Combined Driving - Carriages

Carriages

For the presentation and dressage phase, carriages and harness are often leather, built along traditional lines, and designed for attractive appearance. The Spider phaeton is one of the more commonly used types of carriage for dressage. Competitors may use either 2-wheeled or 4-wheeled vehicles, but 4-wheelers are most often used in modern competition. Many competitors have a second carriage for the marathon phase. Most marathon vehicles are of a modern design, tailor made for competition. They are manufactured from steel, aluminium or other alloys and may have hydraulic disc brakes on front and rear wheels, low centre of gravity and very small turning circle. A tougher harness is also used in the marathon phase, often made from synthetic materials rather than the traditional leather.

"Three-phase" carriages are popular, especially at entry levels, as drivers need only one vehicle. These carriages have extending axles to make the rear wheels the required width for the dressage and cones phases (currently 138 cm minimum for all pony and for single and tandem horse classes). All carriages for the marathon phase are 125 cms minimum track width, measured on the ground and on the rear wheels. For Indoor driving trials, carriages should be a minimum of 125 cm for all phases.