Most people look up combined driving because they’ve seen a carriage team threading cones or surging through a marathon obstacle and want to know what, exactly, they’re watching—and what it takes to try it safely. The details matter: the sport has formal phases, strict equipment expectations, and welfare rules that shape how horses are trained, presented, and competed.
Combined driving (often called carriage driving) is essentially equestrian “eventing in harness”: a driven dressage test, a marathon phase across country, and a cones course where accuracy and time decide the placings.1, 2, 3 In Australia, events commonly sit under Equestrian Australia’s Driving rules and pathways, with clubs and state branches offering entry points for new drivers and horses.4, 5
What combined driving is (in plain terms)
A combined driving turnout is a driver on a carriage, with one, two, or four horses (or ponies) in harness, guided by reins, voice and whip aids.2 Across an event, the same combination is tested for calm precision, endurance over terrain, and then fine control through narrow gaps at speed.1, 2
The three phases you’ll see at a combined driving event
Driven dressage
Dressage happens in a marked arena and asks for accurate figures and consistent paces, showing the horses’ suppleness, obedience and way of going, plus the driver’s control and presentation.2 It looks quiet from the sideline, but it sets the tone: the same steering, straightness and response to aids are what keep a marathon round tidy later on.
Marathon (cross-country driving)
Marathon is the most physically demanding phase, run as a timed effort over terrain with hazards/obstacles that require quick turns, good lines, and safe, forward travel.2, 3 Depending on the level and format, it may include “roads and tracks” sections and a set of obstacles or hazards to be driven in sequence.3
Cones (precision at pace)
Cones is the phase that makes spectators wince in sympathy. The carriage must pass between pairs of cones set only slightly wider than the carriage, each topped with a ball that falls with the lightest touch.3 Time matters, but so does restraint: the best rounds feel almost unhurried until you notice the clock.
Carriages and equipment: what’s actually used
At a glance, many driving vehicles look similar. In practice, the vehicle choice is tied to stability, turning circle, braking, and what the phase demands.
- Marathon vehicles are built for cross-country: robust frames, strong brakes, and a layout that helps the driver and groom(s) manage tight turns and uneven ground safely.1, 2
- Cones and dressage vehicles are often lighter and more streamlined for accuracy, balance and clean presentation in the arena, while still meeting the event’s safety requirements.2
At higher levels, you’ll also see grooms travelling on the vehicle, shifting weight through turns and helping the team stay efficient through hazards—an active role, not decoration.1
The driver, the horses, and the groom: how the team works
Driving is sometimes described as “hands and feet”, but in harness it’s hands, voice, timing, and planning. The driver must keep the horses straight and balanced, manage the line into each obstacle, and maintain an even tempo when precision matters more than speed.2
The horses need calm responsiveness in the arena, then stamina and sure-footedness on marathon day, and finally the fine steering and adjustability for cones.2 In many competitions the groom is part of the working unit, especially in marathon, where weight-shifting and quick support can make the difference between a clean, safe turn and a scramble.1
Training and conditioning: what “prepared” looks like
Good combined driving training is quiet and systematic: clear aids, consistent routines, and gradual exposure to the sights and sounds a horse will meet in harness. Conditioning matters because marathon work is sustained effort, and tired horses lose the crispness needed for safe turns and clean cones.2, 6
Welfare expectations sit underneath every phase. The FEI’s current welfare strategy and guidance emphasise responsible training, appropriate equipment use, and “fit to compete” decision-making rather than pushing through problems.7
Rules and governance in Australia (and why it matters)
Internationally, driving sport sits under the FEI, which defines the discipline and its major championship formats.1 In Australia, Equestrian Australia publishes national driving rules and tests, including updated rules effective from 1 January 2026, and a structured pathway (such as Drive-1 and Drive-2) aimed at developing skills and safety before stepping up in complexity and speed.4, 5
Separate from sport rules, it’s also worth remembering that animal-drawn vehicles and horses can fall under road rules when travelling on public roads. Requirements vary by state, including visibility and lighting in low light conditions.8
Common challenges drivers run into
- Keeping lines tidy under pressure: hazards and cones punish small steering errors, especially with wider vehicles and longer teams.2, 3
- Managing speed without losing shape: the temptation to chase seconds can unravel rhythm and straightness, and that’s when penalties arrive.1, 3
- Safety around horses and vehicles: harness, wheels, and energetic horses create pinch points; calm handling habits and sensible attire reduce preventable incidents.6
How to get started (a grounded first step)
If you’re keen, start by watching an event in person, then look for a local driving club running introductory days or low-level tests. In Australia, Equestrian Australia’s driving resources and state branches outline pathways and event formats, and the Australian Carriage Driving Society also publishes clear descriptions of the phases and typical event structures.2, 3, 9
References
- Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) — Combined Driving: The Essential Guide
- Equestrian Australia — Driving (overview of phases and formats)
- Australian Carriage Driving Society — Combined Driving (discipline overview)
- Equestrian Australia — Driving Rules & Regulations (effective 1 January 2026)
- Equestrian Australia — EA Driving Rules: Now Available (Drive-1/Drive-2 pathway)
- FEI — Recommendations for the safe handling of horses
- FEI — Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan (approved 6 June 2024)
- Government of South Australia — My Licence: Sharing the road (horses and animal-drawn vehicles)
- Equestrian Australia (Queensland) — Driving resources (event and class formats)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom