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Combined Driving (An Explanation) Page 3
by: Maureen Harkcom of Happ's, Inc. ~ Ethel, WA |
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After you arrive—then what?
When you arrive at an event, you check in, get your competitor packet, stable your horse and get ready to have fun. Be sure you know where the official bulletin board is as that is your means of staying informed of any announcements or changes, seeing scores as they are posted, etc. Check your watch to be sure you match the official clock.
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| Things are done a little differently at each event—each has its own “flavor” or feel. Make sure you know the particulars for the event you are participating in. Events that are approved by ADS must follow all ADS rules. Organizers may have additional rules specific to their event that you need to be aware of. Examples of these additional rules would be the requirement at Happ’s that anyone riding on a cart or carriage at any time must have on a medical armband. Other rules specific to Happ’s include: Whips and Navigators must wear approved helmets for the entire marathon course, limitations on the presence of dogs at our events, and that other than official vehicles, only electric vehicles are allowed on our courses. Again, remember to check the official bulletin board for changes (sometimes things happen during the event), announcements and scores. (When official scores are posted, you have 30 minutes to raise any issue or concern you may have.)
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For our three-day CDE held in June every year, competitors arrive on Thursday and check in. The first official happening is the Vet Check. The official veterinarian of the event along with part or all of the Ground Jury will do a visual inspection of each equine as it is walked and trotted before them. Following the Vet Check we hold a Competitor Briefing where we discuss things we feel need to be addressed with all competitors and answer questions. We then go on the “Course Walk”. Competitors load up into pickups for a tour of the Marathon course, with a brief stop at each Hazard. We do this (not all events do) so that competitors are familiar with the course and have an opportunity to ask questions of us and of the officials. Thursday evening is our “Barn Social” which is a simple, relaxed get-together of competitors and food before the competition begins.
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| Friday morning brings the start of Dressage. You will have an assigned time for Dressage that you are required to make. You will also have a time scheduled before your Dressage test for Standing Presentation (Training and Preliminary levels) so that you can get through it and have warm-up time before entering the Dressage arena. Dressage scores will be posted throughout the day as each class is finished. Friday evening we hold our Competitor Social and present the Dressage awards. |
| Saturday is Marathon day. Again, you will have an assigned start time, with a Safety Check approximately 15 minutes earlier. You will be given a couple of countdown calls before your final countdown to start. Then you are off and driving what many competitors feel is the most fun part of Combined Driving. Again, scores are posted as classes are completed. Saturday night we hold our Competitor Dinner, our raffle, and present Marathon awards.
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Sunday brings the final phase—Cones. The Order of Go is determined by competitors’ placing going into Cones, starting with the lower placing and working up to the top scoring competitors. Final awards are given immediately following Cones and competitors load up and head for home.
We always follow our June CDE with a two-day driving clinic, with the clinician usually being the person who was the CDE’s President of the Jury. We also host quite a few other driving clinics throughout the year.
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