The Australian Carriage Driving Society started as a club (Australian Driving Society) in New South Wales in 1971. In 1981 there was a shift to creating a National Body to represent the sport of Carriage Driving in Australia. Clubs were asked if they wanted to affiliate with a governing body.The Australian Driving Society as a governing body asked clubs to affiliate by paying an annual fee of $20.00. In November 1981 to June 1982 the Council and Representatives were:

• President: Mr Neil Gilmour
• Vice Presidents: Mrs Anne Robertson, Mr Karl Hvirf
• Secretary: Mr Michael Stringer
• Treasurer: Mrs Mary Willsallen
• General Members Representatives: Mrs Judy Dwyer, Mrs Anne Synnot.
• Publicity Officer:  Mrs Gwen Winzer

At the first AGM held in November 1981 a new ACDS Constitution was voted in and the ACDS moved from being one club to a National Body of clubs. Committees from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland were formed and the delegates to the ACDS Council were; NSW Mrs Sue Ryan, Mr Peter McIntyre. Vic Mr Michael Thill, Mr Noel Morris. Qld Mr Neville Lindley, Mr Sel Hewitt. The first levy to members was introduced in 1982-1983 at $2.00 for individual members and $4.00 for family membership.

Our Patron is HRH Prince Philip who was a special guest at the Bi Centennial Carriage Driving Championships in Canberra in 1988.

WHERE ARE MEMBERS LOCATED

Spread over 70 clubs nationally membership numbers 1,500 individuals with the majority of members based in New South Wales and Victoria. Clubs vary greatly in size and interests with some primarily Pleasure clubs, (non competitive), others with more Show or Competition bias. It is said that the majority of members are "pleasure drivers" however competitive drivers maintain that they compete for "pleasure". Members show successfully at Royal Show level and also support the many Agricultural Shows.

WHO PARTICIPATES

Members range in age from babes in arms to 90+ years.

(CDE's are Combined Driving Events)

The sport is suitable for all ages - those too young to drive often become passengers on Pleasure drives, Private drives or in the show ring. Grooms in CDE's must be 10 years of age. To drive in CDE's a driver must have attained their 12th birthday. It is a great family sport, often with several generations involved on one vehicle.

WHAT IS INVOLVED

Competition can range from one small pony, jogger (pneumatic tyred), and float for one person, right through to the four-in-hand with four or five horses, two vehicles, a semi trailer and an army of helpers.

Activities include Pleasure Driving, Private or Park Driving, Showing and Competition Carriage Driving, with variations of each in between. Members participate in parades, promotions etc. and some clubs support historical villages eg. "Pioneer Settlement", Swan Hill and "Old Gippstown" in Gippsland, Vic.

Different types of harness may be used including leather, a synthetic webbing harness or a mixture of both. Many drivers make or repair their own harness. Many driver use more than one set of harness eg. synthetic harness for training and marathons and good leather harness for "best" ie. Showing or Presentation & Dressage.

WHERE CAN I LEARN

Once you become a member of an ACDS affiliated club you may participate in the activities of any other affiliated club. The ACDS has lists of accredited Show, Dressage and Presentation Judges and can supply names of driving teachers and horse breakers (harness). Schools are held by Federal Council, State Branches and Clubs and may cover any aspect of driving from beginners through to advanced multiples and dressage.

There are several commercial vehicle makers, and harness can be bought ready made or custom made for your horse. ACDS members receive a quarterly NEWS JOURNAL with classified advertisements where gear, equipment and horses are listed for sale.

Competition Carriage Driving

The event is modelled along the lines of a ridden Three Day Event. It was devised by Prince Philip with other driving enthusiasts, when he could no longer safely compete in Polo games, so driving was another way of maintaining his interest in horses.

The competition is divided into three major Competitions - Comp. A (1 & 2) Presentation & Dressage, Comp. B Marathon or Cross Country, Comp. C Cone or Obstacle Drive.

Competition A - Presentation (A1) and Dressage (A2)

Presentation is the overall judging of the turnout. The horses are judged on condition, appearance, shoeing etc. Vehicles and harness are judged on cleanliness, suitability, fit and safety. Finally the driver and groom are judged on their outfits - neat street attire including gloves, driving aprons or knee rugs or riding gear for the grooms. Period costume is not suitable for Carriage Driving events.

Dressage is similar to ridden dressage - specific movements are required to be performed in a defined arena. Tests require the driver to display control through voice, whip and reins, and the horses must display obedience, impulsion and correct paces. Movements and paces include a walk , working, collected and extended trots, a serpentine, a halt and reinback. One of the more difficult elements requires the driver to execute a one handed circle, this is to demonstrate the driver has control should the whip need to be used. Driven dressage arenas are 40m x 100m, or 40m x 80m.

Competition B - The Marathon or Cross Country

This is the most exciting phase of the overall competition. Horses need to be fit to cover the distance in the required time. The course is divided into five timed sections A - E, and includes 2 walks (Secs. B & D) of approx. 1km and a fast trot section (C).

Each height class has different times for each section and time penalties may be incurred. Drivers carry spares with them in case of gear breakage or accidents, these may include hay baling twine, spare traces, a knife, adhesive tape etc. Each competitor also carries maps of the course and stopwatches. A vet check takes place at the end of Section D to ensure horses are fit enough to continue. Section E is the most thrilling part of competition and it is here that competitions can be won or lost. Each hazard or marathon obstacle is a series of lettered "gates" which must be negotiated in correct sequence. Every competitor is timed and the faster the time the fewer the penalties. Drivers, when walking the course, take note of where shortcuts or chances can be taken in each hazard to reduce their time and penalties. Another vet check ½ an hour after the end of the marathon makes sure horses are not distressed or lame. Penalties may be given if horses have not recovered sufficiently by this time.

Competition C - Cone Driving or Obstacle Driving.

This phase effectively replaces the showjumping round in a ridden event. The "Cones" are similar to traffic cones and each has a ball placed on top. If a ball is dislodged the driver receives 5 penalty points. Drivers have 30 cm clearance between their wheel widths and the cone. The course must be driven in correct numerical sequence and again each height class has it's own time allowed. The competition may be run as either a Fault Competition or a Speed Competition. The Cone Drive is designed to test the fitness of the horse after the rigours of the Marathon, although in a two day competition the Cones is usually run following the Dressage.

Classes & Combinations - Carriage Driving

Classes cover experience ie. Novice or Open, height and combination driven and in a State or National Championships total classes number 15. Each class and combination contributes to the spectacle of a Carriage Driving Event. The little ponies, cute and cuddly make spectators feel that they could do it too. They are phenomenally b with a far superior power/weight ratio than some of the bigger horses. The bigger ponies and horses may be old outgrown pony club veterans with a new lease on life. Some of the horses may even be failed or old trotters.

Combinations used in Carriage Driving Competitions are - Single, Pair, Tandem & Team or Four-In-Hand.

Singles are one horse or pony generally driven in a two wheeled vehicle.

The Pony and Horse Pairs are most exciting to watch through the hazards as they make impossibly tight turns and fit through the smallest gaps with the grooms sliding from left to right to give the vehicle correct balance. Most drive this combination in 4 wheeled vehicles and only occasionally now does one see a pair put to a Pole Sulky or a Curricle (2 wheelers).

Tandems, in good hands, look elegant and easy to drive though they are a most difficult combination. Tandems are an old tradition by which the family went to the hunt. The old cart horse would be in the wheel (between the shafts) and in draught doing all the work and the flashy, showy hunter would be in the lead, doing no work, thus arriving fresh at the hunt. A new innovation in vehicle design for Tandems is the groom step on the back of the two wheeled vehicle to enable the groom to alight quickly if necessary to render assistance.

Finally the Teams or Four-in-Hands look absolutely spectacular. It is no easy task getting four horses working together in unison either in Dressage or in the hazards. Driving a team is the ultimate experience and drivers who make it look easy have undoubtedly spent much time perfecting their craft. Always driven in 4 wheeled vehicles there are many new innovations in design including the new "Bendi Pole" which gives increased articulation to the outfit, allowing tighter turns and manoeuvres.