b'SPORTS MEDICINE SARAH EVERS CONRADTheHorse.com/Sports-MedicineCaring for Driving HorsesThey might not carry riders on their backs,but theyre athletes just the samehe team of bays deftly maneuvers T the water hazard, splashing throughCombined driving is similar to a sequence of arcs and figure eights, eventing with its three competi-intermixed with hill climbs and descentstion phases: dressage, marathon (pictured), and cones.back into the water. There may be four of them, but the horses turn in near synchrony with the guidance of their experienced driver and the help of the navigator leaning precariously to keep the carriage upright. Completing the hazard, they surge forward into the canter, headed toward the next challenge on course, a portrait of fitness, stamina, and agility.Whether its pulling a plow or a buggy, COURTESY FEI/CHRISTOPHE TANIREgoing for a pleasure drive, participating in a parade, competing in pleasure classes in a breed show, or contending a combined driving event like the one described, driving poses health considerations both similar to and distinct from those en-countered with your typical sport horse. Basic Care competition season. This allows the veter- and Warmbloodsthat can be prone to Rich Forfa, DVM, founder of Mono- inarian to see how the horse looks beforeequine metabolic syndrome and insulin cacy Equine Veterinary Associates, inembarking on a seasons worth of work,dysregulation (abnormally high blood Beallsville, Maryland, is an FEI veterinar- then evaluate how he handled it. Theyinsulin levels), so Daniel cautions against ian for combined driving and was part ofmight use chiropractic techniques to helpoverfeeding them. the vet team for the 2010 and 2014 Worldpinpoint any underlying back issues.Different driving activities require Equestrian Games (WEG). Because theDaniel is also adamant about dentaldifferent amounts of exertion. Combined basic care for driving horses is similarexams, because he tends to find moredriving competitors must complete dres-to that of riding horses, Forfa remindsadvanced dentistry problems in drivingsage tests, for instance, that are more his clients to follow a wellness programhorses than in riding horses. Sometimesphysically demanding than the work that includes vaccination (with core andowners have incorrectly attributed theseperformed by pleasure driving horses. risk-based vaccines), deworming, dentalproblems to other causes. If you dontAnd the explosions from trot into canter exams, and attention to nutrition andmaintain their mouths well, theyre goingduring the marathon phrase described hoof care, etc. to have problems accepting bits and be- can be hard on the hocks and stifles, Thomas Daniel Jr., DVM, partner ating able to respond to pressures on thosesays Forfa. So conditioning is crucial for Southern Pines Equine Associates, inbits, he says. preparing driving horses of any typebut North Carolina, was the team veterinar- A well-maintained mouth promotesespecially combined driving horsesfor ian at the 2000 World Four-in-Handnot only bit acceptance but also efficientthe demands of their sport.Championships, in Germany. He com- chewing and digestion. And its espe- Daniel explains the differences he sees monly sees combined driving clientscially important for driving horses toin high-level driving horses versus high-in his area and advises them to havebe able to properly use the forages andlevel performance horses under saddle: the vet out to assess soundness beforefeed they consume. Many of these areYounger horses reach higher levels faster moving into heavy training and after theheavily muscled horsesdraft horsesin driving, he says, adding that while you TheHorse.com | The HorseOctober 201931'