The Sport of Carriage Driving

In all classes at a pleasure driving show, like the Villa Louis Carriage Classic, the driver must be attired appropriately. This usually means that he should wear a hat, gloves, and apron and carry a whip in hand.

Attire should be conservative in design and appropriate to the vehicle driven; i.e., formal attire with formal vehicles, country attire with country vehicles. Horses should also conform to the vehicle type; i.e., it would be expected to see a more flashy horse with a more formal vehicle and a more ground covering horse with a country vehicle.

The whip should be carried within the frame of the carriage, near the horse and not stick out to the side where it would be rendered useless.

For more information on the sport of pleasure driving contact the American Driving Society or the Carriage Association of America.