Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

Weirsdale. Think Ocala then go southwest about 20 miles.

Geegnome

#6... WOW! What a great shot.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Very nicely captured action shots.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Very interesting and extremely impressive action shots Great color as well

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Another nice set of images Howard. I'm assuming that these were taken at the Grand Oaks CDE in Florida. Several of your viewers asked where they could find events like these. CDE's and related events are held all over the country, the southeast states, east coast states, midwest states and the pacific coast particularly California. If they google the American Driving Society and then click on Omnibus, it will lead to a calendar of these events all over the country withe when and where these events are held. Attendance is generally free for the most part and are usually 2-3 day events with the marathon (most exciting) typically on the last day.

Some people have asked about the extra people on the carriages. Drivers can have an additional person on board as a navigator to help find their way around the marathon course. VSE (very small equines - miniature horses) may be an exception. In addition to that, all carriages must have to have a groom for every two horses in the hitch for safety purposes. Should anything happen which requires the driver to stop and dismount, the groom's job is to hold the horses to maintain control when the reins are not in use. On board the carriage they assist in balancing on turns and also as navigators.

It may not be obvious to the viewer but the object in marathon hazards is to pass thru from 4 to 7 gates (depending on level of competition) in the proper order and direction as fast as possible. Gates are marked A thru D..E...The letters marking the gates are shown in red (right side) and white (left side). You may not pass thru a higher number gate before passing correctly thru the lower number gates. To pass thru gates in the wrong order or direction would disqualify the driver from the entire marathon. Course designers setup the gates in these hazards to require some rather circuitous routes. Drivers and navigators may walk the hazards prior to competition to decide the fastest route thru the hazard. Not everyone agrees on the fastest route. Some horses corner better in one direction versus the other. The job of the navigator is to make sure his driver knows in real time where he's going and which way to turn.

Lastly, you're right, in most equine events, men and women compete together equally separated only by ratings which are earned.

These are great spectator events and great photo opportunities without large crowds to get in the way.