Although horses are no longer required to work in harness for commercial agriculture and transport, driving is still a popular equestrian sport providing varied competitive disciplines.
Horse driving trials are best equated to a three day event. The dressage phase is on day one, and competitors perform a sequence of movements from memory aiming to demonstrate the obedience and schooling of the horse. Day two is marathon day; similar to the cross country phase in eventing, it sees competitors driving five timed sections through obstacles and gates marked by flags. The obstacles are built around the natural terrain and often include steep banks and water. The final stage of the competition is the cones section and requires precision and skill from both driver and horse. Classes are available for singles, pairs, tandems and teams of horses and ponies.

Indoor driving trials are the winter equivalent of the horse driving trials. As the name suggests, they are held in an indoor arena, but unlike the summer sport all three phases take place in one day. The order of phases differs slightly in the indoor trials with cones taking place before the marathon obstacles section. Indoor driving trials are a popular place for introducing novice combinations to the sport before taking part in the longer format summer events.

Double harness scurry driving is fast and furious; a competitive sport, it consists of two ponies being driven around a course of cones and obstacles against the clock. The driver sits on the front of a four-wheeled carriage with a groom standing on the back to balance the vehicle around the sharp corners. Each cone has a ball balanced on top of it; if the ponies or the carriage dislodge a ball penalty seconds are added to the competitor’s completion time. The aim is to get a fast clear round, and the fastest time wins.

Private driving is the showing side of the sport, and focuses on traditional turnout with judging requirements varying according to class. The classes available include exercise vehicle, pleasure driving, open private driving, light-trade turnout and concours d’elegance.

The exercise vehicle class requires the combination to be neat, workman like and safe, and the horse should be driven to a non-traditional vehicle.

The pleasure driving class, suitable for novice competitors, requires the horse or pony to be suitable for family driving with the emphasis of the judging placed on the driver and groom, along with the horses’ way of going.

Private driving classes, geared toward the more experienced competitors, are open to singles, pairs or tandems and are often split into separate classes for animals below and above 13.2hh.

The light trade turnout class comprises a combination suitable for a tradesman who delivers light goods; appropriate traditional turnout is of vital importance in this class.

In the concours d’elegance, normal judging criteria do not apply as horses and carriages are not closely inspected. Here, places are awarded according to which turnout the judge deems to create the most pleasing picture from afar.