Arabian Horses.org Sport Horse Nationals

SHN Spins Exciting Class with Pleasure Carriage Driving

"I wanted a 20 year old horse with 15 years of driving experience so I could come home in the evening after a hard day of work, have a beer and meander around old country roads," says Dennis Ginn of Brenham, Texas, whose wife Nancy took Half-Arabian Pinto BWF Tootsie (CH El Cortez x Ava Mariah Penny) to a reserve championship in Pleasure Carriage Driving/Working and Top Ten in Reinsmanship. "Now I'm going over hazards and hanging off the back of a carriage."

The pair who are passionate about driving, were warned that their Arabian/Saddlebred cross might be too hot by driving trainer Tom O'Carroll. "But she's really sweet," says Nancy.

"I didn't even know she was our horse," says Dennis. My wife didn't admit right away that she bought a mare and a filly until a few weeks after Tootsie had been with us. As people congratulated him on his walk through the barn, Dennis said,

"I think this is the start of something good."

Carriage Driving New This Year

Gisela MBI+/ and Christine Smith-Byerly

The pleasure driving division was new this year to rave reviews and a good turnout with more than 22 horses entered. Francine Dismukes was the judge.

Carrie Britt and Laurie Smith listen to the judge

"Once you ride in one of these antique or reproduction carts," she says. "You never want to go back to any other because there's a greater comfort zone being behind and up above the horse. You can see the turn of the back, the expression in their ears and tail. Overall, it was really a good, safe group of driving horses."

Section A drivers wait for the announcement

The one thing she'd like to see more of is a greater distinction between the working and lengthened trots. "All the walks were exceptionally good," she said.

CHA Rudyvalentine+// and Nancy Ziegler

Champion Amir Mosaic+/ and Patsy Nininger

Sport Horse Geldings in Hand Arena

Kristin Hardin and Tyler Holiday Hardin with Arabian gelding Shownanimous owned by Carolyn Steppe. Hardin took Showgun PGN++/ to multi-national championships at last year's Sport Horse Nationals but is seven months pregnant so will defer the task of showing hunters and jumpers to John French this year. Tyler can already "post a walk" during leadline says her mother.

Barn baby Jaxon Gray is a seasoned show veteran at 3 years old from Cherry Point Stables in Suffolk, VA

HR Pufnstuf ++//, an Arabian/Hanoverian, and Robin Petzold of Citra, FL, await their turn in the In-Hand class

MM Cylent Partner+++//, four-time Region 9 Sport Horse Under Saddle champion, and Clare Morrow