Press release provided by the American Hackney Horse Society Foundation.

Lexington, KY— The American Hackney Horse Society Foundation’s (AHHSF) goal is to preserve the past, promote the future and improve the breed of the American Hackney. To help accomplish this goal, the AHHSF announces the 2009 Adult Amateur Driving Challenge to help promote the showing of five-year-old and older Hackney ponies by adult amateurs at the smaller shows in a designated area.

There are 15 competitions designated each year as qualifying shows. The committee reserves the right to change shows from year to year therefore the shows may vary each year. In 2008, the prize money paid out was $45,000. Thirty thousand dollars was divided over the 15 designated horse shows ($500 per class, paying five places). Fifteen thousand was paid out at the Finals. In addition, there was $7,500 paid to the championship incentive program.

To be eligible, the amateur must be current (paid) member of American Hackney Horse Society (AHHS). The amateur must be 18 years of age or older. The exhibitor’s residence may be from anywhere. Ponies must be registered with the AHHS or CHHS (Canada) and they must be five years of age or older (as of January 1). False representation of eligibility will results in disqualification.

To qualify to compete in the Finals, a pony must exhibit in and complete their respective classes at a minimum of five designated shows in the same section. Classes are complete when the judge’s card is turned in. The qualifying period begins the day following the Finals and ends the day before the Finals begin the following year. A pony does not need to win or place to be eligible for the Finals as long as it has fulfilled the requirements and completed the appropriate number of classes. All prize monies will be paid through the American Hackney Horse Society Foundation, Inc. There will be five places paid per class. If less than five entries compete, the prize money will be distributed on a sliding scale.


If a designated competition offers amateur classes, these become the qualifying classes; if not, then in the open classes, the highest placing amateur receives the first place program money and so on through the class results. To be a designated show, it must offer all four divisions; road pony, cob tail, pleasure pony and harness pony. The fifth division, country pleasure driving pony, is optional but strongly recommended. In the interest of safety, Adult Amateur Driving Challenge classes may be split at the competition at the competition management’s discretion if there are twelve or more entries. Both sections will be paid prize money. It is up to the discretion of the competition how entries in each section are selected.

The Finals will be at the Blue Ribbon Classic, October 9–11, 2009, in Brookville, Ohio. Entries in the Finals must enter the classes on the official horse show entry form. Rules of the horse show will apply to the Finals classes (i.e. measurement cards, amateur cards, etc.).

The classes offered at the Finals are Pleasure Pony, Roadster Pony, Harness Pony, Hackney Pony and Country Pleasure Driving. The classes for the Hackney Roadster Pony, Harness and Hackney Pony are open to mares, stallions and geldings. Classes for the Pleasure Driving and Country Pleasure Driving are limited to mares and geldings only. Headers may or may not be amateurs. Normal horse show rules apply for Pleasure Pony, Roadster Pony, Harness Pony and Hackney Pony.

The forms for verification will be available through the AHHS and on the website at www.hackneysociety.com. The forms must be completed in full and signed by the participant and the designated show secretary. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to forward the form to Ms. Jay Kennedy at 7409 W. Bethel Ave, Muncie, IN 47304 for tabulation. The forms can also be faxed to 765-759-9601.

New for 2009 is the Single Hackney or Harness Pony Country Pleasure Driving Amateur and the rules are as follows:
- Open to registered Hackney ponies 14.2 hands and under; amateurs only. Open to mares and geldings only. Long tails and cobtails will be shown together unless management deems they have enough entries to offer two divisions. Switches and artificial tails may be added. One attendant without a whip is permitted to head each pony only during the lineup. The header may stand the entry on its feet and then must stand three paces back from the pony and is not allowed to touch the pony except for safety purposes. It is imperative that ponies stand quietly, back readily and return to the line up.

- Appointments include appropriate harness black or russet with low crupper, sidecheck or overcheck, square or round blinkers, snaffle straight or jointed. A martingale is optional, checkbit mandatory, braids are not permitted. The pony must be shown to an appropriate vehicle either a two wheeled basket type jog cart or road bike with basket.

- The ponies shall remain checked in the lineup and may not be adjusted, unless an additional workout is called, at which time, ponies remaining in the lineup may be unchecked.

- They are to be shown at a flat walk, pleasure trot, and road trot showing a distinct difference in gait. Excessive speed and extreme and/or laboring motion to be strongly penalized. Judge's emphasis should be on ability to give a pleasurable drive while retaining a show attitude. To be judged on manners, suitability, performance and conformation.

- Ponies cannot cross enter in any other Hackney classes, except for Hackney Carriage Class if offered at the same competition. The use of artificial appliances or devices, such as chains, shackles, or rubber bands are prohibited on the grounds before or during the competition.

- Single Hackney Harness Country Pleasure Driving Championship: to be eligible, ponies must be entered, shown and judged in a qualifying class with the same specifications. To be judged on manners, suitability, performance, quality and conformation.

- Shoeing: In the Country Pleasure Driving classes, the ponies may be shown with or without rim pads. A rim pad must follow the inner and outer edge of the shoe, and the connection at the heel must not be wider than the aspect of the shoe.

These Country Pleasure Driving rules apply to the Adult Amateur Driving Challenge program until the United States Equestrian Federation approves this division. At such time, the USEF rules will take precedence.

For more information, forms and 2009 Qualifying Competitions for the AHHS Foundation Adult Amateur Pony Driving Challenge, please go to www.hackneysociety.com or contact Ms. Jay Kennedy, Adult Amateur Pony Driving Challenge Chairman, at (765) 759-9601.

The following is a listing of the 2009 Foundation Horse Shows:
April 22-25, 2009
River Ridge Charity Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Ohio Expo Center
Columbus, OH
Contact Info:
Barbara Dunham
15503 US 23, Lucasville, OH 45648
Tel. (740) 352-4239, Cell (740) 352-8562, Email: [email protected]

May 8-10, 2009
Hearthland Classic Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Champions Center
Springfield, OH
Contact Info:
Judy M. Peters, 3982 Powell, Rd. PMB#201, Powell, OH 43065
Tel. (614) 402-1260, Email: [email protected]

June 3-6, 2009
Indianapolis Charity Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Pepsi Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds
Indianapolis, IN
Contact Info:
Phyllis Harris, 7132 N. Lyndhurst Crossing, McCordsville, IN 46055
Tel. (317) 369-7569, Email: [email protected]

June 6-7, 2009
Delaware Riding Club Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Delaware County Fairgrounds
Delaware, OH
Contact Info:
Barbara Dunham, 15503 US 23, Lucasville, OH 45648
Tel. (740) 352-4239, Cell (740)352-8562, Email: [email protected]

June 11-13, 2009
Brown County Charity Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Brown County Fairgrounds
Georgetown, OH
Contact Info:
Jenny Morgan, 318 Blair Rd, Georgetown, OH 45121
Tel. (937) 378-6532

June 19-21, 2009
Michigan Hackney & Shetland Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Centerville Fairgrounds
Centerville, MI
Judge: Pat Sanders, IL
Contact Info:
Jr. Schut, 6108 64th Ave, Hudsonville, MI 49426
Tel. (616) 875-7151

July 2-4, 2009
Twin Rivers Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Ohio Expo Center
Columbus, OH
Contact Info:
Judy M. Peters, 3982 Powell, Rd. PMB#201, Powell, OH 43065
Tel. (614) 402-1260, Email: [email protected]

July 4, 2009
Western Ohio Pony Breeders Show (50th Anniversary Show)
Country Pleasure Driving
Preble County Fairgrounds
Eaton, OH
Contact Info:
Nancy M. Bedinghaus, 1483 Morman Rd., Hamilton, OH 45013
Tel. (513) 896-9825, Email: [email protected]

July 10-12, 2009
New Castle Indiana Celebration
Country Pleasure Driving & Championship
Henry County Saddle Club
New Castle, IN
For Hackney Info:
Steve Kildow, Tel. (765) 620-5779

July 21-25, 2009
Ohio State Fair Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Ohio Expo Center
Columbus, OH
Contact Info:
Judy M. Peters, 3982 Powell, Rd. PMB#201, Powell, OH 43065
Tel. (614)402-1260, Email: [email protected]

July 29-August 1, 2009
Dayton Horse Show
Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Dayton, OH
Contact Info:
Evette Moody, 1149 Westridge Rd., Dayton, OH 45459
Tel. (937) 623-7934

August 7-9, 2009
Lake County Fair, All-Breed Classic
Lake County Fairgrounds
Crown Point, IN
Contact Info:
Eileen M. Wayte (Superintendent/Secretary)
6103 Minnesota St., Hobart, IN 46342
Tel. (219) 947-9852, Cell (219) 512-5286, Email: [email protected]

September 4-6, 2009
The Buckeye Fall Classic
Country Pleasure Driving
Franklin County Fairgrounds
Hilliard, OH
Contact Info:
Judy M. Peters, 3982 Powell, Rd. PMB#201, Powell, OH 43065
Tel. (614) 402-1260, Email: [email protected]

October 1-3, 2009
Brown County Fair & Horse Show
Country Pleasure Driving
Brown County Fairgrounds
Georgetown, OH
Contact Info:
Juanita Barricklow, (937) 623-7934

October 9-11
The Blue Ribbon Classic Finals
Country Pleasure Driving
Brookville, OH
Contact Info:
Evette Moody, 1149 Westridge Rd., Dayton, OH 45459
Tel. (937) 623-7934