What is carriage driving?

Riding like a professional means having enough time to really look after your horse or horses and to take up several activities with them. Among these activities, carriage driving is one of the important disciplines a horse can be introduced to in order to develop a wide range of skills. So what exactly is carriage driving?

What does carriage driving involve?

Carriage driving is a discipline in which a carriage is hitched behind one or more ponies or horses. The discipline is made up of different phases, including dressage, the marathon and cones… These are tests designed to assess the competence and skill of the driver, while also testing the fitness, obedience, honesty and suppleness of the ponies or horses.

One of the particular features of carriage driving is that it can be practised as a group, with friends or as a family. One or more grooms can therefore be on the carriage alongside the driver.

How is carriage driving practised?

It is worth knowing that carriage driving is competed with 1, 2 or 4 horses or ponies. The most common format is driving with 4 horses, which is also seen at the World Equestrian Games every four years. Carriage driving is made up of several main phases.

Dressage

Dressage is a sequence of set movements that must be performed from memory. Several aspects are assessed by the judges, including the turnout of the carriage, the accuracy of the movements and the horses' paces. For good dressage, it helps to have the best equipment. La Sellerie Française is the place to go.

The marathon

The second phase in carriage driving is the marathon. This is a course across varied terrain during which the turnouts tackle a series of technical difficulties known as "obstacles". These obstacles are made up of narrow, winding passages marked out by posts, as well as natural features such as water crossings, slopes and banks. The marathon is a phase that remains quite spectacular.

Cones

The cones phase is scored on penalties and is driven at a pace of the competitor's choosing. It consists of a series of gates marked out by cones, referred to as obstacles, which must be driven through in numerical order. When the turnout lacks accuracy, balls placed on top of the cones fall and incur penalties.

Skill tests

Skill tests are a way of starting out in carriage driving through fun exercises. Here the driver has to show accuracy in order to negotiate and complete the various tasks. The groom has to collect rings with a sword and drop balls into barrels.

Combined dressage

Combined dressage is a test that combines a cones course with set dressage movements. The movements are assessed by judges.

Combined cones

Combined cones is a test that combines a cones course with marathon obstacles. It involves the driver, horses and grooms, and is the best way for them to prepare for taking part in a full-scale marathon in the future.