Combined Driving is designed to test the versatility of the horse and driver. It is a three phase test (A1-Presentation, A2-Dressage; B-Marathon; and C-Cones), with each phase of the competition looking for a different aspect of the horses training and the driver's ability to work the horse.

A1 - PRESENTATION

Judged on the appearance of the driver and grooms and the cleanliness, fitness, matching, and condition of the horses or ponies, harness, and vehicle. Entries will be judged at the halt. It will include a safety check and check of spares.

A2 - DRESSAGE TEST

The test must be executed from memory, with penalties for any error. Judged on the freedom, regularity of paces, harmony, lightness, ease of movement, impulsion, and the correct positioning of the horse or pony on the move. The competitor will also be judged on his style of driving accuracy and general command of his animal(s).

PACES & MOVEMENTS IN DRIVING DRESSAGE

• THE HALT:At the halt, the horses should stand attentively, motionless, and straight, with the weight evenly distributed over all four legs; and be ready to move off at the slightest indication of the competitor.
  
  
• THE WALK: A free, regular, and unconstrained walk of moderate extension is required. The horses should walk energetically but calmly, with even and determined steps.
  
  
• THE WORKING TROT: This is a pace between the extended and the collected trot and is more rounded than the extended trot. The horses go forward freely and straight, engaging the hind legs with good hock action, on a taut but light rein, the position being balanced and unconstrained. The steps should be as even as possible, hind feet precisely following the tracks of the forefeet. The degree of energy and impulsion displayed at the working trot denotes clearly the degree of suppleness and balance of the horses.
  
  
• THE COLLECTED TROT: The neck is raised, thus enabling the shoulders to move with greater ease in all directions, the hocks being well engaged and maintaining energetic impulsion, despite the slower movement. The horses' steps are shorter, but they are lighter and more mobile.
  
  
• THE EXTENDED TROT: Horses cover as much ground as possible. They lengthen their stride, remaining on the bit with light contact. As a result of great impulsion from the quarters, the horses use their shoulders, covering more ground at each step without their action becoming higher.
  
  
• THE REIN BACK: The rein back is a kind of walk backwards, the legs being raised and set down simultaneously by diagonal pairs, the hind legs remaining well in line and the legs being well raised.
  
  
• THE TRANSITIONS: The changes of pace and speed should always be made quickly, be smooth, and not be abrupt. The cadence of a pace should be maintained up to the moment when the pace is changed or the horses halt. The horses remain light in hand, calm, and maintained in a correct position.

B - MARATHON

The three sections of the 10-16 kilometre marathon test the driver's judgment of pace as well as the stamina of the horse(s). The key to the marathon is pace, not race. Using only kilometre markers on course, a stopwatch, and the cadence of the horse's walk or trot, the driver must complete the pre-measured distances within a precisely measured period of time. Penalty points are scored for being off the optimum time, and drivers must be careful to pass through all the marked gates on the course or risk elimination. In addition, each section of the course must be driven at a specific gait (walk or trot). Any break in gait longer than 5 seconds is penalized.

When you see the drivers coming through the obstacles on the marathon, you may think that a combined driving marathon is only a test of power and speed, but it is much more than that. It is months of training - building up stamina to handle the cross country course which leads to the obstacles. It is also the trust which must be built up between drivers and their horses. The horses must be willing to go wherever the driver directs them and to trust he will guide them through safely. At the same time, the driver must believe his horses will do what he tells them - when he tells them to do it.

It is both instinct and trained judgment that tells a driver how to handle a marathon course. Unlike dressage, which is made up of set figures, the marathon presents a string of problems to be solved. Each marathon is different and presents new challenges to the horse and driver. This is where the "homework" of driving for miles and miles on roads and trails pays off. The base of training and trust developed through the work helps the whip to make split second decisions throughout the course.

B - Marathon, Section E

In the final section, Section "E", an extra effort is demanded of already tired horses and drivers. Using natural or man-made obstacles, the course designer adds "Obstacles" to the course which test the horse's agility, strength, courage, and obedience as well as the skill and judgment of the whip. Obstacles consist of a series of lettered gates which must be driven in order. Each obstacle presents a totally different problem. Some ask the horse to negotiate water crossings, tight twists through trees or even the visual problems created by lines and lines of fences or pens with narrow openings. Drivers must find the fastest route through each obstacle since their score is based on how long they spend in the "obstacle zone".

Scoring is again based on the penalty system, with drivers receiving points for coming in too fast or too late. The time spent in each obstacle is also awarded penalty points. This means that even if the driver comes in perfectly on time, penalty points will be still be given for the time spent in the obstacle.

C - CONES

Drivers negotiate through a series of narrowly spaced pairs of traffic-type cones set in matched pairs. Right angle or U turns, made of raised rails, and a wooden bridge that rumbles as the carriages go across are all part of the challenge. Each cone is topped by a weighted ball which will fall off if the cone is displaced. A 5-point penalty is given for each cone knocked down or displaced. Additional penalties may be assessed for spending too long on course, for refusing to go through an obstacle, or for circling before going through an obstacle.

Since drivers go in reversed order of standing, tension builds with each round driven. While this allows the top placing whips to know how the competition has fared before they drive themselves, they must also drive under pressure of knowing that the difference between first and fourth place is often less than the penalties for one cone down.