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Carriage driving is becoming an increasingly popular sport today, with many different facets for all levels of equestrians. Whether your kids have outgrown the family pony, are off to college, or if you are just looking for a new avenue with your horse, carriage driving may be for you.
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There are many ways to enjoy the sport. Some drivers choose to collect, restore or to do historical research on carriages. While some drive for recreational enjoyment, or join a local driving club, others may choose to participate in parades. Aside from recreational driving, carriages are most often used for show ring driving.
The sport of carriage driving has two main types of showing venues. The first is called Carriage Pleasure Driving, which contain classes for carriages and horses that are presented and driven in correct and tradtional ways. Classes for this type of showing are titled Turnout, Reinsmanship, Scurry, Obstacle Driving, and Cross Country.
A newer type of driving competition, call Combined Driving, is similar to Eventing, having phases with destinct types of competition. The phases are Presentation, Dressage, Cones, and Marathon. This type of competition test the skills, training, conditioning, and partnership of horse and driver.
What ever avenue you choose to enjoy this sport, look for a reputable person to teach you the safe ways to get started.
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Two organizations that are full of helpful information regarding the sport of carriage driving are:
ADS - The American Driving Society founded in 1975. Its purpose is to promote the best interest of the sport of driving. Create and maintain public interest in national and international events. Educate and inform the public with respect to driving methods, safety, and events. Publish periodically information on driving methods, safety, and events. Sponsor educational driving clinics and clinics for training judges.
CAA - The Carriage Association of America, founded in 1960, and is the oldest & largest international organization devoted to the preservation of historic horse drawn vehicles. The CAA, which is dedicated to the proper preservation, restoration, and care of these carriages & sleighs also encourages the fine art of driving them.
Carriagedriving.net is a webzine started in 2001. It carries articles on various carriage driving subjects, classified ads and asorted photographs of different driving turnouts. This site is also home to the CD-L Carriage Driving List, an internet board wherein all types of carriage driving are discussed. Instructions to join are listed on the carriage driving.net site.
Direct links for all the above sites are at the bottom of this page.
Our personal experience in carriage driving has been wonderful. We have made friends all over the U.S., Canada and abroad through this exciting sport. Whether you have miniture horses, light horses, or drafts, the sport welcomes you with open arms.
Safe driving! Hope we see you on the carriage paths.
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