30 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine August/September 2013 31
by Julane White, sired by Saddlebred Sul- tan’s Great Day and out of Arabian Colleen V (by Traditio out of a Bay-Abi++ daugh- ter). His sire was a two-time World Cham- pion in fine harness and was owned by William Shatner. Andy had never been ridden and was barely broke to drive. The poor guy had a sad story - he had suffered a flip-over ac- cident that resulted in a broken tail and had already been given away twice and returned. It was apparent that he had no trust of humans and that made him very
difficult to work with. His hindquarters You Pics of were very weak and he would not let any- one near his right hind. To add to the fun, Andy also did not get along with other horses! The owner hooked him up to a training cart and down a lime rock road John and Margy took him. They noticed that Andy was very forward and light, even perform- ing serpentines while being driven one- handed. The Coxes decided he was worth an attempt at becoming a driving horse. Andy was smart, but the first order of business was earning his trust. They sent him to a very good friend who was a great
Pics of You Pics of horseman to solidify their new pony’s ground work. “He sent Andy back to us and told us to get rid of him,” recalls John. That first year little progress was made with Andy and his issues. The Coxes sent him to their friends Gary and Marsha Andy Go Dandy Yeager, who helped them get Andy more relaxed in the carriage, but he still had When you hear the saying “The best The Coxes showed Arabians, then start- Having moved to Florida, the Ocala trust issues. things in life are free,” you think about in- ed driving an Arabian/Percheron cross that area residents weren’t really looking for a Then one evening, Andy colicked. Their tangibles such as health, family and hap- they bred back in the 1980’s while living new horse. But the ad they saw in July of vet, Dr. Anne Christopherson, spent the piness. John and Margy Cox would prob- in Washington. Around 1983, they began 2010 for a free pony on Ocala4Sale.com night there, giving Andy fluids and taking ably add their Half-Arab gelding, Andy Go competing on the West Coast in Combined intrigued them. turns walking him. “The next morning, it Dandy to that list. Driving Events {Sidebar on page 33}. Andy was 7 years old at the time, bred was like a miracle. We had a new horse,” Pics of You Pics of 32 The Arabian Sport Horse Magazine
says John. Andy had perked up and would seat and John navigating, this team won at Region 12 Championships, earning Re- Combined Driving nicker at his owners, even letting them the Intermediate Marathon phase this year serves in Carriage Obstacles, Reinsman- from the American Driving Society Website handle him easily. at the Live Oak International CAI Com- ship and Working. They plan to attend “Dr. Anne said that Andy realized that bined Driving Event, placing 4th overall in Sport Horse Nationals and hope to see old Combined Driving is one of eight equine sports governed at Having proven their mettle in the control of Dressage and somebody was there for him friends from their Arabian show the international level by the FEI and at the National Federation the jubilation of Marathon, pony or horse and driver must fi- and cared. The moral is do days. level by USEF. Nationwide, the American Driving Society provides nally find that combination of boldness, agility, energy and not give up – sometimes it can The Coxes also have an Ara- for graduated levels of experience – Training, Preliminary, Inter- precision that is Obstacle/Cones driving. In this competition, work out,” John says. “Now, bian/Warmblood cross that they mediate, and ADS-Advanced levels for both drivers and equines drivers and their steeds drive between precisely spaced pairs Andy is an exceptional driving have just started competing in as they begin and as they become more adept at the sport on local of cones over a prescribed course of up to 20 “ obstacles” driv- horse and a very good friend.” Combined Driving. “There are and regional levels, perhaps even on to participation in national- en in correct sequence and direction and within an allowed From there, trainer Fred not a lot of Arabians in the ad- level events. time based on the size of equine and level of advancement. Merriam got Andy started in vanced FEI level of Combined Sometimes likened to a team triathlon, a Combined Driving Here again, as drivers and horses develop and move up in “lev- Combined Driving, along with Driving.” explains John. “The Eu- Event consists of three competitions – Dressage, Marathon, and els,” speeds increase and clearances between cones decrease, their current coach, 2011 FEI ropean warmbloods, Dutch Har- Obstacle/Cones -- that are held over one, two, or three days. The making for challenges and fun that never stop. Cones may be World Pony Combined Driving ness and Morgans are the major sport is intended to showcase the versatility, training and talents seen as that meld of elegance and thrills that consummates Championship Silver Medalist players. But I feel as though Ara- of both horse and driver. Through participating in ADS events, the competition set to demonstrate the fitness, mind and Suzy Stafford. bians can lend a lot to the sport drivers and horses or ponies may develop in increasing levels of training of the horse following the more physical challenges Today, Andy is very competitive in the Single Pony. They were also crowned the by way of their intelligence, endurance proficiency. of the Marathon. Intermediate Level in Combined Driving, 2013 Florida State Single Driving Pleasure and beauty.” The Dressage competition can be said to be the foundation for as well as being competitive in Pleasure Champion. Don’t you just love a happy ending? the rest of the sport. In Dressage, horses or ponies and their driv- Carriage Driving. With Margy in the driver’s The Coxes also competed with Andy ers drive individually in specified patterns and gaits to demon- strate the skills, obedience, and development appropriate to their levels of training before the watchful eyes of one or more judges. Dressage develops and displays polish, discipline, and athleticism of equine and driver dancing together. After the showcase of beauty and control that is Dressage, the next competition is often the cross-country Marathon. Here, the driver tests his mettle and that of his horses or ponies in control of paces and speeds, agility, obedience, and endurance over dis- tances of eight to eighteen kilometers. Not only do competitors cover distance, they also negotiate challenge “obstacles” every kilometer or so, in which they choose their paths to go through “gates” in the correct direction and sequence. At Training level, these marathon obstacles are geared toward being a learning experience, and as levels of competence increase, so do speeds and numbers of obstacles and gates. It is in this competition es- pecially that the partnership of the “navigator” becomes critically important, as this competition requires thinking. In this competi- tion as in Dressage, ADS rules encourage a careful development of horse and driver as each level brings new and greater challenges in speeds, distances, and complexities. It is on Marathon that Dres- sage training really pays off, and thrills abound.