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Once upon a time not all that long ago there was a faraway land called Europe. In it, there were carriage-driving competitions among turnouts of four-in-hands of stately, very tall horses. The earth shook as the horses passed by, and all the people were duly impressed. The world turned, and pairs of horses tried the sport. They enjoyed excitement and success. Ponies tried the sport, in fours and pairs and tandems. Could single horses handle this challenging sport? There were grave doubts among the aristocracy, but the singles triumphed. They were just as exciting and successful as the multiples had been. The world turned again, as it often does, and this exciting sport leapt into the new world. Singles, pairs, fours, tandems, ponies, horses - all were wildly successful. The sport and the art of Combined Driving grew and spread across the lands. Each size of horse and pony and turnout had its own measurements for success in the sport so that all could succeed each to his own.
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There were littler steeds, too, who stood with aspirations. Could they do the deed? Was it too much for them? They tried early on, before there were rules for their sizes. One calamity stays etched into memories from those early days, and the little horses were deemed unsuitable. A dedicated and passionate woman by the name of Renee True, as well as the very knowledgeable and expert Jay Hubert with his small ponies, led the movement to champion the cause |
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of the very littlest of horses, finding ways that they could be carefully included with their bigger cousins. This was a tentative time, and great care was given that challenges be minimized for the miniatures. Little by little, the successes of the small ones, the Very Small Equines, grew. |
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We now are the beneficiaries of this growth, and we sincerely thank those who pioneered the way for miniature horses in ADS events. We experience how much our little steeds can do, how fit, how strong, how lithe, how talented. But old fears and emotions remain. To soothe these and to prove the strengths of the little ones, we find facts. Going beyond emotions and fears, we show with factual, reproducible data that miniature horses are capable of much more than has previously been allowed to them in Combined Driving. The Mini Macro Marathon in 2005 and many other events and trials have the hard data to prove the might of the little ones. We time, measure and set every angle and distance, gauge every vital sign and statistic. We solicit input from the great and the small.
With these facts, then, the time has come that the VSEs have greater latitude in Combined Driving. They can go farther in better condition than had been believed by many. Some of the new advocates of VSEs have proposed that they be allowed to do full three section marathons if conditions warrant.
There are many who believe in minis and their whips, and among those is the Chairman of the Combined Driving Committee, Tom Knicker. It is his belief that simply adding distance to the marathon challenges the horse without challenging the driver. Many have questioned whether minis that compete on the same courses with the same wide measurements as the big horses and ponies have the same caliber of challenge. Do those wide gates give the little ones more a Pleasure Marathon than a true CDE experience?
Enter the VSE Subcommittee, thanks to Mr. Knicker. The assignment is to develop a comprehensive set of rules for VSEs in CDEs that offer challenges on a par with those of larger equines. Develop the sport. Find possibilities that create better horses and better drivers. Grow. All aspects of Combined Driving rules are to be scrutinized - Dressage, Marathon, Cones. Members consider acuity of challenge, facts and figures, welfare of the horses, and that large and elusive aspect - perceptions. He says, "It is time to fully integrate the VSEs into Combined Driving, not just allow them as an add-on to the main event. The idea of 'allowing' the VSEs to compete at CDEs is outdated." This brings an unprecedented opportunity, and one that truly demonstrates the very strong support and validation the ADS offers to miniature horses and their people. Not since H.R.H. Prince Philip asked Sir Michael Ansell to develop the very first Combined Driving rules has such an opportunity been presented. This is both an honor and a really tough job.
The Subcommittee agreed wholeheartedly that any recommendations present as little challenge and stress to organizers as possible, acknowledging our position in the CDE world as still tenuous. It seems that conditions and perceptions across the country must be very diverse, so offering parameters for differing situations seemed the best idea. The Subcommittee retired after making recommendations for size-adjusted dressage courts that were approved into rule.
Full in the belief that comprehensive recommendations for all CDE sections are not only possible but also necessary for the growth of the sport, some of us have continued as civilians -- individual ADS members -- in developing options that can suit all situations. This is a tall order, and one not deemed possible by some. The format and wording of current proposals have been done with extreme care to make it as clear as possible that the old guidelines for VSEs may still be used or the new proposals may be offered, depending on local conditions and preferences.
How did we come up with the recommendations and specific measurements we did? We started with facts, formed hypotheses, experimented, watched and listened to our horses. In addition, we consulted with judges, trainers, and diverse drivers. Here's how we swung into action.
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| In Dressage arenas that are proportional to match the size of the equine, horses and their whips are free to show their best. |
| | Got Bend? | |
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A mini is smaller than a horse -- about half as tall and about a quarter the weight. (We won't get into how much weight a mini can pull. That's a story for another day.) If he is half as tall, should he have arenas, hazards, and obstacles that measure half as big? We found out not. A three-quarter-size ratio seemed to hold true for most measurements. Why? Well, most VSE drivers are not half as big as other drivers, so carts and carriages cannot be halved to suit. The whole turnout, then, is larger than half the size of a big horse turnout, pretty close to three-quarters. In dressage, then, the preferred dimensions are three-quarters of the originals, 30x60 and 30x75. (But remember, we don't want to burden our organizers, so we'll take whatever size is offered and thank you very much!)
In Cones, clearances for gates are set by wheel widths, and VSE clearances are already slimmer than larger equines, so we didn't mess with that. Why does it work for us to clear slimmer clearances? Perhaps being at eye level with the cones helps! In multiple Cones obstacles, we found interesting results. In the open multiples - zig-zag, serpentine -- the three-quarter ratio held true. We had expert eyes watch us as we negotiated the multiples, and drawing on their experience concluded that this size equated with large horses in their space. When we tried it with the closed Cones obstacles, though -- the rail obstacles -- no go. We tried every constellation of closed obstacle there was, and we couldn't clear them due to the lengths and turn radii of the turnouts. We concluded that the pony measurements are right for VSEs, too. Speed, time, and measurements decided the dimensions of a VSE-sized Cones arena. (Remember, we don't want to be a pain in the neck for organizers or designers, so we'll take whatever is offered and thank you very much!)
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Why is it that VSEs manage tighter clearances in Cones?
Don't their drivers have to be even more careful not to knock balls down with their elbows? |
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In Marathon, we determined in real-life trials with veterinary oversight and carefully-measured vital signs that minis can go the full distance, all three sections, and they do so quite handily. Many are comfortable with speeds higher than current standards, but we concluded that it was wise not to mess with too many things at once - too many variables to gauge the success of all. Marathon obstacles, though, we scrutinized. There is the very strong belief that a 250 cm gate opening is logistical challenge for a four-in-hand of warmbloods, but a freeway for a mini, so clearances should be narrowed for VSEs. We can certainly see that point of view. On the other hand, many feel that creative flagging is sufficient challenge without changing gate widths. Others believe that VSEs have different but equal challenges in "big horse" hazards as they are. What about factual information? We collected data on wheel widths and turnout lengths of an array of carts and carriages in classes of horses, ponies, and VSEs. Yes, there was a measurable difference in vehicle wheel widths relative to the size classes. Again, due to the size of the driver, a VSE vehicle is not half or three quarters the width of a big horse carriage. In this case, the math indicated that a marathon gate width tailored for a VSE should be 80% of the original, or 200 cm. (Once again, we say that we'll gladly take whatever is offered.)
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Merridy Hance & "Valvet" or Jeanine Rachau with "Elska"&"Judit"
Who fills up that Marathon obstacle gate more?
A snippy little VSE or a handy pair of Fjords? |
| | Similar or different challenges? | |
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It is important to note that the measurements in these proposals have been carefully crafted to represent minimums and maximums, not hard-and-fast rules. It is duly acknowledged that conditions are different at each venue, and that each event is unique. This presents a perfect opportunity for dialogue among competitors, organizers, and course designers to discuss preferences and possibilities. Here is what Tom Knicker said about the measurement aspect of the proposals:
"I think what needs to be stressed is the rules create 'brackets' for each of the parameters, and that the organizers can select specs from within those 'brackets' to create a proper event for their region of the country. …the idea of flexibility within the rules [should not be] lost. It needs to be stressed that we're talking about minimums, maximums, windows, and options. Nothing is being mandated."
One of the most important lessons I have learned in the course of this work is that rules and guidelines are dynamic, not static. We are the critical agents in their evolution, and they do evolve as our sport grows. The factors that are by far the most important are the relationships we forge -- with our horses, our mentors, our organization, and most importantly with each other. The kindness, understanding, respect, and esteem we feel and show for each other are constant, and this is the foundation for all that follows.
In the course of this sometimes-bumpy journey, it has been my pleasure and privilege to make the acquaintance and friendship of some very fine horsemen and women in very diverse situations. Among our ranks there are some phenomenal supporters of the ADS, and the ADS has extended the same phenomenal support to us.
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Two fellas who like their horses way big,
Ken Olsen (L) of "Happ's" in Ethel, WA and
Alex Fraser (R) of the "Fraser School of Driving" in Deer Lodge, MT, are awfully nice to the "mini people" and their wee ones. |
We have traveled to ADS meetings where we were met at every turn with welcome, support, and good fellowship. We learned that the ADS is us and we are the ADS. We little guys are wholeheartedly embraced. Our new president Jim Keathley has asked, "Are you ready?" We are. Ready, willing, and able. As regards the VSE initiative, we hope to take our journey up a notch from here, and together with big and little, old and new, mighty and modest, to … live happily ever after. |
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