Horses
The horse or pony may be of any breed, although warmbloods are often seen at the highest levels of competition. Morgans are also popular. The horse must be responsive, have a good mind, and be reliable. If multiple horses are used, they should be of similar height, build, and movement, and preferably similar color. When using multiple horses, it is important to choose the most suitable horse as a "wheeler" or "leader". Leaders are often flashier and have greater presence than wheelers.
Ponies are popular driving animals in the UK and Welsh ponies and cobs have a special aptitude, intelligence and presence in all driving disciplines. Hackney horses and part-breds are popular, too, as their extravagant action combined with athleticism and stamina enables them to star in every phase of the competition.
Read more about this topic: Combined Driving
Famous quotes containing the word horses:
“If this bureau had a prayer for use around horse parks, it would go something like this: Lead us not among bleeding-hearts to whom horses are cute or sweet or adorable, and deliver us from horse-lovers. Amen.... With that established, let’s talk about the death of Seabiscuit the other night. It isn’t mawkish to say, there was a racehorse, a horse that gave race fans as much pleasure as any that ever lived and one that will be remembered as long and as warmly.”
—Walter Wellesley (Red)
“Perhaps you have forgotten me. Dont [sic] you remember a long black fellow who rode on horseback with you from Tremont to Springfield nearly ten years ago, swimming your horses over the Mackinaw on the trip? Well, I am that same one fellow yet.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“Listen to me. You come into this town, and you think you’re headed somewhere, don’t you? You think you’re gonna get there with a gun, but you’re not. Get me. You know why, ‘cause you got thousand dollar bills pasted right across your eyes. And someday you’re gonna stumble and fall down in the gutter, right where the horses have been standin’, right where you belong.”
—Ben Hecht (1893–1964)