Arena Driving Trials Rules (for use until printed in the ADS Rulebook) November 11, 2001
ARENA DRIVING TRIAL RULES
General Rules
A. Rules for Arena Driving will be as in ADS Combined Driving Rules if not covered herein.
B. Facilities: The size of the arena will be a rectangle with an approximate minimum size of 20 M x 40 M to a maximum of 40 M x 100 M.
C. There will be no vet check. An equine veterinarian must be on call. An EMT must also be on call.
D. Officials: Arena Driving events must be judged by an "r" or "R" licensed CDE judge. A Combined
Driving Technical Delegate is recommended.
E. Cantering on courses will be at the discretion of the organizer.
F. A safety check is recommended prior to Phase 1.
The competition will consist of three phases as follows:
Phase 1 Dressage
1.1 Letters A and C will be at the mid-point of the short side of the arena. Letters B and E will be at the
mid-point of the long side of the arena. Letters H, M, K, F will be measured 10 meters from the corners of the area. (Recommended that a diagram be prepared to show this.)
1.2 If the arena is of a suitable size, an ADS dressage test may be used. If in the judgment of the organizer the arena is too small for an ADS dressage test, an ADS Arena Driving test must be used.
1.3 The Judge's scores will be recorded by the scribe at the end of each movement. Comments by the judge will be at the discretion of the organizer. The organizer will advise competitors if comments will be limited.
1.4 Where there is not enough room to warm up outside the perimeter of the arena, competitors may be allowed to warm up in the dressage arena after the previous competitor has exited. The judge will ring a bell (whistle) after approximately one minute, after which the competitor must proceed to A to begin the test.
1.5 Presentation will not be judged.
Phase 2 Cones
The Course
2.1 The course will be set in the area used for dressage or in an adjacent area if available.
2.2 The number of sets of cones will be appropriate to the dimensions of the arena, not to exceed 20.
2.3 The course may include one multiple obstacle.
2.4 The starting line may not be less than 5 meters from the first cones. The finishing line may not be less than 5 meters from the last cones.
2.5 There is no minimum distance between cones, but the design of the course should enable drivers to maintain an even pace throughout the majority of the course.
Clearance
2.6 Cones may be set with a clearance of 50 cm over the wheel measurement track width of the largest training level vehicle in the class, (40 cm for Preliminary). Intermediate and Advanced levels should be reset for each competitor with 30 cm and 25 cm clearance, respectively. At the discretion of the organizer, the cones may be reset for all competitors.
Scoring
2.7 "Time allowed" and speeds as in article 931.6 in the ADS Rulebook.
2.8 Cones penalties will be assessed as stated in Articles 933 and 934 in the ADS Rulebook.
Phase 3 Obstacles
The Course
3.1 This phase will consist of four (4) marathon type obstacles only
3.2 The course may be set in the area used for dressage/cones or may be in a separate area.
3.3 Depending on the area available two (2) or four (4) obstacles will be constructed in the arena at anyone time, consisting of not more than 5 lettered gates.
3.4.1 If two (2) obstacles are constructed, the competitors in all classes shall drive obstacles 1 & 2; then both obstacles will be re-lettered to make obstacles 3 & 4 and driven by each competitor from all classes.
3.4.2 At the discretion of the organizer, obstacles 1 & 2 will not be re-lettered and the competitor will drive the obstacles a second time as obstacle 3 & 4.
3.5 Obstacles may have any number of knockdown elements.
3.6 Start and finish gates will be positioned in the center of the arena and shall be common to both obstacles.
3.7 Before the start of each obstacle the judge will ring a bell (whistle) indicating that the competitor has not more than one minute to start the obstacle. After one minute has passed the judge will start timing whether the competitor has started the obstacle or not.
Scoring
3.8 0.2 penalty points for each complete second spent in each obstacle will be assessed. Obstacles will be timed individually. Each knockdown will incur five (5) penalty points.
3.9 Other penalties will be assessed as stated in Article 925.8 and 927.12 of the ADS Rulebook. 3.10 The Obstacles score will consist of course penalties and driving penalties.
4. Classes
Classes may be designated by horse/pony size, single/multiple, and two-wheel or four-wheel vehicles, level of experience or by the different levels of the dressage test. Classes may be split as entries warrant.
5. Dress
Marathon dress may be worn during all three phases of the competition. Presentation will not be judged or scored.
6. Vehicles
The use of the same vehicle for all three phases is mandatory.
7. Grooms
7.1 Grooms may ride in/ on the vehicle in all phases.
7.2 Grooms giving any assistance, including verbal or physical directions, sliding, lifting or moving the vehicle in any way during dressage and cones will incur immediate elimination of the competitor.
7.3 Grooms may participate on more than one vehicle.
03/05/2002