Marathon car
The marathon carriage is a manoeuvrable, robust wagon that is mostly one and two-horse, occasionally also four-in-hand, and is mainly used for training and driving competitions.
The marathon carriage has a narrow track (mostly 125 cm), large wheels, good suspension, a short wheelbase and a bench at the front with a driver's seat on the right. Today you can occasionally find driver's seats in the middle for single-horse vehicles. The marathon car also usually has four disc brakes , a steering delay and often also a turntable brake . The latest development in marathon cars is towards air-sprung wheels and two steered axles. Behind the seat there is a low, open platform on which one or two co-drivers ( grooms ) can stand and two narrow seats. The co-driver stands on the rear platform and stabilizes the car in fast corners by leaning on the corner.
In driving competitions , marathon tests are driven with the marathon car, while obstacle and dressage tests are usually driven with other types of vehicles.
Today the marathon carriage is one of the best-selling horse-drawn carriages alongside the wagonette .