INDOOR
HORSE DRIVING TRIALS UK
RULES.
(August
2005)
The current British Horse Driving Trials Association National HDT rules
apply for Indoor Horse Driving Trials with the following exceptions.
1. To be
held in an arena not less than 50 x 20 metres.
1.1
The control of an event rests with the Event Manager, who
undertakes the duties of both Technical Delegate
and President
of the Jury.
2. The competition
will consist of three phases as follows.
Phase 1
- Precision &
Paces.
2.1.
The arena will be restricted to 50 x 20 metres and the markers will
be equally spaced apart.
2.2
Only approved IHDT Tests shall be used.
2.3
All judges’ scores will be
indicated to and recorded by the scorer at the end of each movement.
2.4
Two judges are used;
one judge assesses and marks the paces, which will count for 60% of the
score. While the other assesses and marks, the precision of the movements
executed these scores contributing the other 40% toward the total.
2.5
Errors of course or instances of rule breaking will be indicated,
recorded and reported to the scorer by the judge responsible for marking
the movements.
2.6
The judges for this section do NOT need to be BHDTA panel judges
but must be competent and suitably experienced.
Phase 2
- Cones (Obstacle
Driving).
2.7
Competitors will be told the bogey time for the course but are
reminded that stopwatches and/or other timing aids are strictly forbidden.
Outside assistance could lead to disqualification.
The Course.
2.8
There will be a maximum of ten elements.
2.9
Obstacle gate markers shall be numbered sequentially. Official
BHDTA type cones need not be used but all obstacle gates must
have a dislodgable element.
2.10
The course may include one multiple obstacle.
2.11
The starting line may not be less than 5 metres from the first
obstacle.
2.12
The finishing line may not be less than 5 metres from the final
obstacle.
2.13
There is no set minimum or maximum distance between obstacles but
the design, should enable drivers to maintain an even pace throughout the
majority of the course.
2.14
Drivers may take whatever line they wish but must take each
obstacle in sequence.
2.15
Drivers may cross their own line between obstacles without penalty.
2.16
Knocking down a previously driven obstacle will incur penalties.
Speed.
2.17
The target time will be calculated from a speed of 220 metres per
minute.
2.18
A competitor will incur one penalty point for each second either
above or below the target time.
Phase 3
- Marathon Obstacles ( Hazards ).
2.19
Each competitor will drive four (4) marathon type obstacles.
2.20
Two (2) obstacles will be erected in the arena at any one time and
will have a maximum of 5 flagged gates.
(If two arenas are available at the same venue, two obstacles
may be erected in each to a give total of four).
2.21
Obstacles 1 & 2 shall be driven by each competitor from all
classes.
2.22
Obstacles 1 & 2 are then reflagged or totally replaced to form
obstacles, 3 & 4 which are then driven by each competitor.
Where two arenas are available, all obstacles can be driven consecutively
but organizers should consider carefully the effect that this can make to
the character of, and the build up of interest in the competition.
2.23
Obstacles may have any number of knock down elements.
2.24
Start and finish gates will be positioned in the centre of the ring
and will be common to both obstacles.
Scoring.
2.25 One
penalty point will be awarded for each commenced second spent in each
obstacle. Each
obstacle being timed individually.
2.25a For
the National Finals timing will be made exact, to 1/100th of a second.
2.26
Each knock down incurs five (5) penalty points.
2.27
Obstacles 1 & 2 will be driven in reverse order of the combined
scores after phases 1 & 2 (Precision & Paces
+ Cones)
the best going last.
2.28
Obstacles 3 & 4 will be driven in reverse order of the combined
scores after phases 1 & 2 plus obstacles
1 & 2, the best going last.
3 - Classes.
(1)
Novice Single pony
(2) Open Single pony
(3)
Novice Single Horse
(4)
Open Single Horse
(5)
Multiples, Pairs
(6) Multiples
Tandems, Unicorns, Teams
CLASSES 5 and 6 will be combined at qualifiers but will be separate
at the finals
3.1
Other classes may be introduced at a
later time.
3.3
Classes may be combined at the discretion of the organizers.
4 - Competitors.
4.1
All competitors must be members of the Indoor Horse Driving Trials
UK.
This membership affords competitors
personal liability insurance for the duration of the event but not
personal accident insurance cover. It is strongly recommended that drivers
have further insurance cover for all driving activities they undertake,
the BHDTA offers insurance via membership
4.2.
JUNIORS: Competitors under the age of 18 years as of the 1st of
October of that winter's season.
Age qualifications for
drivers and grooms as per BHDTA rules for affiliated club events.
4.3 OPEN: Competitors, who have competed in open classes in BHDTA national horse driving trials competitions or that have qualified for a novice class at a National Indoor Horse Driving Trials Final.
4.4 Drivers may compete in two classes at a event and will qualify from both
5 - Grooms.
5.1
Grooms may stand on the
back step for all phases.
5.2
Grooms giving
assistance, including verbal or physical directions; sliding, lifting or
moving the vehicle in any way during phases 1 & 2 will incur 20
penalties for their competitor for each incidence.
5.3
Grooms need not
be members of the BHDTA or the IHDT UK.
5.4
Grooms
may compete on more than one vehicle at an event.
5.5
Drivers may act as
grooms, on other turnouts within the same event in which they are
competing
6 - Horse - Pony - Donkey.
6.1
Animals need not be
registered with the BHDTA.
6.2
Animals may compete
twice in any one competition
6.3
Animals may wear boots
and/or bandages during all phases of the competition.
7 - Dress.
7.1
Marathon dress to be
worn throughout all phases of the competition.
7.2
BHDTA approved
protective hard hats are required in all phases and body protectors are
strongly recommended.
8 - Vehicles.
8.1
The competitor will use
the same vehicle for all three phases
8.2
Vehicles will be of a
marathon type, pneumatic tyres are permitted but scurry vehicles are NOT
permitted.
Minimum weights do not
apply but all vehicles must be of a construction suitable for the
competition
Minimum widths for all
phases of the competition =
125cm.
8.3
Vehicles may be
measured at any stage during the competition.
9.1
Each competitor, in
each event, in each region will gain points on the scale shown below.
These points
reflect the position in
which the competitor finishes within their class each time they complete.
1st place: 10
points
2nd place:
8 points
3rd place: 6 points
4th place: 5
points
5th place: 4 points
6th place:
3
points
Each competitor
completing an event outside these positions will gain 1 point.
9.2 The
Indoor Carriage Driving Company Ltd will allocate each event to a region
or regions.
9.3
Competitors may not
transfer points between regions unless an event is specified as being
multi regional in the schedule.
9.4
This rule has been deleted.
9.5
All qualifying events must run to the official I.C.D.C. rules and
event organizers must report all competitors’ final scores and placings
as soon as possible after the event to The Indoor Carriage Driving Co Ltd
(IHDT UK)
9.6
National Finals qualifications; Competitors will qualify from each
class, in each region as follows: -
Junior Class
The highest points
Novice Pony
The highest & second highest points
Open Pony
The highest points
Novice Horse
The highest points
Open Horse
The highest points
Multiples
The Pair, Tandem, Unicorn, Team with the highest points
The scores will be calculated as follows: The point gained from the placings in the qualifying events in any one region, less one (i.e.: a region with 6 qualifying rounds, the total of a competitors best 5 scores will count). If this results in a tie, the remaining score will be used as a tiebreaker
9.7
All the previous seasons National Indoor Champions and the Reserve
Supreme Champion have the right to defend their titles and not
have to pre-qualify but must have competed during the current
season.
9.7a Past National Supreme Champions are qualified for all future National Indoor Championship Finals –
provided they compete in the current season.
They may compete in classes other than those of their championship win. The Indoor Carriage Driving Company Ltd., as the organisers of the Championship Finals reserve the right to issue invitations to further competitors, as they shall see fit.