| Crazy, Fast, Free Fun: Combined Driving at Florida Horse Park |
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| March 04, 2009 |
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What a weekend! Saturday, Paul and I headed up to the Florida Horse Park in Ocala to check out the marathon phase of the Sunshine State FEI Combined Driving Event, which featured from one to four horses pulling carriages through ‘hazards’ – tricky obstacles that included narrow areas to squeeze through, sharp turns, water and more. It rocked.
We relished short-sleeve weather while watching muscled, sleek, nimble-hooved horses and their brave, athletic drivers weaving through concrete barriers and mazes of fences. The drivers leaned, balanced and urged; the horses galloped, trotted and swerved; the crowd gasped and cheered. The cherry on the sundae was that admission was free.
While there, we ran into an old friend we’d sold a horse to years ago. I recognized her from her belt, which had brass plates with her horses’ names on it. Turns out she stays in Florida for the winter – and why not, with all the horse competitions, the perfect weather and footing? She’s competing at Rocking Horse Ranch in Altoona next weekend (March 6-8) at a combined training event, and I’m going to go watch her. You should come, too – here’s a tentative schedule.
Make sure you check out the calendars at both Rocking Horse and the Florida Horse Park if you’re planning a visit. (The Florida Horse Park has a free newsletter you can sign up for.) They often host events with top Olympians competing. Besides the action with the horses, the events often include wacky, fun activities like Jack Russell terrier racing.
Usually, admission is free.
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| This team of four tackle a hazard at breakneck speed. |
| Credit: Lauren Tjaden, VISIT FLORIDA Sports and Adventure Expert |
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