Combined driving is designed to test a Driver’s ability as well as the horse’s obedience, speed and athleticism, in three demanding phases with a carriage in tow: Driven Dressage, Marathon, and Cones. Accuracy, speed, and endurance are all a necessary part of the sport.

The driven dressage phase tests the Driver and their equine on harmony, impulsion, ease of movement, and suppleness through a sequence of scored movements. The second phase is the fast-paced and demanding cross-country marathon, which tests fitness and stamina along with driver’s accuracy and judgment.The combination navigates an intricate series of hazards which may include water, steep hills, and sharp turns – all within the fastest time possible. The final phase, a cones course, times the competitor as they accurately negotiate an intricate, winding course of narrowly-set cones without knocking them with the carriage wheels.