Welcome to the Victorian Branch of the Australian Carriage Driving Society

We’re dedicated to fostering and celebrating the art of driving horses, ponies, and other equines. Whether you’re an experienced driver or new to the reins, there’s a place for you in our community.

Calendar

News

Results

Find a Club

Latest Updates

Amended Qualifying period for Dressage Championships

Ammended qualifying period for the 2026 Victorian Graded Driven Dressage Championships: In response to the difficulties that Victorian members have been experiencing related to the recent fire events throughout the state of Victoria, an extended qualifying period for the 2026 Victorian Graded Driven Dressage Championships has been formally approved. The qualifying period for the 2026 Victorian Graded Driven Dressage Championships

14 March 2026

Junior Bursary applications now open

Information relating to the Junior Bursary and the Application Form are now available on the ACDS Federal Website on the Young Drivers page. Applications close October 31st.

3 September 2025

Barmah Red Gum Roundup

The Longwood Carriage Driving Club hosted “The Red Gum Roundup” Social drive over three days 30 Aug – Sep 1. from the Barmah Racecourse grounds. Driving on the first day along the Broken Creek to a billy tea break then return to Barmah. Sunday’s drivers guided their horses and ponies over 20kms. to the Picola pub for a tasty roast

3 September 2025

Federal AGM

ACDS Federal AGM Tuesday 8th July at 8pm AEST. VERO Voting will once again be supporting us for the voting and online streaming of the meeting. Further details will be sent out in the near future.

30 May 2025

Get Involved

Branch Meetings

Held every two months, our meetings are open to all members. While voting is reserved for Club Delegates, we encourage everyone to attend and share their ideas.

Meetings are held via Zoom with the occasional face to face meeting.

State Representation

We're proud to have a Victorian representative at Federal meetings, ensuring our state's voice is heard at the national level.

Join Us

New members are always welcome! We'd love to have you join our carriage driving family. Here's how you can get started:

Visit our Club page to find a club near you
Reach out to us for more information about membership and activities

Junior and Young Driver Programs

We're passionate about nurturing the next generation of carriage drivers. Our junior and young driver programs offer tailored instruction, mentorship, and opportunities for young enthusiasts to develop their skills in a safe and encouraging environment.

Young Drivers Convenor - Alison McDiarmid alimcjmull@gmail.com

Explore Our Disciplines

Carriage driving offers something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in competitive driving, pleasure driving, or simply learning the ropes, we have programs and events to suit your interests.

Combined Driving

CDEs test horse and driver skills through dressage, marathon, and cones phases. Competitors aim for the lowest overall penalties, showcasing obedience, fitness, and precision.

Dressage

Carriage dressage demonstrates the horse’s training and harmony with the driver through prescribed movements. It’s both a standalone discipline and a CDE phase.

Indoor/Outdoor

Indoor Driving offers compact competitions with Precision and Paces, Cones, and Obstacles phases. Popular in winter, it provides training opportunities in a controlled environment.

Pleasure and Endurance

Pleasure Driving involves leisurely, social drives, while Endurance Driving challenges teams to complete long-distance courses. Both disciplines celebrate the joy of driving in various settings, from relaxed country roads to more demanding multi-day events.

Showing

Show Driving showcases the aesthetic side of carriage driving. Competitors are judged on their horses’ beauty and manners, as well as overall turnout presentation.

Junior and Young Drivers

Show Driving showcases the aesthetic side of carriage driving. Competitors are judged on their horses’ beauty and manners, as well as overall turnout presentation.

Newcomers Welcome

Never held a driving rein before? No problem! Our newcomer programs are designed to introduce you to the world of carriage driving. You’ll learn the basics of harnessing, driving safety, and horse care from experienced mentors who are eager to share their knowledge.

Come and be part of our thriving carriage driving community in Victoria.