tried another new-and-exciting thing in the driving world–the American Scurry. from what I hear, this was started in the UK and tyoned down for Americans. There are a number of defined courses to use. We did two today. First was a course done for “optimum time” determined by the length of the course done at the designated speed (by ADS). Draft speed in 11kph. Optimal time" for other categories is also predefined. If you knock downb a cone, you are eliminated. if you go UNDER optimal speed, you are elimated. In this course, my Clydesdale Tuffy not only won first place in the draft devision, he was closest to optimal time of ALL categories (16 competitors). Second course is for speed. Cones knocked down give you penalty points. First place went to another Clydesdale, a mare named Callie who can really move out. I had a blast cantering both my big boys throug the course and they seemed to enjoy it as well. Tuffy was second for drafts and Imnage was 4th for drafts. Their times were very competitive in the other categories as well. This event was a blast. I hear there nare a lot of these events in other parts of the US but it has just started to catch on in California. If anyone has participated in one, let me know. We want to add more of the courses and have not yet decided whicvh to do for the nexr event.
I got to try one of these in Ireland last year…really neat and fast (I drove a pair of ponies). The audience loved it and it seemed pretty popular.
Sad to hear they toned it down here…what was changed? I didn’t think it was that scary on the old sod.
I’ve messed about with scurrying for decades.
It’s fun. It’s the reason for ponies being invented 
What was changed?
From the little information given I’d say:
Breeds of horses/s. Always ponies. There’s small pairs - under 12 hands any type or breed or X-breed and large pairs - over that
Sounds like a single was permitted. It’s always pairs here.
Slowed down or restricted speed - mention of penalty for being too quick. It’s as fast as you can possibly manage.
Canter. That’s slow! It’s gallop.
Knock downs and elmination. Here there’s a ball on top of each cone and you just get time penalty points for hitting a marker or knocking a ball off.
Names - here not only is it always pairs but they’re always named so the names go together e.g. I’ve Norfolk and Brakes (say it quick to appreciate the joke ), Trouble and Strife and Trial and Error. I’ve had Judge and Jury, Kathy and Heathcliffe, Bits and Pieces, Fuss and Bother, Gin and Tonic, Ice and Slice, Dun and Dusted
I drove two pair of ponies…Briggs & Stratten and Aston & Martin.
It’s not a sport for dressage queens, much more x-country and motorcycle racers.
I have to say, after watching some ponies flit around an arena while being driven, I did laugh to myself as I thoroughly enjoyed watching them!! Then while talking to a lady in our area who has ponies and mini’s, they were being driven around my Percheron mare, who was in harness and standing watching then drive around us.
To me, ponies and mini’s are like the cute sport car of the driving world…me, I drive the truck of the draft world…a Percheron. But fun none the less!! Course, my husband raised an eyebrow when I was looking in the trailer wondering how I could “smuggle” a few of those adorable ponies under my Percheron!!
The second course we did was a “fastest time” event and I actually did let one of the Clydes gallop a bit. Trainer was a bit miffed at me, I think…horses are going to break into a canter in the show ring and effect my placing. I think it is a trade off. My Clydes love to canter, it loosens them up and makes them move better plus it is a blast. I will have to drive more carefully in the show ring, I guess, when they ask for extended trot or fast trot. Many draft people think cantering should remain forbidden. I think a lot of them are afraid to do it. I know I was at first. Since there is only one equine on the course at a time, I don’t think it is so unsafe. Of course, each of my guys came right back to a trot when I asked. Steering was a litytle bit of a challenge at the gallop. Of course, my cart was also a bit wide…they don’t change width based on your wheelbase and the spacing did not give ne much room for error. Those tennis balls can really fly! I would love to try a Scurry with a pair of ponies, and maybe some day I will. There were a few minis at the event and when they started cantering, we could not believe how adorable they looked.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the Scurry Challenge it is getting allot of attention. There are quite a few different course in the program to choose from for anyone who wishes to hold and event. Many driving clubs across the country like the idea of holding one of these scurries for there members.
It has been toned down quite a bit from the UK style scurries but we are building it up to something very close to what people are use to seeing what a true scurry is with the different courses clubs & people can choose from.
In the USA the market is not correctly set up for a true scurry yet. The lower & wider carriages needed are just not popular here & most folks want to use there horses/ponies & carriage for many different events & shows, so we have to understand this and work with what people have.
I have tried to build courses that appeal to every driver & courses that puts everyone on a level playing field. In the Scurry Challenge it does not matter if you have a draft or an advanced level CDE horse, you have the same chances as everyone else.
Each course is designed to test you & your horses in different areas. It improves the communication between you both & achieves this in a fun and exciting way. Even as a training tool these courses are good to set up at home and use in everyday training I feel.
Glad your having fun with them!
Robert
The people putting on the Scurries here know of 5 courses. We plan on adding another to the two we did when we have the next one in July. Although the one where you do optimal tinme was interedsting (especially since we won it!) I like the speed event quite a bit. My draft boys are pretty big (18-1 and 18-3) and don’t seem as easy to manuever as the smaller drafts. Or perhaps my steering suffers when we are going get going fast. They were definately not out of control, but we sent a lot pof tennis balls flying…perhaps into the next county! So far, it seems Thomas has had the most fun with Scurries. Hopefully things will change and we’ll get to experience some of the thrills of the non-American version.
