Combined driving is the eventing of the carriage world: competitors perform in three phases, including driven dressage, marathon and cones. The marathon portion is usually viewed as one of the most exciting phases, as drivers and horses with their navigators plot a course through obstacles and cover miles of terrain.
Want to see for yourself? Ride along on the marathon course with driver Cindy Vollers and her matching 10-year-old Arab/Friesians Dark Timke and Dark Upke from the point of view of navigator Steve Vollers. The event is the Elk Creek Combined Driving Event, held June 4-5 and hosted by a stomping grounds many eventers will find familiar, Fair Hill International.
Bonus points if you watch all the way through to 13:00 where the course takes competitors through a giant, terrifying culvert (which the Vollers and horses handle like champions!)
This video is long, but trust us: it’s worth it to ride along with the navigator for the marathon portion of combined driving behind a pair of unstoppable AraboFriesians while rocking out to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Go Eventing.
