A Current Olympic Sport You Probably Never Heard Of: Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an olympic event It is one of the most challenging and demanding competitions...

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an olympic event It is one of the most challenging and demanding competitions involving people and equines. The sport involves a single driver and any size equine from minis, ponies, horses and drafts. The number of equines range from singles to pairs and four-in-hand. Both drivers and equines are rated as training level, preliminary, intermediate and advanced. Competitive classes are structured by number of equines and the driver/equine rating.

Combined driving is composed of three separate competitions over one or more days. The competitions are dressage, cones competition and marathon. Dressage is the foundation competition (skills carry over to the other events) that involves driver/equine(s) following a specific course with varying gaits and transitions. The dressage competition displays elegance, discipline, collection, impulsion and athleticism of the equine and driver dancing together. Drivers are expected to dress appropriate to their style of carriage and involves not only coats and hats but also includes gloves, aprons and whips. The same is true for cones competition. Different dress and carriages may be used in marathon.

The cones competition involves driver/equines driving through a specific length course with 20 gates in the proper order and direction. A gate consists of two cones a specific distance apart with a tennis ball on top of each. The distance between the cones is adjusted between each competitor depending on their rating and the width of their carriage axles. The course must be completed in less than a preset time based on equine size and rating. Points are deducted by the number of balls knocked down. Cones requires a combination of boldness, agility and precision.

Lastly, the marathon, actually 7 to 18 km, depending on driver/equine rating and equine size, is a cross country test that must be completed in less than a specified time like cones. In addition there are 5 to 7 hazards spaced relatively evenly through the course. A hazard consists of 4 to 7 gates which must be driven in the proper sequence and direction in as fast as time as possible. Gates are usually immovable objects which will withstand collisions with carriages (carriages not so much). Marathon tests the mettle of driver/equine in control of paces, speeds, agility, obedience and endurance.

And yes, mules and asses can and do compete. At the olympic level the competition involves only full-sized horses four-in-hand.

Dressage with four-in-hand Dutch Harness horses and formal carriage

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Dressage with Morgan horse and basic carriage

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Cones with formal carriage and Dutch Harness horses. Note that driver/groom dress appropriate for carriage style. A groom is required for each pair of horses

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Cones with basic marathon carriage and Arab horse

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A mini horse & carriage between gates in a fence rail hazard.

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A pair of Halflinger-Dutch Harness crosses passing thru gate in fence rail / tree hazard. Yes they made it thru unscathed.

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Dutch Harness four-in-hand passing through gate in fence rail / cord wood hazard.

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An Arab with basic marathon carriage about to pass thru D gate in water hazard. Grooms play a key role as navigators during the marathon.

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Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Reuss Griffiths wrote:

Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an olympic event It is one of the most challenging and demanding competitions involving people and equines. The sport involves a single driver and any size equine from minis, ponies, horses and drafts. The number of equines range from singles to pairs and four-in-hand. Both drivers and equines are rated as training level, preliminary, intermediate and advanced. Competitive classes are structured by number of equines and the driver/equine rating.

Combined driving is composed of three separate competitions over one or more days. The competitions are dressage, cones competition and marathon. Dressage is the foundation competition (skills carry over to the other events) that involves driver/equine(s) following a specific course with varying gaits and transitions. The dressage competition displays elegance, discipline, collection, impulsion and athleticism of the equine and driver dancing together. Drivers are expected to dress appropriate to their style of carriage and involves not only coats and hats but also includes gloves, aprons and whips. The same is true for cones competition. Different dress and carriages may be used in marathon.

The cones competition involves driver/equines driving through a specific length course with 20 gates in the proper order and direction. A gate consists of two cones a specific distance apart with a tennis ball on top of each. The distance between the cones is adjusted between each competitor depending on their rating and the width of their carriage axles. The course must be completed in less than a preset time based on equine size and rating. Points are deducted by the number of balls knocked down. Cones requires a combination of boldness, agility and precision.

Lastly, the marathon, actually 7 to 18 km, depending on driver/equine rating and equine size, is a cross country test that must be completed in less than a specified time like cones. In addition there are 5 to 7 hazards spaced relatively evenly through the course. A hazard consists of 4 to 7 gates which must be driven in the proper sequence and direction in as fast as time as possible. Gates are usually immovable objects which will withstand collisions with carriages (carriages not so much). Marathon tests the mettle of driver/equine in control of paces, speeds, agility, obedience and endurance.

And yes, mules and asses can and do compete. At the olympic level the competition involves only full-sized horses four-in-hand.

Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an ... (show quote)

This is really impressive work.I love all of your images and the history behind it. Where did these events occurr ? The horses and carriages are beautifully designed and some of those hazzards are truly-potentially-so ! Wow NELLY ! I really enjoued this posting a lot. Thank you.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good series, Reuss.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Earnest Botello wrote:

Very good series, Reuss.

Magnificent series, never knew this sport (?) existed or heard of it before. Where is it popular in the U.S. and thanks for sharing!!

Alans844

Loved the series. Loved the story. The images are fantastic. The composition and aspect are are special. Great work.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Excellent photos, very interesting article. Do have a soft spot for Morgans, but haven't met many horses I didn't like! Thanks!

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

This is really impressive work.I love all of your ... (show quote)

Blair, Glad you liked the posting. These images were from CDEs in Ohio primarily with others from Michigan and Delaware. You can go to the American Driving Society website and perhaps find CDEs in your area. In most cases, admission is free to the general public. There are also CDEs in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana that I'm aware of. It's a growing sport and there lots of variations of this poping up all across the country.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Earnest Botello wrote:

Very good series, Reuss.

Earnest, Glad you enjoyed these images. It was a lot of fun making them.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

jederick wrote:

Magnificent series, never knew this sport (?) existed or heard of it before. Where is it popular in the U.S. and thanks for sharing!!

The sport originated in the UK in the 70's with Prince Phillip being the driving (pun intended) force behind it. It's spreading rapidily across the US with events on both coasts, the midwest and southeast. Probably other places as well. Check the American Drving Society for mor info. Glad you like it.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Alans844 wrote:

Loved the series. Loved the story. The images are fantastic. The composition and aspect are are special. Great work.

Alans844, Glad you liked it. A good friend of mine started the first CDE in Ohio about 15 years ago. I helped him with setting up the event, course layouts, hazard construction, gating and marking courses (lots of work) and then made a few bucks on the side selling images to competitors.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

quixdraw wrote:

Excellent photos, very interesting article. Do have a soft spot for Morgans, but haven't met many horses I didn't like! Thanks!

Thanks for coismmenting and glad you liked it. These events are a great place to see not-too-common horse breeds. Dutch Harness horses are used a lot as are Halflingers but Morgans and Arabs are always present because of their general overall athleticism and endurance. But I've seen people compete with Fresians, Andalusions, Gypsy Vanners, Fjords and now a lot of crosses to produce sport horses.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Wonderful post. Thoroughly enjoyed the photos and information.

BB4A

Reuss Griffiths wrote:

Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an olympic event It is one of the most challenging and demanding competitions involving people and equines. The sport involves a single driver and any size equine from minis, ponies, horses and drafts. The number of equines range from singles to pairs and four-in-hand. Both drivers and equines are rated as training level, preliminary, intermediate and advanced. Competitive classes are structured by number of equines and the driver/equine rating.

Combined driving is composed of three separate competitions over one or more days. The competitions are dressage, cones competition and marathon. Dressage is the foundation competition (skills carry over to the other events) that involves driver/equine(s) following a specific course with varying gaits and transitions. The dressage competition displays elegance, discipline, collection, impulsion and athleticism of the equine and driver dancing together. Drivers are expected to dress appropriate to their style of carriage and involves not only coats and hats but also includes gloves, aprons and whips. The same is true for cones competition. Different dress and carriages may be used in marathon.

The cones competition involves driver/equines driving through a specific length course with 20 gates in the proper order and direction. A gate consists of two cones a specific distance apart with a tennis ball on top of each. The distance between the cones is adjusted between each competitor depending on their rating and the width of their carriage axles. The course must be completed in less than a preset time based on equine size and rating. Points are deducted by the number of balls knocked down. Cones requires a combination of boldness, agility and precision.

Lastly, the marathon, actually 7 to 18 km, depending on driver/equine rating and equine size, is a cross country test that must be completed in less than a specified time like cones. In addition there are 5 to 7 hazards spaced relatively evenly through the course. A hazard consists of 4 to 7 gates which must be driven in the proper sequence and direction in as fast as time as possible. Gates are usually immovable objects which will withstand collisions with carriages (carriages not so much). Marathon tests the mettle of driver/equine in control of paces, speeds, agility, obedience and endurance.

And yes, mules and asses can and do compete. At the olympic level the competition involves only full-sized horses four-in-hand.

Combined Driving is a relatively new sport and an ... (show quote)

Prince Phil was one of the early stars of carriage driving; he took it up when he turned 50 and decided he was then too old for polo: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4494218/Prince-Philip-started-carriage-racing-50.html

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting!

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

NMGal wrote:

Wonderful post. Thoroughly enjoyed the photos and information.

Thanks NMGal, It's always a warm fuzzy when someone likes your work. It was a real hoot taking them too.