Competitive Driving Info
Often new disabled drivers have a goal of someday competing, but are unsure whether they are ready to do so or not.
Before taking this next step, you should be sure you have achieved a comfortable level of control and proficiency at the walk, trot, and halt. You should also be able to drive figures such as a 40 meter circle and 20 meter circle, be able to memorize and complete a cones course while leaving the majority of balls on top of the cones, and be able to drive in a group safely. The following question and answer section is focused on aiding those who have a basic understanding of the various areas of competitive driving and are interested in what is needed to begin competing.
Follow the link for general information about combined driving.
Follow the link for general information about pleasure driving.
Follow the link for more information about competitive trail driving.
Things to think about, organize, and solve before you get to your first Competitive Carriage Driving event.
If you’re thinking about competing, you should first consider what type of event or events you are interested in participating in. Pleasure Driving, combined driving, and competitive trail are all similar, yet very different, events that may require different planning.
Find an event near you and watch it. You can learn a lot just by observing, and if you have questions, just ask someone at the event. We drivers are a wonderful bunch. We LOVE our sport and we’re always willing to share.
Do your research. Websites are a great place to start looking for further information about your chosen sport. The American Driving Society (ADS) is a valuable resource for Combined Driving Events as well as Pleasure Driving Events. Another good resource is The Carriage Association of America (CAA) which focuses on driving, carriage restoration, and shows.
Once you choose a type of event, take the time to acquire and read the rule book that goes alone with it. There are lots of different rules depending on which type of event you’re planning to attend. For example the ADS has a rule book both for CDE’s and pleasure driving shows. It is important to have a general understanding of what is allowed and which rules pertain to you and your needs. The United States Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) has provided a list of ADS and FEI rules that apply to disabled drivers. Looking these rules over before attending and event is a good idea.
At some point you may choose to become a member of the ADS, the CAA, USDFD, or another organization suited to your needs. Each organization provides benefits to their members that you may be interested in, so take the time to search them out.
Things to think about, organize, and solve before you get to your first Combined Driving Event.
In addition to the questions stated above, you will need to consider the following before participating in your first CDE:
How will you view the courses?
Depending on your physical limitations, it is important to first figure out a way to view the various courses before you send in your entry form.
Able-bodied competitors view the larger marathon course in a truck, bike, or ATV, and then walk the obstacle section of the course (vehicles are normally not allowed). If you have mobility issues, you will need to figure out the best way for you to do this, as well.
The easiest way to view the courses is with a golf cart or an ATV/UTV. Some of the larger events have these available for rent, but most don’t. There are a few options you can pursue to solve this problem:
• Contact the event organizer and see if there is anyone at the event that will be bringing one. Many times, the organizers will know which competitors have such vehicles.
• Search online and find a rental place that will deliver to the event for you.
• Contact friends or family, many people have UTV’s now. There may be a possibility that you could borrow one. In this instance, you must also think about how you will get the vehicle to the event.
When looking for this type of vehicle, you must also take into consideration your disability. If you are in a wheelchair or have balance issues, you will need to think about how you will transfer, and how you can be secured in a stock vehicle. If your mobility challenges are more severe, you may need a vehicle that has been adapted to suit your needs, such as a race car seat with a five point harness.
It is possible to “walk” the obstacle section of the marathon and the cones course in a motorized wheelchair. However, it isn’t possible to view the whole marathon course this way. The distance and
terrain make it unreasonable to do this.
This is a map done of the Waldingfield event, a 6 kilometer HDT. It gives you a great example of the distance and terrain you will need to cover in order to view and drive the course. Each colored line represents an alternate route taken by different levels of competition training, preliminary, and very small equine (VSE).
Things to think about, organize, and solve before you do your first Competitive Trail Drive.
How mobile are you?
If you are ambulatory enough to use an unadapted carriage, you should be able to compete in competitive trail events. If you have a heavier adapted carriage, depending on its weight, this type of competition may not be ideal for you. Most competitive trail horses tend to be of the lighter variety better known for their stamina, but who may not be able to pull the weight of an adapted carriage over long distances. In this instance, your ability would greatly depend on your situation.
How able are you to do pressure shifts?
Competitive trail drives require that you spend an extended period of time sitting in your carriage. If you are unable to move enough to do pressure shifts then you may want to look into purchasing a pressure relief cushion for your carriage.
Side note on bathroom breaks:
Competitive drives normally have a rest stop about every five miles. So it’s important to consider how long your break is against how long it takes to make a bathroom stop, and how frequently you are normally in need of one. The last thing you want is to be out on the bumpy trails with the sudden urge to go!
If you happen to run into any question not answered here and need some help, or would like us to expand on the above, please contact us. We would love to hear from you!