CANADIAN DRAFT HORSE FUTURITY
RULES AND REGULATIONS
This is one (1) event, consisting of three (3) equal divisions as follows: Draft Horse Classic Line Class, Draft Horse Pattern Cart Class and Draft Horse Hitch Cart Class. Points are totaled to determine a winner.
• There will be three (3) judges. A tiebreaker judge will be designated prior to the event. Judges will not confer on their placing. This year's judges are to be announced.
• This event will take place on Friday. Starting at 9 a.m. with the Draft Horse Classic Line Class. As the competitor leaves the ring they will select a number out of a hat to decide the order of go in the Draft Horse Pattern Cart Class. Make sure you know when your allocated time is and be ready at the ring.
• Following the Draft Horse Pattern Cart Class will be the Draft Horse Hitch Cart Class
• The Draft Horse Hitch Cart Class may be split if needed. A drive off may be requested in this class.
• All horses are to be shown in either work or show harness as long as it is neat and clean. No bias when being judged. However, the same harness and cart and/or fore-cart must be used in both the cart and pattern class, with the same driver. No brakes allowed.
• All drivers to show in appropriate attire.
• Use of inhumane training devices and/or equipment will not be tolerated, in the show arena or designated warm up area, and will be cause for elimination from the competition.
• Horses and equipment are subject to examination by CDHF show management and/or judges in the show arena and designated warm-up areas at all times.
• The winner of the Futurity will be the horse receiving the lowest points overall from all (3) divisions.
• All horses will be placed with the first horse getting 1 point and so on in all the classes and then the total will be calculated and the winner will have the lowest points.
• Horses will be examined walking and trotting all from the same point. Each judge will examine the horse and may ask them to be re-worked.
• Horses must show in all divisions to receive prize money or an award.
• The top ten (10) finishers of the Futurity should be available for presentation and pictures in the sale ring immediately prior to the start of the sale on Saturday.
• If less than 10 horses are entered in the futurity, purse money will be awarded to the number of horses competing. The remaining purse money will be put back into the program for the following year.
• In order to get prize money, all horses must compete in all 3 classes.
The futurity pay out is as follows:
1st - 20%
2nd - 17%
3rd - 14%
4th - 12%
5th - 10%
6th - 7%
7th - 5%
8th - 3%
9th - 3%
10th - 2%
11th - 2%
12th - 2%
13th - 1%
14th - 1%
15th - 1%
16th Place and all other competitors will receive $200 each
Notification of a futurity horse being sold should be given to the CDHF Committee ([email protected]) within 30 days prior to the sale.
DRAFT HORSE CLASSIC LINE CLASS
Emphasis to be placed on an individual that is correct in conformation and sound on all feet and legs. Balance, breed type, form to function, smoothness of body parts, eye appeal and the action of the individual all to be considered. All breeds, all sexes, to show in the same class.
DRAFT HORSE HITCH CART CLASS
Designed to show a free, easy moving individual that is relaxed, with alert ears, moving balanced with a non-intimidated, forward way of going, and bright and responsive to the driver at various gaits. All breeds, all sexes, to show in the same class. Rail work, in both directions of the ring, will consist of walking and trotting. Judging will be based on the horse's overall performance and way of going as well as its ability to hold the designated gait. Action, headset, type and eye appeal all to count. Horses may be asked to back.
DRAFT HORSE PATTERN CART CLASS
Pattern Class Judging Guidelines - Created 2023 by the Pattern Class Committee
The use of the word ‘competitor’ qualifies as the horse, participant and cart in this document.
Throughout the pattern course, consideration will be given to the fluid motion of the horse and willingness to please. These will be scored accordingly.
Any balking, confused motion, rearing, breaking stride or interruption of fluid motion will result in deductions of points.
Blatant disobedience, going off pattern, excessive abuse, horse or driver falling to the ground (driver’s foot touching, the horse’s shoulder touching), excessive use of the whip, or horse behavior considered a danger to themselves or others may result in dismissal.
Obstacles are to be judged at a two year old ability level and should showcase how well the horse is broke to harness. Speed is not the object.
Competitors might be asked to move on to the next obstacle by the judges if the judges feel sufficient attempts have been made to complete the obstacle.
All judges will judge all obstacles. All decisions are at the judge’s discretion and are final.
Each competitor is to be accompanied by a qualified handler. The handler will stand in a designated area ready to help the competitor, if the need arises.
Please see the attached map of the Futurity Pattern Class
Judging of Circle (100 available points)
● Enter ring to the right at a walk
● Start at a trot parallel to fan line
● Perform balance of the circle at a trot
● Continue on to figure eight without pause
Judging on the symmetry of the circle around the fan line, size of the circle trotted will not matter as long as the circle is symmetrical around the fan line.
● Judging of this item is complete when front feet of horse crosses the fan line (white chalk line of the fan)
Judging Figure 8 (100 available points)
● Enter between the 2 pylons to begin the figure 8 starting to the left
● Complete a circle around the left pylon then pass through between the two pylons to complete the figure eight around the right pylon
● Once the figure eight has been completed around the right pylon the competitor should come to a stop between the two pylons with the cart wheels on the chalk line
The complete figure 8 should be performed with a continuous forward motion preferably at a trot with attention paid to maintaining a symmetrical path around both pylons.
● Judging of this item is complete when the horse’s front feet pass the chalk line
Judging for Fan (100 available points)
● Competitor is to stop in the middle of the figure 8 with the cart wheels on the center line (between the two pylons)
● Fan left 90 degrees pause
● Fan right 180 degrees pause
● Fan left 90 degrees pause
While fanning one cart wheel should stay on the chalked line between the 2 pylons
Points will be deducted for each time the horse does not keep a fluid fanning motion. At the Judge’s discretion you will be judged by the severity of the break in flow of the fanning motion and the severity of the cart wheels leaving the chalk line.
● Judging of this item is complete once the horse has paused and taken its first step forward from the fan element.
Judging Wooden Bridge (100 available points)
● The competitor will begin a fluid forward motion to the wood bridge (trot or walk)
● The competitor will drive over the center of the wooden bridge.
● Both cart wheels are to cross square over the bridge (heading to the keyhole)
Judging of this item is complete once the wheels of the cart have completely exited the wooden bridge
Judging for the Keyhole (200 available points)
Keyhole judge starts judging when the wheels of the competitors cart exit the bridge
● When entering the plywood keyhole one wheel must stay on the plywood at all times. No penalty if horse walks on plywood
● Competitor enters keyhole does a 180 degree rotation and then exits
● Competitor makes a circle (up to competitor size of circle),
● Re-enters the keyhole and does 180 degree rotation in the opposite direction of their first one, then exits.
All procedures are to be done in a fluid forward motion and scored by the judge accordingly.
Judging of this item is complete when the wheels of the competitor's cart are off the plywood after the second rotation.
Judging for Parallel Rails and backing to Loading Dock Rail
Parallel Rails (100 available points)
● Competitor is to enter at a walk or trot between the rails that will be spaced evenly apart. The spacing will be the same through the entire pattern competition.
● Once the hind legs of the horse have visually cleared the “EXIT” end of the rails. (The definition of cleared will be at the Judge’s discretion).
● The competitor is to come to a complete stop and in a controlled motion back out between the rails until the front legs of the horse are clear of the “ENTRY” point of the rails.
Upon entering and exiting the rails at no time is the cart or horse to touch a rail. If the horse's leg or legs go outside either rail it will be considered off course. Points will be deducted for each time a rail is touched and also judged by the severity of the touch.
At the Judge’s discretion you will be judged on the controlled motion entering and exiting the rails.
Dock Rail (100 available points)
Once a competitor has cleared the rails it is up to them how they decide to square up to the Dock Rail.
● Once backing up to Dock Rail it is ok for the competitor to swing left / right or step forward to “square” back up with the rail. However, too many attempts to re-square up will affect your controlled motion evaluation.
● The Competitor is expected to stop with the cartwheels just touching and square with the front of the Dock Rail.
You will be judged on the controlled motion of your horse and how close and square you stop at the Dock Rail. Points will be deducted for backing over top of the rail. Touching the rail with ease is considered a correct ending of this element.
Completion of Pattern Cart Class
• Once you have stopped and paused at the Dock rail, the competitor is to exit towards the in gate by going around the backup rails at a trot, once the front legs of the horse has passed the pylon that marks the handler waiting area the Pattern Class will be considered complete and all judging will be halted.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Canadian Draft Horse Futurity Rules and Regulations, please send an email to [email protected]
Updated October 2025
