Classic Cart Series

History

The Classic Cart Division was established in 2014, becoming the first additional division introduced to the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series. Created to provide opportunities for individual exhibitors and draft horse enthusiasts to showcase a single horse, the division also brought added excitement and participation to the championship atmosphere.

The inaugural Classic Cart Finals were held at the Oklahoma State Fair, with the first several years of the program culminating alongside the Six-Horse Hitch Finals. As interest and participation continued to grow, the series evolved from a single national championship format to a Regional Finals structure, offering exhibitors the opportunity to compete closer to home through one of three Regional Championship events.

This division was also implemented as a way to increase premium money for the coveted cart class and each class must pay out a minimum of $1,000.

In recent years, the Classic Cart Series has expanded to its largest reach yet, featuring a Regional Classic Cart Finals World Finals championship.

About

The Classic Cart Division showcases the artistry and tradition of draft horse driving, where the connection between horse and driver takes center stage. Horses are judged on conformation, quality, movement, manners, and performance, while drivers are evaluated on skill, presentation, and their ability to bring out the best in their horse.

Membership

Membership in the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series may be held by any individual, firm, or partnership, who is interested in the promotion of the draft horse and the competitive showing of draft horses.

1. Annual dues of fifty dollars ($50.00), in addition to the General Membership dues, are required to compete in the Classic Cart Series Division of the NASHHCS.
2. Said dues must be paid prior to competing in any Classic Cart class.

Rules

1. All exhibitors in a Classic Cart class or classes must have a Classic Cart membership prior to competing in the class.
2. A single member number allows the member to accumulate points from only one (1) Classic Cart entry.
3. Additional Classic Cart entries require an additional General Membership as well as a Classic Cart membership.
4. The class must be placed from top to bottom in its entirety. The Classic Cart class must pay out a minimum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per class, regardless of the total number of entries.
5. Shows are allowed to host more than one Classic Cart class.
6. Classic Cart classes must be open to all breeds and genders of horses and drivers.
7. World and/or breed-specific shows are ineligible to host a Classic Cart class.
8. Shows must accept entries from all Classic Cart members and place the class in its entirety, assigning a placing to each entry.
9. Only one set of points will be awarded to each Classic Cart class.
10. The Classic Cart will run concurrently with the NASHHCS points year beginning the day after Labor Day and concluding on Labor Day of the following year.

Show Rules

1. The show must register with the NASHHCS and follow the Qualifying Show guidelines.
2. Any exhibitor showing in a NASHHCS Classic Cart class must be a paid member of NASHHCS. It is the responsibility of the respective shows to verify said membership.
3. A Classic Cart qualifying show does not have to offer a Six-Horse Hitch, Classic Halter, Classic Riding or Youth Cart in conjunction with the Classic Cart class.
4. The show must offer a class open to all heavy draft breeds (no light drafts) and genders of horses.
5. The show must pay a guaranteed minimum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) total payout for the class.
6. The show must accept all entries from Classic Cart members and place the Classic Cart class in its entirety.
7. Only one set of points will be awarded to each Classic Cart class.
8. At the completion of the show, the show must submit the results online through the NASHHCS website, listing the placing of every cart in the class by its hitch, farm, or membership name or number and the premium money paid to each hitch in the class.
9. Submit results within 10 days of the conclusion of the show.
10. The Classic Cart Division will follow the same competition season as all other divisions of NASHHCS, ending Labor Day.

Regional Finals

Requirement to compete in the Regional Classic Cart Series Finals:

1. Must be a current paid member in good standing of the NASHHCS.
2. Must be in the top 10 (ten) of your predetermined region to compete in the Regional Cart Championships.

• Eastern Region: Eastern States Expo, West Springfield, Massachusetts 2025-2026 Season
• Eastern Region: Eastern States Expo, West Springfield, Massachusetts 2026-2027 Season
• Central Region: 2026-2027 Season to be announced
• West Region: Western States Classic, 2025-2026 Season
• West Region: Western States Classic, 2026-2027 Season

See Classic Cart Regional Finals for the finals rules and the host venue for each region.

World Finals Participation

1. Be a current paid member of the NASHHCS.
2. Must be in the top 12 (twelve) in total points within the Classic Cart Division to compete in the Classic Series Finals.
3. The NASHHCS may reduce the number of qualifiers eligible to compete at the Classic Series Finals based on the available stall space at the venue hosting the Finals.
4. A Classic Cart qualifier must either accept or decline the Classic Series Finals invitation within 72 hours of direct contact by the Board of Directors. In the event a qualifier declines to attend, the next-highest point earner will be invited, and so on, with the goal of having twelve (12) qualifiers participate in the Finals.