Every year, on Ascension Day, the horse-driving tour takes place in the Alblasserwaard region. The equipment, the whole of carriage or coach with horse, tack and clothing, can be antique or contemporary. Everyone who owns the equipment can join. The horses and ponies must be trained to ride in harness and the driver must have a driving proficiency certificate. The tour is around 18 miles long and passes the Lower-Merwede river or the Noord and the Lek, and returns alongside the small bog river the Alblas. The start and the end of the tour is the riding-stable Alblasserdam or the Beyaert Riding Society. On the very day the participants come to the harnessing location with horse trailers, cattle trucks and other trailers. There the horses are harnessed and around 10.30 PM the procession of twenty to thirty harnessings takes off. After an hour a coffeestop is made, during which the drivers can chat with the public that has been informed through social media and local weekly magazines. Subsequently the tour goes on and at 1 PM there is a stop for a picnic. The public can comment on the carriages and the harnessing again with the drivers and the other participants. During lunch the horses get water to drink and a carrot. There is a farrier in case loose horseshoes need to be secured. After lunch the tour is continued with one more stop to go, to finally return to the starting point for unhitching. At the end of the tour a prizes are awarded for the most beautiful equipment and the best picnic.
