Eventing with carriages: A hard-driving sport

SHARON — One day, when Scott Monroe was around 40 years old, he went for a carriage ride with a neighbor. He knew nothing about horses, never having owned, ridden or spent any time around them. But he was so smitten by the experience he decided to take up driving and to learn how to ride a horse. That in itself could sound like a fairy tale, except that he did all that and then took it many steps further. “What I really liked initially was the carriages. Being a guy I liked cars, wheels,” said Monroe, who is now 59. His neighbor, Charlie, had old-fashioned carriages. But soon Monroe discovered in the sport of combined driving, the carriage equivalent of a sports car.Ten years ago, he started competing, and last November he won the National Singles Driving Championship — for the third time. That is to say, Monroe and his horse, Shadow, won the title. Any mention of Monroe must include Shadow, his equine partner. They’ve been a team for 15 years. Whatever Monroe has won, Shadow has won with him. They have been on the US Equestrian team — twice. Competed in Europe — twice. Had countless wins at the national level, and won the National Championship — three times. And Shadow has been Horse of the Year — twice.Combined driving is based on the sport of three-day eventing. Instead of a horse and rider, it is a horse and carriage and driver. There are three components: dressage, cones and marathon. Marathon is the equivalent to the cross-country jumping phase in eventing. The team must navigate a series of natural obstacles at high speed. In combined driving, the team also includes a navigator. The navigator stands behind the driver and helps stabilize and balance the carriage as it hurtles over rough terrain. Monroe acknowledged that capsizing is not uncommon. “When we go through the hazards, you have to get in and out as fast as possible. There’s a lot of risk. When you’re taking these corners really tight through gravel, grass and slopes, the navigator has to keep the carriage stable. They have to help keep the wheels on the ground.” The good luck phrase drivers say to each other before competition? “Keep the dirty side down.”These events are timed, and the carriage is outfitted with clocks on the back that the navigator can check.Now, Monroe acknowledges, “I’m as comfortable behind them [horses] as on them. I love riding, but I control everything that happens on board with only my voice and rein.”Perhaps the most significant aspect of Monroe’s success in the sport is that he is competing mostly against professionals. “The majority of drivers are either pros or hired by someone else to drive their horses.” Monroe says all this work is “just a hobby. It’s all just money out. If I weren’t in love with the horse and the sport, I would never do this.”“This” is a pretty big dog-and-pony show. Traveling across the country and internationally to compete, the number of items Monroe brings with him is impressive. Two carriages — one for dressage and cones and one marathon vehicle, which he says couldn’t be more different. Two to three sets of harness; each carriage has different tack plus one for training and exercise. (Imagine keeping all that clean and shiny.) Plus, feed, hay, grain, blankets, coolers and the outfits for driver and navigator. This is a sport that is not only about ability but about doing it in style as well. The harness has to match the carriage, and the driver has to complement the carriage.Then of course there is the training and lessons. Monroe still works with a trainer and also gives driving lessons to lower-level competitors. “The majority of my training is outside year-round,” he said. But that seems to suit him because he’s an outdoor kind of guy.For the last 33 years he’s been the owner and principal of Monroe Tree Co., based in Sharon. That is a full-time, year-round job and he says he trains “whenever I can steal some time.”Most recently, Monroe and Shadow took some time off to bring home the championship ribbon from the National Singles Driving Championship in Windsor, N.C. This is the highest level of competition for the sport in the U.S. Their win puts them in good standing for the next international competition in September 2012 in Portugal. Here’s hoping they keep the dirty side down.