Competing Together

As we prepare for our next competition at Tryon CDE, I can’t help but feel excited — not just to compete, but to compete with my friends. I say “with” because that’s how I see it. Sure, one driver will come out on top and the rest will fall into line behind them, but we’ll all be on the same grounds, in the same stables, walking the same courses. That’s what makes this sport special.

When I went to my very first Combined Driving Trial over 30 years ago, I thought I had everything I needed — hat, gloves, apron, whip, spares kit — all the boxes checked. But on the way to Presentation (back when it was scored separately from dressage), other competitors noticed that I looked a little… meh…

In the short walk from barn to judge, those same competitors rallied to upgrade my look. They loaned me a better hat, apron, gloves, and even a different whip. Sydney, the 12-hand Welsh stallion, and I went on to win our first training-level CDE. That experience completely changed my view of competition. I learned that if a fellow competitor needs help, you help them.

Competing With, Not Against

It’s human nature to think of the other drivers in your division as opponents. I’d be lying if I said I’d never fallen into that trap. It’s tempting to want to “beat” someone. But here’s the truth: in our sport, you don’t actually win by beating anyone.

Think about chess — it’s a game built on offense and defense, where every move your opponent makes directly impacts your outcome. Horse sports don’t work that way. Ideally, every competitor puts in their best performance, and the scores simply reflect who did best on that day.

Unfortunately, some people get fixated on what others are doing wrong — or what they think someone “deserves.” Negative competitors often spread their disdain to anyone who will listen, looking for validation for their contempt.

Negative Energy is Energy Wasted

Negative emotions waste energy and dull your focus. Allowing a competitor’s words to make you angry or hurt your feelings just hurts your own performance. Some people do this deliberately — because a distracted, emotional competitor is more likely to make mistakes.

Worse, negativity can blind you to learning opportunities. If you assume everything an “unliked” person does is wrong, you may miss the chance to pick up on something they’re actually doing right — something that could improve your own skills.

This doesn’t just apply to individuals. When competitors eventually have to work together — perhaps on a regional or national team — lingering bitterness can make real teamwork nearly impossible.

A Team Sport in Disguise

Combined driving is technically an individual sport, but anyone who’s spent time in it knows it’s really a team effort. We rely on horse owners, spouses, trainers, and friends to get us to the event and through it. Sometimes those teams are really well established, and sometimes we play catch-as-catch-can to fill out our roster.

But here’s the beautiful thing: you can expand your “team” simply by showing up. Your fellow competitors can be part of that team.

You’ll see it everywhere — someone lending a hand at the wash rack, pointing out a hard-to-see gate during a course walk, or cheering another driver on as they head to dressage. These moments are the lifeblood of our sport.

Our Nano-Niche

Equestrian sports are niche to begin with, and carriage driving is a niche within a niche — a nano-niche. That means every individual’s actions carry more weight than they would in a mainstream sport.

You can take that as a warning — or as an opportunity. Just as negativity can ripple outward, so can positivity. Being friendly, helpful, and encouraging at an event can have a surprisingly big impact on the atmosphere of the entire show.

So as we head into our next competition, let’s choose to compete with each other. Help a neighbor, cheer someone on, share what you know. That’s how we make our sport better — and a whole lot more fun!