He and owner Beth spent two months in Florida training with Larry Poulin (nine time USA pair driver at World Cup level).

Beth reports that the training was fantastic and she was very proud of Darius, who remembered his manners and enjoyed all the attention. After gaining confidence driving cross-country and through the woods he learned to negotiate water hazards and other obstacles as well as doing a cones course, and he also got to investigate a sprinkler.

2007 update:
Darius has been a solid preliminary level horse for the past two years and we have started schooling intermediate. We have spent the last four years in residence for the winter season and training at Black Prong Equestrian Center, a unique combined driving facility with 50,000 acres adjacent. We have had help from coach David Saunders (Manager of the Queen's horses for 17 years and trainer/navigator to Prince Phillip). David compares Darius to one of international 4-in-hand driver Chester Webb's horses (which are all extraordinary). Darius has benefitted from competing at numerous venues: Black Prong and Continental Acres in Florida, Ipswich Massachusetts at the Waldingfield HT, Topsfield MA, Stillwater OK, Dallas TX at the Proud Meadows HT and numerous other events in Texas including the Haven Hill DT in Narasota TX in 2007.

Darius has beautiful dressage movement and rarely receives less than a 7 for gaits and is also an incredible marathon horse. He's agile and intelligent, bold and a true obedient partner. In 2007 he pulled our turnout through a deep water hazard when many other horses quit. I have never felt safer on marathon than with Darius who has a "true" heart.