We don’t get snow in Florida, so the sleigh rides sung about in all the holiday carols pretty much stay in the imagination. But we do have a thriving carriage driving culture, and if you want to see a spectacular display of skill, stamina, and athleticism, it’s practically in our back yard. From now till the end of March, Black Prong Equestrian Village welcomes the return of the Combined Driving Event Season with Nature Coast CDE (Combined Driving Event) and CT (Combined Test) competition weekends, and we can’t wait to head out there for a day of driving, derbying, eating, and socializing.
What is Combined Driving, you may wonder? Well, carriage driving itself was obviously the main mode of transportation for centuries – whether by wagon, stagecoach, hackney, landau, or chariot. Entire civilizations were built and wars waged by horse-drawn wheels, before the first steam-powered automobile rolled along existing wagon routes in 1871. Fifteen years after that scandalous event, Karl Benz was granted a patent for his internal combustion, gasoline-powered ‘motor car’, and after that we were off to the races. It was only a matter of time before inventors and engineers tinkered and designed the horse and buggy to quaint antiquity.
But carriage driving remains a much-loved pastime; no one ever really tires of seeing a magnificent team of two or four horses pulling a carriage; even our Christmas cards still feature this picturesque tableau, and to this day the world-famous Clydesdales are a showstopper anywhere they appear. It doesn’t matter how big or small the horses are – even miniature horses can participate – but they have to be fairly uniform sizes on teams so they can pull the carriage effectively.
Every time I watch an event, I’m still impressed at the technical skill and horsemanship required. They work incredibly hard in training, and maneuvering the carriage and sometimes multiple horses add a level of complexity that doesn’t exist in other disciplines.
– Zoe Bowden, Marketing Manager for Black Prong
It’s also a rigorous, demanding competitive sport that’s as exciting to watch as it is to be a participant. The most popular form of these competitions is the CDE, where driver teams run through a challenging array of Dressage, Marathon, and cone courses, which the American Driving Society describes as “intended to showcase the versatility, training, and talents of both horse and driver”.
“The drivers are very passionate about their sport,” says Zoe Bowden, Marketing Manager. “Though I’ve spent my life in the horse industry, combined driving was completely new to me when I started working at Black Prong. Every time I watch an event, I’m still impressed at the technical skill and horsemanship required. They work incredibly hard in training, and maneuvering the carriage and sometimes multiple horses add a level of complexity that doesn’t exist in other disciplines. Some events are particularly exciting to watch, like the Driving Derby and the Marathon. I think the crowds cheering them on gives them that extra boost, too, and the showmanship comes out. That’s always fun to watch.”
Showcase was a sponsor last year, and we had such a blast watching the competition that we’re pleased as punch to come back for another year. The Equestrian Village is absolutely beautiful and is a Shangri-La for any riding, hiking, and nature enthusiasts, with 90 acres of pristine beauty adjacent to Goethe State Forest.
The Black Prong Carriage Event Season runs from Nov 16 to March 29, so there’s lots of time to enjoy a variety of events over the next few months. You can check out the official schedule on the Events Page and choose a weekend or two and make a day-trip out of it. We hope to see you there!