The sport of carriage driving really came into its own in 1969, when the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) published the first set of international rules for driving competitions. Although the rules underwent some changes over the years, the basics have remained the same. Carriage driving competitions are based on a similar structure to eventing, with three parts to the competition: Dressage, marathon and cones.

Each one of these consists of various sections. The marathon, for example, consists of section A, which is roads and tracks (up to 8 km), section B, a compulsory walk section of around 1,2km, and section C which is a fast trot of around 3,5km. Section D entails a second walk section of around 1,2 km, and section E is the hazard section. The hazard section is around 8 km in length, including about eight hazards.

Each of these sections has a nominated speed, and the participants need to keep within a prescribed window of time. Going slower or faster than that window, would incur the competitor time penalties. The fast trot section could have a prescribed speed of up to 18 km per hour, depending on the conditions.

Carriages in South Africa

In international competitions, there is a vet check after section D and before the carriage departs on the hazards section.

"Being a relatively minority sport in South Africa," says well-known international competitor, trainer and carriage designer, Rodney Forster of Kyalami, "finding enough officials for our competitions is always a battle. You need enough time-keepers and people to make sure that competitors follow the correct route through the flags."

It is also a very difficult competition to organise – all the scheduling and planning – and to get permission from land owners to go across properties. So, around the world there are shorter versions of the competition for local shows.

"In South Africa we often present one- or two-stage marathons, only with roads and tracks, and the hazards section, with a ten minute resting period and a veterinary check in-between."

In the international rules you can also have two types of carriages in a competition: A show type, more elegant carriage for the dressage section, and then a special marathon carriage, complete with high-tech brakes and such. In South Africa, however, the rules state that one may only compete in one carriage for all the sections. There is also a set of rules to protect horses from exploitation and cruelty.

Carriages in South Africa must have a standard wheel width of 130 cm, and there are restrictions on the type of carriage used. A pair and team may only go in a four-wheel carriage, whereas a single horse may compete in a two-wheeler.

The sequence

"The reason why the sequence of the competition is dressage, marathon and then cones," explains Rodney, "is to demonstrate that your horse is still supple and fit enough, after a strenuous marathon section, to do fairly complicated figures around the cones in an arena.

"This is much like the showjumping section of an eventing competition, where the showjumping serves to demonstrate that the horse is able and willing to carefully negotiate a showjumping course after the challenges of a cross-country course."

The dressage section is judged by regular dressage judges in two sections. The first section is on the presentation and turnout of the horse, carriage, driver and backstepper (groom). The second section is on the actual dressage test, where pace, rhythm, impulsion and suppleness in the various movements are judged.

Judging
A driver only has three aids available to him, namely the voice, reins and whip. So the point of the dressage test is to judge the level of schooling of the horse, and the ability and technique of the driver to use the aids effectively.

"In the marathon section the speed, accuracy, fitness and boldness of the horse are tested. Aspects such as timing is vital and each individual hazard is individually timed and the competitor has to go through a hazard as fast as possible."

The competition is judged on a penalty system, in other words the competitor with the least amount of penalties is the winner. Very often, says Rodney, the points are so close together that the winner is only decided in the cones section.

Competitors progress through the levels of competition starting at pre-novice, with very simple dressage tests and a shortened marathon section of three or four kilometers with three or four hazards. The next level is novice, followed by the open competition level.

"The beauty of carriage driving," Rodney points out, "is that horses cannot really be over-faced. There are always two options in which to attempt a hazard – a tight option and then a more flowing option, but even if the driver attempts the tight option, the horses will only do it as fast as they are capable of. It is not the same as in showjumping where the heights of the jumps can discourage a young horse for life."

From a pair of horses’ point of view, says Rodney, the most important factor to keep in mind is that the two horses should be able to work together. They need not match in terms of colour, but they should be more or less of the same size.

The most important aspect is that they should match each other in terms of their stride and they should match one another in terms of temperament. A fundamental aspect to driving a pair, is that the driver should look as if he is driving only one horse.

Type of horse

As far as breeds are concerned, some breeds are known to generally not take kindly to being harnessed. The Thoroughbred is a prime example of this.

"In South Africa," says Rodney, "a few breeds are widely used. Obviously there are the traditional carriage horse breeds such as the Friesian, the Hackney and the SA Vlaamperd. Welsh Ponies are also widely used and some SA Boerperde and Nooitgedachters as well as some Arabs also do very well.

"Although some breeds tend to be more suitable for driving, individual horses in those breeds may not be suitable. So it is important to make sure that the individual horse or horses you have in mind, are first tested to see whether they will do in harness.

"One looks for the same conformational traits that you would look for in any other discipline. Internationally you find that the top carriage drivers compete to buy the same Warmblood horses that the top dressage riders compete for on the market."