows are a different story – the overall standard is much higher. However, showing in harness at a Royal is a wonderful thing to aspire to and is well worth the effort.