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weg.jpgThe FEI World Equestrian Games takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park, October 6-10, 2010. Qualifying events are underway and final team selection will be announced following CAI-A Bromont, June 25-27, 2010, Read about the qualification requirements, the drivers progress in gaining qualification, and articles and photos from the drivers themselves.... read more about the games
   wsc.jpg The FEI World Single Championship for Horses" will take place at Patroni del Vivario, July 30 - August 1, 2010. The event site is about an hour's drive east of Rome and was used for the 2006 Championship. There have been significant changes at the site. Christian Jseli is Course Designer, Richard Papens the Technical Delegate, and all the Judges including Marsoe LaRose of Canada have been jury members at Bromont, home of the final selection trial for both Canada and the United States.... read more about the championships

 

 

 

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Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport, indeed, horses were long driven before they were ridden. When the need for horses as a primary form of transportation subsided, horses and driving became a recreational sport, and a fast growing one at that. It was H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh (GBR), FEI President from 1964 - 1986, that got the wheels turning in 1969, where interested parties were summoned and the first rule book for Combined Driving was produced. The modern driving competition format thus consists of three phases, namely Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving with the three alternatives - a single horse, a pair or a team of four. Following the elaboration of the first rule book in 1969, it is only natural that Driving became the fourth FEI discipline in 1970. Source: www.fei.org 
 
Driving is a great equestrian sport appealing to and involving all ages, all sizes of horses and all breeds. We have social and recreational activities and various forms of competition from friendly introductory games such as TREC driving through to the highest forms of international competition culminating in World Championships.

Drive Canada is a volunteer member organization governed by an elected Board of Directors.  Our role as the national sport organization is to represent the Canadian driving community within the family of disciplines at Equine Canada, the national governing body for equestrian sport. More specifically, we have six key areas of responsibility.

   

Recreational driving – working toward

education, trail access and developing safety
guidelines for social and non-formal
competition.

 

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Rules – under which all Canadian driving
competitions are conducted, based on the FEI
rules adopted by all countries – primary focus
on safety, welfare of the horse and fairness in
competition.

Licensed Officials – professional development programs and licensing standards to promote
safety and education and fair competition.

Canadian Equestrian Team – Canada’s
national team for international competition.

Coaching Development – program guides for teaching safe driving techniques, education, and professional development for advancing instructor and coach training and certification.

 

Coaching Development

 

Competitions – assistance with organizing
sanctioned competitions for public participation.

 

Our mission statement:

  • To encourage and promote the interests of drivers of horses, ponies, VSEs, donkeys, mules and zebras for competition, recreation, pleasure, and work activities.
  • To promote and encourage public interest in driving at every level and the art of horsemanship generally.
  • To develop and publish general and specific information relative to driving methods, safety and competition.
  • To  facilitate  the  organization  of  driving  functions,  maintain  lists  of  qualified  Coaches,  officials,  records  of  results  and  publish calendars of events.
  • To encourage educational driving seminars and approved clinics to train coaches and officials.
  • To work with other equestrian organizations in the interest of advancing the standard and sport of driving.


Services to members:

  • The Electronic Bulletin -  a  publication  of DRIVE CANADA business  news;  training  articles;  calendar  of  events;  results  from sanctioned competitions; classified ads and other timely information of interest.
  • Safety Packages - Safety information for recreational drivers, show event organizers and competitors.
  • Tours – Semi conducted tours to world class competitions and driving related activities of interest.
  • Clinics and Workshops – development and certification clinics for competitors, coaches, licensed officials and event organizers.
  • Learn to Drive – program for teaching the art and science of carriage driving.
  • Event packages - Organizing know-how, scoring forms, result sheets for driving competition organizers.
  • Electronic scoring and organizer clinics – for driving events.