Pleasure Driving Achievement Awards

The American Driving Society’s Pleasure Driving Committee is pleased to announce the implementation of the ADS Pleasure Driving Achievement Awards Program recognizing skilled driver performance milestones in pleasure showing.

There are two categories for pleasure show performance: the Reinsmanship Class Award and the Working Class Award. After winning five Reinsmanship classes (our ‘equitation’ classes) or five Working classes at any number of recognized American Driving Society Pleasure Shows, the driver sends their fully completed Pleasure Driving Achievement Recording Form for verification to the American Driving Society. This is a lifetime achievement award with no limit on how many shows or how much time it takes to win these classes. For either award, a driver may drive different equines. Upon verification by the ADS of the submitted information, for this level of achievement, the driver will receive a recognition certificate from the ADS. The driver’s name will also be listed in The Whip and published on the ADS Web site.

Following the same submission process, the next level of achievement for each award is reached when a total of ten classes have been won (i.e. the first 5 already recognized plus five more). These need to be all Reinsmanship or all Working classes. For this level of achievement, the driver will receive a specially designed commemorative medal or pin, with additional publication of their new achievement in The Whip and on the ADS web site.
The highest level of award will be winning a total of twenty or more Reinsmanship or Working classes. The driver will be awarded a custom tailored driving apron, designed and sewn by Kathleen Conklin, embroidered with the ADS logo, as well as publication of their new achievement in The Whip and on the ADS web site.

Consistent performance excellence in Reinsmanship and the ability to produce winning performances in Working classes deserves recognition from the driving community. Only Reinsmanship and Working classes are included because they are the most basic Pleasure Show classes offered in shows recognized by the ADS. Had obstacle, marathon and miscellaneous classes been included, these milestones could have been attained in far fewer shows, but wins in these ‘clean and fast’ classes do not always go to the most classically correct driver and animal.

This program is based on a very successful program used by the USEA (United States Eventing Association)