The Sport of Combined Driving and Combined Driving Events
Combined Driving is a sport which tests the Horses versatility, mental stability, and physical endurance. The Driver (referred to as "the Whip") is tested for mental agility, driving accuracy and talent. Combined Driving is modeled on Three Day Eventing. There are three phases completed over three days. In some competitions where time or size of the venue is an issue, there can be a modified version done within Two days, with 2 phases done on the first day. A One day competition is called a Driving Trial, and is severely modified, usually with only 2 phases on one day with the phases being very limited as well. Here is an explanation of the 3 phases, usually completed over 3 days, and is called a Combined Driving Event, referred to as a C.D.E.
The First Day is Driven Dressage, where the driver and horse are tested in a series of technical movements performed in a dressage ring with letters along the edges of the ring. The Second Day is the Marathon Phase. A long distance drive is the first section, which has a ten minute Walk Section at it's end. After the Walk Section, there is a rest period, and then on to the Hazards Section. Hazards are like puzzles, man made or natural, with a series of gates that must be completed quickly, and in order. There can be as many as eight hazards, with up to six gates in each. The Third Day is the Obstacle phase, made up of pairs of cones (similar to Road Cones)and therefore is named Cones Day, the Cones phase. There can be up to 20 pairs of cones, set at many different angles, and can involve water obstacles, bridges, or raised elements. These pairs are numbered, and must be gone through in order, and completed in an exact time. Small balls are atop all these cones, so penalties are awarded when a cone is hit which dislodges a ball, or when the time is exceeded.
The C.D.E. is organized with Levels(as in Levels of Difficulty) with the first level being the least complicated, Training Level. Most of the competitors drive in this level. The second Level is Preliminary. Preliminary asks more finesse from the driver and the horse. The next level up is Intermediate. Again, the level of difficulty for both horse and driver is raised up. The highest level, and our only level that can complete Internationally. is Advanced. These drivers have the highest amount of movements in Dressage, the longest Marathon, and shortest time to complete the Cones course. Drivers are not only divided by category as to Level, but also by the amount of horses driven to the carriage, and in what configuration they are attached. So the categories would be, in Training Level as an example, Training Level Single Horse, Training Level Pair (2 horses driven side by side), Training Level Tandem (2 horses driven one in front of the other), Training Level Four in Hand ( a team of four horses-one pair in front of the other). The Winner of the show would be the driver with the lowest amount of pints accumulated over the 3 days, or Three Phases. You may win in your category, but the Winner of the show is the overall Winner.
Driven Dressage. As in ridden dressage, Driven Dressage involves a sequence of movements, the higher the level, the greater number of movements, and the more difficult the movements. These prescribed movements are written up in a series of numbered Tests, which the whip must commit to memory, and then require the horse to execute as expertly as possible. All competitors are not judged against one another, but are compared to an exacting standard of excellence, an ideal against which their performance is judged. When an error of movement occurs, they are penalized by being awarded points. The more points you accumulate, the higher your score, the Lower you are in the standings. If a Whip is given a score in the 30's or 40's, that is the better score than someone with a score in the 60's or 70's. In other words, if there are ten movements for example, with 10 points for each movement, and you get a perfect score (basically unattainable!) then you would incur no penalties and would get a perfect score of "0".
Marathon Marathon day is similar to a Cross Country course, but with obstacles in the last part of the course.
Questions? Email us at: info@combineddriving.com
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