World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: WEG Driving

If you’re prone to motion sickness, you’ll want your Dramamine before this one — it’s a wild ride!

Combined driving’s marathon phase has to be one of the most underrated aspects of horse sport in the equestrian world: we do not give these drivers, navigators, back steps or horses nearly enough credit for the wild rush that is essentially cross-country with a carriage and four-in-hand. Each team races from complex to complex over open country, tackling natural obstacles such as topography, bridges or water, then at each complex has to remember a complicated pattern of gates and turns.

Keep in mind that this is all done with four horses, and the lead team is usually around 16 feet away from the driver. If you thought driving with your horse trailer through town was a challenge, try this on for size.

Today, we’re getting the driver’s tour of the WEG marathon course thanks to German driver Mareike Harm. Hang on tight!

If you watched eventing’s cross-country day, you’ll recognize elements from the course — including the scary fountain effect! The cross-country horses had to only look at it… the marathon horses had to actually go THROUGH it!

Go driving.