Combined Driving
 

COMBINED DRIVING

Although they share essentially the same heritage, combined driving differs significantly from carriage pleasure driving. Instead of placing emphasis on the style, authenticity, and pleasurable performance of a hitch, a combined driving event is rigorously performance-based and is actually modeled after the mounted equestrian test of three-day eventing. Combined driving is designed to test a horse’s or a team’s speed, stamina, obedience, and athleticism, in three distinct and demanding phases usually held over the course of three days.

Competitors can consist of a single horse, a pair of horses, or a team of four horses, and they are tested in three phases: dressage, marathon, and obstacle driving. The first day’s combined driving dressage class tests a single, pair or team in the areas of obedience, freedom and regularity of motion, and impulsion through a sequence of compulsory movements executed within a designated area or arena.

Day two sees competitors tackle the fast-paced and demanding phase known as the cross-country marathon in which a horse’s fitness, stamina, agility, and obedience are tested together with a driver’s accuracy and judgment as they are asked to negotiate an intricate series of hazards which can include water, steep hills, and sharp turns in the fastest time while accumulating the least number of penalties. The third and final phase—the cone driving competition—tests a horse’s obedience, agility, and after two previously demanding days of competition, its endurance. Simultaneously, a driver’s skill, accuracy, and precision are tested as the single, pair, or team is challenged with negotiating an intricate course of narrowly-spaced cones cleanly and within the time allowed.

Combined Driving Headlines

Chester Weber Wins His 20th USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Four-in-Hand Horses

By US Equestrian Communications Department Chester Weber earned a milestone victory this weekend, posting his 20th career USEF National Championship title …

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Chester Weber and team in their cones phase at 2022 Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hands at Pratoni

Chester Weber and Team Finish Eighth to Conclude 2022 FEI Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hands at Pratoni 2022

By US Equestrian Communications Department Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy – Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and team concluded the 2022 FEI Driving …

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Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Ready for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

By US Equestrian Communications Department Le Pin-au-Haras, France – The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team finished the horse inspection and is …

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Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

By US Equestrian Communications Department US Equestrian is pleased to announce the three combinations and ranked alternates selected to represent …

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Katie Whaley with Clanfair Sunglow and Timmy at 2022 Live Oak International CAI

Four USEF Combined Driving National Championships Awarded on Final Day of 2022 Live Oak International

By US Equestrian Communications Department Four newly-minted USEF National Champions exited the arena on Sunday, March 6, at the conclusion …

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Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Finishes Eighth, Jacob Arnold Is 12th at 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Finishes Eighth, Jacob Arnold Is 12th at 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

By US Equestrian Communications Department Kronenberg, the Netherlands – The U.S. contingent had solid performances at the 2021 FEI Driving World …

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Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Ready for 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

By US Equestrian Communications Department Kronenberg, the Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team is set for the start of …

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U.S. Combinations for 2021 Driving World Championship for Pairs

US Equestrian Announces Combinations for 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

By US Equestrian Communications Department Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations selected to represent the Land …

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US Equestrian Announces Combinations for Two FEI Driving World Championships

By US Equestrian Communications Department Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations selected to represent the U.S. …

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Combined Driving Athlete Pathway Programs

By US Equestrian Communications Department US Equestrian congratulates Combined Driving Elite Athletes who have continued to achieve the highest standard of competition …

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Jacob Arnold Claims 2021 USEF Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Championship at Kentucky Classic CDE

Arnold Claims USEF Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Championship at Kentucky Classic CDE

By US Equestrian Communications Department Paris, Ky. – The Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event concluded on Sunday with the cones phase …

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Barbara Sims and Erresistible, USEF Preliminary Single Pony Combined Driving National Champion at Grand Oaks CDE

Three USEF Preliminary Combined Driving National Champions Crowned at Grand Oaks CDE

By Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department Lexington, KY – Competitors in the USEF Preliminary Combined Driving National Championships displayed their …

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Four USEF Preliminary Combined Driving National Championships Crowned at Florida Spring Fling CDE

Ocala, Fla. – The Florida Spring Fling Combined Driving Event (CDE) played host to the 2020 USEF Preliminary Combined Driving …

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Rising to the Driving Challenge! Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, and Laura Lee Brown Continue USET Foundation Gift-Matching Initiative

Gladstone, NJ – Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, and Laura Lee Brown initiated the United States Equestrian Team (USET) …

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Weber and Wilson Win USEF Advanced Combined Driving National Championships in Cones Finale at Live Oak International

By US Equestrian Communications Department/Classic Communications Ocala, Fla. – March 10, 2019 – Two USEF Combined Driving National Championships concluded …

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Jennifer Keeler with Amazing Grace. Photo: PicsofYou.com

Keeler and Whaley Earn Combined Driving National Titles to Close Out 2018 Season at Katydid

Aiken, S.C. – Jennifer Keeler and Katie Whaley capped off an epic combined driving season by winning the final USEF …

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Tracey Morgan and Fuego 88 at the 2017 Live Oak International where they won the USEF Single Pony Combined Driving National Championship. Photo: Picsofyou.com

Katydid Combined Driving Event Culminates 2018 Season with USEF Advanced Pony National Championships

Lexington, Ky. – The final USEF combined driving national titles of the 2018 competition year are up for grabs at the …

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U.S. Driving Team Wins First-Ever FEI World Equestrian Games™ Gold Medal, Delivering Epic Grand Finale to Tryon 2018

Mill Spring, N.C. – In a week that exuded many historic moments for U.S. equestrian teams, combined driving added another. …

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US Equestrian Names U.S. Driving Team for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has announced three combinations for the U.S. Driving Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games …

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Successful Week of Dressage, Driving, and Para-Dressage FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 Test Events Conclude at Tryon International Equestrian Center

Tryon, N.C. – April 23, 2018 – Chester Weber (USA) maintained his hold on the lead through the Cones phase of …

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Chester Weber and team © Picsofyou.com

Weber Claims 15th USEF Four-in-Hand Combined Driving National Championship at Live Oak International

Ocala, FL – March 18, 2018 – Chester Weber, Ocala, FL, won a record 15th USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship title …

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Chester Weber and team © Picsofyou.com

Chester Weber Keeps Control of USEF Combined Driving Four-in-Hand Championship at Live Oak International

Ocala, FL – March 17, 2018 – Spectators flocked to the beautiful Live Oak Plantation Saturday for the exhilarating Marathon …

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Jennifer Thompson © Pics Of You

Thompson, Whittington and Wright Lead USEF Combined Driving National Championships at Live Oak International After Friday’s Dressage

Ocala, FL – March 16, 2018 – Three of the five USEF Combined Driving National Championship divisions completed their dressage …

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Chester Weber and team © Pics Of You

Weber and Adcox Lead USEF Combined Driving National Championships After Dressage at Live Oak International

Ocala, FL – March 15, 2018 – Chester Weber and Scott Adcox were the stars of the show Thursday at …

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Nifty Hamilton and Makari Design (Picsofyou.com)

Nifty Hamilton Is Victorious at the 2017 USEF Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship

by US Equestrian Communications Department Lexington, Ky. – Oct. 8, 2017 – The final day and phase of the 2017 …

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