Combined driving is designed to test a Driver's ability as well as the horse's obedience, speed and athleticism, in three demanding phases with a carriage in tow: Driven Dressage, Marathon, and Cones. The sport, conceptualized by the late Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, is modeled after the mounted equestrian discipline of three-day eventing or the human equivalent of a triathlon.
Competitors can drive a turnout of horses or ponies in a single, a pair, or a team of four. The Driver and pony/horse combination will accumulate penalty points throughout each phase of competition; the competitor with the fewest overall penalty points will place first. Accuracy, speed, and endurance are all a necessary part of this exhilarating sport!
The driven dressage phase tests the Driver and their equine on harmony, impulsion, ease of movement, and suppleness through a sequence of scored movements in an arena. The second phase is the fast-paced and demanding cross-country marathon, which tests fitness, stamina, and agility. Along with a driver’s accuracy and judgment, the combination will navigate an intricate series of hazards which may include water, steep hills, and sharp turns - all within the fastest time possible. The final phase, a cones course, times the competitor as they accurately negotiate an intricate, winding course of narrowly-set cones without knocking them with the carriage wheels.
