Get In & Hang On! The Driving Darby retuned for the second year in a row with dirt flying and wheels sliding in the Toyota Arena. This fast paced display of rigs puts on quite a show displaying what single, pair, tandem and pony carriages can do in tight spots. This isn’t your ordinary horse and carriage jaunt through the countryside. This is something that the whole family can get excited about. The arena is set up with “hazards” and “cones”. Each hazard has “gates” that have to be gone through in a consecutive order. If any gate is passed in the wrong order the driver receives a “no score” for that run. Better luck next time. The Darby is a condensed version of a CDE or a Combined Driving Event that has three different sections much like Three Day Eventing with Dressage, Cross Country and Stadium Jumping. At the CDE’s they have Dressage, Marathon and Cones Course. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more or getting involved please contact Dean Lacey at 530-333-1097 or laceyarabs@wildblue.net. Combined Driving: The Sport The CDE (Combined Driving Event) is modeled after the Three Day Event, which tests the overall condition and versatility of the horse in sport. His Royal Highness Prince Phillip was a major force in the design of the rules and is today an active participant in the sport. Major competitions are usually held over three days: day 1) Driven Dressage; day 2)Cross Country Marathon with up to eight special obstacles or hazards; day 3) Cone Driving Competition which equates to the show jumping phase of the ridden event (Two-day competitions include each of the phases , with Dressage and Obstacle on one day and a modified Marathon on the second day). Penalty points are incurred in each of the above phases and the winner is the entry who accumulates the fewest points. Horses and ponies compete separately in these categories: single - one horse/pony; pairs - two horses/ponies side by side; tandem - two horses/ponies, one in front of the other; and Teams - four horses/ponies - two pair, one in front of the other. Dressage Often compared to compulsory figures in figure skating, the dressage test consists of a prescribed sequence of movements judged against a standard of absolute perfection. The test demonstrates the obedience, freedom, regularity of movement, impulsion, and correct position and training of the animals. Multiple hitches are judged collectively. Cross-Country Marathon This phase tests the fitness, stamina and obedience of the horses and the judgment and capability of the driver. Advanced competitions can have 5 sections (A, B, C, D, E), which includes mandatory walks, trots, and well as a section which includes hazards. Other competitions may have 3 sections (A,B, E), all having a minimum/maximum time allowance. At the end of section B and D there are mandatory 10 minutes halts with veterinary checks to ensure that horses are not unduly stressed and are fit enough to continue. Obstacles/Cones Cones can be likened to the stadium jumping phase of eventing. The object is to drive through narrowly spaced pairs of cones cleanly within time allowed. Each cone has a ball placed on top, and any miscalculation will dislodge the ball, thus incurring a penalty. This phase tests the fitness, agility and obedience of the horse and the accuracy and skill of the driver. Carriages Vehicles used in Combined Driving must be safe and well maintained. Each competitor is checked at presentation before the dressage test and again for safety before the rigors of the marathon. The same vehicle must be used in both dressage and cones; a second vehicle may be used in the marathon. Grooms and Navigators A groom/navigator may accompany the driver in the dressage and cones competitions in the case of a single horse/pony; however a groom/navigator is mandatory for two or more horses. On the marathon, the groom is a vital part of the team to help the driver stay on the correct course, to keep track of time, to hold the map, and to help direct the route through obstacles. In addition the groom is called on to balance the vehicle by shifting his/her weight around tight turns or on uneven ground. Grooms may not handle the reins, nor the whip, and may give verbal assistance only in the marathon. No verbal communication between the drive and the groom is allowed in the dressage or cones competitions A few related links: http://www.laurelscde.org/ http://www.acornnmr.com/ncdc/ http://www.americandrivingsociety.org/ http://www.extendinc.com/shadyoaks/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viYUdEjVqTE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgM0ddiPWGM