I haven't seen any in my limited show attendance this summer. Is it an unsanctioned event?
Hehe, sorry, I shouldn't be giggling. I'm not laughing AT you, I swear!
The American Driving Society is the original driving society, probably (I'm too lazy to check) far predating any of the mini organizations. THEY laughed at US when we first tried to compete at the CDE's! Can't blame them- here they are, used to four-in-hands of imported Hanoverians, and we show up with our little tiny horses and claim we can do marathon as well as they can. I would have been snickering too...except that I've driven a mini. These little guys can outlast any Hanoverian (or Friesian or TB or QH) ever born.
So no, while these are not AMHA/AMHR sanctioned they are certainly formalized events under the control of a national organization with rules and standards and all sorts of traditions. They aren't an event like a single class at a show, they are three day competitions like a triathalon for driven horses. There are world level competitions held in Europe just like there are for ridden three day eventing. (Not that the minis are allowed anywhere near it yet.) It's so cool! You've just got to come see one.
Check previous posts on here by using the search feature and looking for CDE. There should be quite a few and you'll learn a lot.
Leia
Edited to add: Sorry, just figured out why I was giggling so hard. It was the mental image of the expression on the face of any big-horse ADS member if you ever implied that they needed the blessing/sanction of the mini societies! Oh dear. LOL. They think we're a joke and would not take kindly to that.
Don't get me wrong, many of them have developed a lot of respect for the minis and are glad to see us there. But snobbishness still rules in some circles and honestly I understand it.