ADS News - Rules in 2009                Submitted by Merridy Hance

WOW drivers tend to be smart, prepared, and competent. (Go ahead, pat yourself on the back! It's true! ) WOWs condition their horses, their gear, and themselves for any leisurely drive or competition. A large part of preparing for combined driving competition is knowing the rules of the game. As our sport continues to evolve, so do the rules. You'll do yourself a great big favor if you routinely bone up on the ADS rulebook.

DO log onto the ADS website www.americandrivingsociety.org and really read the rulebook for yourself. We ADS members may download it for free and print it out if the format they wish or we may request a copy from the ADS office for $10.

To get you going, I've noted some of the high points of rule changes for 2009. My little list here is certainly not complete, and there are other sections of the rulebook besides just combined driving (dressage, general rules, pleasure and recreational driving) that you'll want to peruse.

If you have questions about the rulebook, you are very welcome to pop me an e-mail. merridy@wayoutwestminis.com I'm not the big rule guru, but I can figure out whom to ask.

Some of the high points below.

The Combined Driving section is (we hope) better organized and completely renumbered, with welfare of the horse of paramount importance.

• There is now a clearer definition "competition age" of competitor. There is no change to the age categories themselves. (This is mostly noticed in youth categories.) Grooms must be at least 14, except in driving trials at training and prelim levels, where they may be 12.

• Maximum water depth in constructed elements is 30 cm and natural water is 50 cm. This applies to VSEs, too.

• For Advanced-level competition, minimum height for pony pairs and fours is now 108 cm. For singles it remains 120 cm. There is no change to rules for VSE height, as VSEs don't go to the Advanced (National / International) level.

Marathon:

• Whips! As of this writing, whips seem to be optional on Marathon. Just a little advice, if you'd care to heed it: carry your whip at all times while you are on the carriage! (General Regulation Article 8.1) Just don't get carried away so it looks like you're beating your horse.

• On course walk, drivers with disabilities may drive themselves through obstacles in golf carts or similar vehicles at walking speed. Previously, someone else had to drive them.

• Advertising on marathon is now unrestricted. (So our rich sponsors can splash their logos all over us!)

• A groom may touch the "bridle ends" of the horse's reins to lead him in a hazard. There will be penalty for groom down, but no longer disqualification for touching the reins, and less risk of pulling the bridle off in efforts not to touch the reins.

• Time penalties on marathon are now the same for coming in early as for coming in late: 2/10 of a penalty point per second.

• If you have to stop after the last obstacle on marathon, do it within 30 meters of the last out-gate or there will be penalties.

• To make it through a lettered obstacle gate, the whole turnout must cross the line, not just the back axle.

• When leaving an obstacle, the time stops when the nose of the first horse passes the line, but you're technically still in the obstacle until the whole turnout crosses the line (important to know, because penalties inside and outside the obstacles may be different).

Cones:       

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In a closed obstacle (L, U, Box) each section (A,B,C,D) of the rails has to be a different color (!)

You still salute the judge, and you have to start within 60 seconds of the whistle.

You may pass through elements of an open multiple to get to another pair of cones. (You don't have to go all the way around a serpentine, for example. Don't try this in Pleasure driving classes, though!)