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Issue 1 - March 2005 |
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on-line edition |
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Issue 1 - March 2005 |
| Chairman's Notes Our pre-season clinics were well attended and reports indicate beneficial and enjoyable participation by all present. The new Scoring System (ASDE) is now proven and available to all National Events and Affiliated Clubs, some of whom have already taken licences for its use. Our thanks to everyone involved over the past year in developing the ASDE system to meet our national requirements. We can now look forward to an exceptional season for our sport, including hosting the World Combined Pony Championships at Catton Park in July, where I trust all will attend to support our British Team. Contrary to views expressed in other publications, 2004 saw an increase in the number of entries at National Events. In addition, in spite of the amalgamation of some Clubs, the number affiliated rose to 52 in 2004 with an increase of Affiliated Members of some 18%. So far so good, but increased participation and opportunities at Junior, Club and National Events must remain high on our agenda. Financial matters, in particular Public Liability Insurance, have over the past year been of concern but our Treasurer, the Council and Members have met these issues pragmatically ensuring a secure future for the BHDTA. I retire as Chairman at the AGM at Brighton in May and therefore take this opportunity to wish my successor and Horse Driving Trials good fortune and support of the Membership that I have enjoyed over the past three and a half years. Tom Pettifer, Chairman Editor's Introduction Welcome to the first issue of Carriage Horse of 2005, emerging with the first daffodils! Many of us are already gearing up for the season. Some have new ponies, new carriages and even new horseboxes. Those of us stuck with older lorries in need of an annual test (MoT) must check that, if the lorry has a tachograph, it's in an acceptable condition, and there's an exciting new form to fill in. I've already heard of one lorry which failed the test only because its tachograph wasn't calibrated. See page 15. Several people (well, two) have expressed bafflement at our Turkmenistan correspondent's surreal report in the last issue, but let me assure you that it was humorous fiction and no horse or pony was harmed in its creation, or through alcohol, nicotine or Rescue Remedy abuse. It's also gained us at least one new member ' see Letters Page. Please contact me if you wish to respond to anything in the magazine: I'd like to publish a magazine representing our collective views but I am notoriously bad at mind-reading so phone, write or email and tell me what you think: it's what I'm here for. Fiona Powell, Suffolk 01473 735732, editor@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk Office News COUNCIL ELECTION There are FIVE correctly nominated candidates standing for three places. If you are a Full, Young, Company or Associate member you may therefore vote for up to three candidates. (Voting form enclosed with this mailing) The candidates are (in alphabetical order): Sarah Garnett, Brenda Hodgson, Derrick Mayes, Adrian Puddy, Alan Wilkinson. MEMBERSHIP Neil Davenport, our new Membership Secretary, has been working hard getting to grips with the new database and the flood of membership forms coming in to the office. All membership cards have been posted out and by the time members read this the yearbook should also be with you. 2005 RULE BOOK The new rule book (pictured right) has been posted out to all those members and officials who placed orders. The new size has been well received. Special thanks go to Anneke Wallace, Ian Douglas and all the Rules Committee all of whom put many voluntary hours in producing it and then checking and cross checking with the FEI rule book for accuracy. (Order yours - £10 + new binder £4 each plus postage and packing £1.50 Phone or fax the Office with your order and post a cheque or pay by credit card.) SPRING CLINICS All clinics have now been completed. Sadly the National Course Designers Clinic had to be cancelled at the last minute due to lack of participants. Currently being considered is a requirement that all National Course Designers attend one clinic in every two years, similar to that required of the Judges. All other clinics were well attended and the feedback was encouraging for the organisers who spent many hours putting them together. HORSE REGISTRATIONS Do please forward your horse registration paperwork to the office at your earliest opportunity as this will assist Gaynor to get them back to you in good time for your first entries to be placed ' Brighton close of entries is 10 April. Do ensure that you enclose the correct paperwork and payment, £35 per registration for the first five, the sixth registration (per competitor) is £30. Many competitors have requested that their registration be placed in the horses passport (as every horse now has to have a passport), this can and has been done but do please make your requirements clear. REMINDER - NEW FEI EQUINE INFLUENZA REQUIREMENTS The FEI have introduced the following rule change which has been adopted by the BHDTA for National Competition (in line with 2005 Rule Book Article 912): The FEI requirement for influenza vaccination is for booster vaccinations at six monthly intervals as from 1 January 2005. Primary course of vaccination ' requires two doses of vaccine between one and three months apart (30-90 days). The first booster vaccination must be given no more than six months after the second vaccination of the primary course. Booster vaccinations must be given at six month intervals. However, to avoid interruption of the horses' competition schedule, it is permissible to vary the six monthly booster date by 21 days. This provides a six week window around the six month date to vaccinate the horses. See article, page 10. See the BHDTA web site for more detailed and comprehensive information. Please note - where changing from annual to bi-annual vaccinations there is no requirement for further primary vaccinations. SELECTION EVENTS TO BE HELD AT 2005 NATIONAL EVENTS Newnham Park and Farleigh House are selection events for the World Combined Ponies Championships, 14-17 July 2005. Brighton, Hopetoun, Sandringham are selection events for the World Horse Pairs Championships, 8-11 September 2005. YOUR AREA REPRESENTATIVES SOUTH EAST: Rob Sims, Briars, Station Road, Heathfield, East Sussex - 01435 863624 SOUTH WEST & WALES: Anthony Cooper, Lyvers Farm, East Grimstead, Salisbury, Wilts - 01722 712709 MIDLANDS: Lesley West, Jodders, Soudley, Market Drayton, Shropshire - 01630 661314 NORTH: Pat Cooper, Redcote, Wetherby Road, Bardsley, Leeds - 01937 573507 SCOTLAND: Andrew Smith, Moat House, Hawksland, Lanark - 01555 892227 NORTHERN IRELAND: Penny Campbell, 1a Moss Lane, Lower Ballinderry, Lisburn, Co Antrim - 02892 652292 2005 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The BHDTA AGM will be held at 6.00 pm on Thursday 5 May 2004 on site at Brighton National Event. This will be followed by a Members' Open Meeting. 2005 ANNUAL MEMBERS CONFERENCE & DINNER DANCE Date for your diary - the date is 29 October and the venue is again the Hilton at Coventry. Full details and booking forms will be sent out nearer the date. (cont'd.) 2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS The World Combined Pony Championships will be held at Catton Park, 14-17 July 2005, and the World Horse Pairs Championships will be held at Salzburg, Austria on 8 '11 September 2005. All competitors for these events must hold a current FEI Licence (obtained through the BHDTA office, cost £20 ' the form can be downloaded from website) and all horses/ponies need an FEI Passport and must be qualified in accordance with Article 901 (11) ' see BHDTA 2005 Rule Book. Further information on these championships -for Catton see www.catton-hall.com and for Salzburg www.wdc-pairs-05.at EVENT ENTRIES Those drivers wishing to be considered for selection are strongly advised to post their entries for selection events as early as possible to ensure that they are accepted. It is of great assistance to all organisers if competitors can send in their entries in good time. INTERNATIONAL EVENT ENTRIES All competitors wishing to compete abroad must inform the office IN WRITING, clearly indicating each individual event for which they wish to receive information. ATV/MOTORCYCLE PASSES Competitors wishing to use ATVs or motorcycles at National Horse Driving Trials must apply to the BHDTA for a pass, submitting a copy of their insurance cover for the vehicle. Only those with BHDTA passes are allowed to use these vehicles at competitions. CHILDREN are not allowed to ride ATVs or motorcycles at events. It is strongly recommended that an appropriate hard hat is worn whilst riding an ATV/motorcycle. All vehicles must only be ridden by the number of people for which they are designed. Please note that Event Organisers may have special requirements at their events. National Driving Trials dates 2005 6-8 May - Brighton (Sussex) + BHDTA AGM 2005 CLINIC DATES Venue: The Unicorn Trust, Stow-on-the-Wold APOLOGIES - BHDTA Office Phones We apologise for the problems members encountered recently when attempting to phone or fax the office. Unfortunately there was a major breakdown on all the lines into the Business Centre - both BT and Cable & Wireless were working on the problem and it took a couple of days to rectify. In the meantime they set up one line into the Business Centre and reception staff had to field all the calls and put them through to the various companies on site. This caused severe disruption for which we sincerely apologise. Unfortunately it was completely out of our control. Office News Reminders The following item was published in a previous issue of Carriage Horse. Here it is again to jog your memory or to inform new members. The text of back issues of the magazine can be read on the website. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BHDTA MEMBERS, AFFILIATED EVENTS, AFFILIATED CLUBS AND CLUB MEMBERS: From 1 July 2004, a third party property damage excess of £500 has been introduced under our Public, Products and Personal Liability Policy which means that the member, event or club is responsible to pay up to this amount themselves before a claim can be settled. This is to help keep down the cost of the insurance. However, even if a claim appears to be below £500, it should still be reported to British Equestrian Insurance Brokers at the outset: BEIB, Hildenbrook House, The Slade, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1HR ' 01732 771719, fax 01732 359982 GB Combined Pony Team Sponsor Steve Jarman of carriagesales.com has given the British Combined Pony Team hopefuls a terrific boost by funding the group's training facilities on the run up to the World Pony Championships that take place at Catton Park later this year. A very keen supporter of all forms of carriage driving, Steve has enjoyed some thirty years in the show ring and in competitive driving and is very pleased to be able to support today's young drivers. Steve also helped the British Pony Team in Austria at the last championships with financial help and carriages. Carriagesales was started by accident a few years ago; Steve had just retired from his packaging business and purchased some carriages for his own use from Poland, very soon friends asked if he could supply some for them and, as they say, the rest is history. He constructed a website and to encourage visitors offered free advertising. This worked well, and with over forty carriages in stock at the Bedford showrooms the company has vehicles for all occasions. They export all over the world, with a good market in America and will shortly be delivering to Australia. An order for a hearse recently came from Jamaica so carriagesales is very much on the world map. The company has just taken delivery of a post chaise that will be used in the forthcoming Trafalgar celebrations. Steve with his wife Liz are currently training the horses that will be postillion ridden for the trip from Falmouth to the Admiralty during August this year. The chaise will also be used in the opening ceremony at the World Championships at Catton: more details coming soon. Carriagesales.com will have a trade stand at The World Championships at Catton and at The SsangYong National Championships where visitors will have the chance of viewing the latest models of carriages. The company will also host a Team page on the BHDTA website that will be updated regularly with news and progress on the British Combined Pony Team. Nigel Dipple, the BHDTA Marketing Director, welcomes this very generous sponsorship and the continued partnership with carriagesales.com. Do take time to view the website at www.carriagesales.com or call Steve, 01234 708108, for more information about the product range. ND Why join the BHDTA' If you are interested in carriage driving, particularly if you wish to compete, consider joining the British Horse Driving Trials Association. Among many membership benefits are ' Members' Personal Liability insurance cover ' now £30,000,000, eligibility to drive or groom at National driving trials, an information-packed yearbook and regular magazine, BHDTA clinics with the country's top driving experts and help, advice and information from the BHDTA driving committees. See our website for more information or contact Amanda and Gaynor at the Office - 02476 293760 The 2005 BHDTA Rule Book Some explanatory notes from Ian Douglas, Chairman of the Rules Committee. The new BHDTA Rule Book is now available from the Office. It is an entirely new book based upon a recent extensive revision of Rules by the FEI. It is smaller in size than the previous version and now has a flexible blue cover. The whole of the latest (November 2004) FEI Rule Book is included, with the British variations to rules shown in red italics. Where previously a British Rule has occupied a number of pages it has been transferred to a separate annex, with a direct reference to the annex shown, in red, in the main text. To help you familiarise yourself with the new rules I have set out below the notes used in recent Clinics for TDs and Judges to guide them towards the changes. * All annexes are now part of the Rule Book. See the
Preamble. Bold text denotes the rule number. 900 International Events must now follow FEI Rule Book. 900.4.2 Horses which are deemed unfit to start or continue in any competitions will be eliminated or disqualified and if a horse is disqualified it cannot take any further part in the event. 900.8.1/2 If a horse is deemed to be lame or unfit by the President of the Jury in Driven Dressage, the horse shall be disqualified and may not compete in any other competition. 900.9.1 Competitors who retire or are eliminated from any competitions may not be placed in that competition or in the final classification. 901.11.6 Whole new section about the Combined Pony Championships. 903.3.1 The duties and responsibilities of the Ground Jury are laid down in the General Regulations (Chapter VIII). Moreover, each member of the Ground Jury has the right and the duty to eliminate or disqualify any horse which, according to them, is lame or unable to continue the competition in accordance with Article 900.8 . 903.4 Conflict of interest No person may be an Official at an event if his/her duties will involve a conflict of interest. The following persons may not be members of a Ground Jury or an Appeal Committee or Officials at an event: i) Competitors and owners of horses taking part at an event. ii) Chefs d'Equipe, Team Officials, Regular Trainers, employers or employees of competitors. Regular Trainers means training a horse and competitor for more than three days in the six month period before an event or any training during a period of three months before an event; iii) Persons having a financial or personal interest in a horse or competitor taking part in a competition. 910.1.5 Passengers may be not carried, except during opening and closing ceremonies and in special Presentation Competition. 911.4.1 Special conditions brought into the Rule Book from the Veterinary Regulations to deal with competing mares beyond their fourth month of pregnancy. 914.2.7 In the interests of safety, no person may be tied to the vehicle in any way during the competition. A Driver may be secured by rope, webbing or belt, provided one end is held by a Groom and is not wrapped or fastened to the vehicle in any way to prevent an immediate release if required. 917.2 No time allowance for changing (horse) shoes. 922.6.1 Each member of the Ground Jury has the right and duty to disqualify any horse at any time during Competition B (the Marathon) that is evidently lame, injured or unfit to continue (was elimination). 922.6.3 The Technical Delegate (TD) may stop a Competitor, if, in his or her opinion, the horse is unfit to continue the Competition. Associated penalties will be at the discretion of the Ground Jury. 924.1.3 All scores to be to two decimal places. 924.2.2 Eliminated scores will not be increased by 25% - not necessary as Eliminated no longer included in the overall classification. 926.1 Definition of cruelty now includes 'damaged vehicle, which might cause injury to the horse' . 936.1.3. Driven Dressage Presentation ' Total is maximum five points not five points per item. 936.3.6 Minimum vehicle track widths are now required for Driven Dressage as well as Obstacle Cones Driving. 936.6.1 Brushing boots or bandages in Driven Dressage will now incur ten penalty points not elimination, but they must be removed on leaving the arena for the horse to be inspected. 939.4.3 Lameness in Driven Dressage ' competitor is eliminated, but the horse is disqualified. 941 Driven Dressage Movements. All description of paces have been updated and include descriptions of working canter and shoulder in. 943.3 Driven Dressage Errors of Course ' Now elimination on the third error, not fourth. 947.6.5 The vehicle must be carrying the correct number of people when passing through Compulsory Turning Flags. (ten penalties) 947.6.6 Substitution of a Groom between the start and finish of Section E is not permitted under any circumstances and will incur elimination. 948.1 International Three Section Marathon ' Section A now seven kms not six kms. 948.2.1 The compulsory ten minute rest at the end of Section D is timed from entering the designated veterinary inspection area to leaving it. 948.4.4 The location and number of compulsory turning flags (CTFs) must be marked on a map of the course to clearly indicate the correct order of driving the CTFs before and after each obstacle. 949.3.3 Measured route through obstacles is now the 'shortest, legal, driveable route'. (That is the 2.5 metre route). 951 Competitors may not receive a full marathon time schedule ' only Start A times. 951.4.4 Crossing the finish of E with missing or disconnected trace or pole straps now 10 penalties not elimination. 952.7.3 You cannot stop for any reason in the last 500 metres of Section E. If repair is necessary after the last obstacle you can only stop 'immediately outside the last obstacle' ' Stopping anywhere else in the last 500 metres for whatever reason, will incur penalties. 952.7.5 Grooms may handle reins without penalty provided the vehicle remains stationary. 954.3.3 Competitor dismounting and putting both feet on the ground in an obstacle is now 20 penalties not 30. 954.3.5 A competitor must stop immediately whenever a horse has its leg over a pole or lead bar, when the horse is down and remains down and when instructed to make necessary repairs by a member of the Ground Jury or the Obstacle Observer. Failure to stop and correct the situation before leaving the obstacle will incur elimination. The time shall continue to run. 955.2.1.5 Electronic communication equipment may not be used while competitors on course. (old rule ' you could not carry it on the vehicle). 958.1.1 The total time taken by the Competitor in the Obstacles and any time over the Time Allowed in each of the Sections, to 1/100 second, will be added together and multiplied by 0.2. Any time under the Minimum Time in Sections A and E will be added together and multiplied by 0.1. There shall be no rounding of times. Penalties are calculated to two decimal places. The penalties for under Minimum Time, plus penalties for over Time Allowed and the total Obstacle times shall be added to any other driving penalties received to determine the final score for each Competitor in Competition B. 959.1.6 Obstacle Cones Driving Rules now include the provision for a Winning Round Competition. 960.2.1 Obstacle Cones Driving. Incomplete presentation now has maximum of five penalties, not five penalties per item. 962.1.2 Obstacle Cones Driving. Penalty three points per ball. 962.3.2 Cones in a zig-zag can be on a line through the front of cones, the balls or the backs of cones. (Removal of BHDTA rule). 963.1.3 Once the Competition has started, the Ground Jury may alter the time. This can only be done after the third completed round. If the time allowed is extended, then Competitors who have completed the course before the revised time shall be adjusted accordingly. THE TIME ALLOWED MAY NOT BE REDUCED 964.1.3 Obstacle Cones Driving. Competitors starting and passing through an obstacle before the starting signal will be penalised ten penalty points and must restart. 964.2.6 Obstacle Cones Driving. If the bell is sounded whilst the Competitor is on course he/she must stop immediately. If he/she does not stop, the bell will sound again and if he/she still does not stop, the competitor will be eliminated. 964.2.6 In Obstacle Cones Driving the Groom may talk to the Competitor to tell him/her that the bell has been rung during their round. 964.2.7 Obstacle Cones Driving. If the Jury is in doubt as to whether an obstacle has been properly driven, the competitor must be allowed to finish the course. The Jury can then reach a decision. 964.5.3/964.7.2 After three disobediences or dismounts a Competitor is eliminated instead of after four. 964.5.4 Obstacle Cones Driving. A Groom may dismount to assist horses through an obstacle (e.g. water). The penalty shall be for dismounting and any other penalty incurred in the summary of penalties. The Groom must remount before the next obstacle. 964.9.5 Obstacle Cones Driving. Revised speeds ' BHDTA have been using these in 2004 (in some events). Whilst I hope the above notes are useful in guiding you towards the more important rule changes, there is no substitute for actually reading the whole book at least once to familiarise yourself with it - happy reading! Ian Douglas Moving Up The Big Jump: Club Events to Novice National You've been competing at club level and you feel ready for the next step. But it is a big step, and it can be daunting. This article aims to help make your first National (sometimes called FEI) competition less scary by telling you about some of the differences between club and National events. You will most likely be competing in Novice Qualifier classes, possibly hoping to qualify for the Novice Championships at Windsor in September (more about this later). Some of these qualifier classes are allocated to club events whilst others are held at Nationals, but the basic rules are the same for both. First of all, you must send your completed competence card to the BHDTA. This will have been signed by the organisers of three club events that you have completed without retirement or elimination. Once they have seen this the BHDTA will send you one entry form for a Novice Qualifier class held at any National Horse Driving Trials event throughout the season. Newcomers may compete on one occasion only as an Associate BHDTA member and without registering their animal; if you drive at subsequent events you will have to register your animal, and you must then be a Full member. Your groom must also be a member. If you want to enter a Novice Qualifier at a club event you should contact the Entry Secretary who will give you information about their event. Make sure that your animal's vaccinations are up to date. You should also obtain (and read!) a copy of the Rule Book for National competitions ' it's not the most scintillating bedtime reading but you should familiarise yourself with all the rules; for example, check that your vehicle is the correct width. Look on the BHDTA website (www.horsedrivingtrials.co.uk) which will be able to help you with all the information you will need. Before leaving home ' Make sure you have your animal's paperwork with you: his BHDTA registration document, vaccination certificate and passport (if these are separate documents). ' Check that you have all you need for the two or three day stay for you, your groom and your animal; remember that you will need a bib for your marathon number. Arriving at the Showground ' Report to the Stable Manager; this important person will advise you where to park ' be nice to him/her as they can be a mine of information throughout the competition. You will collect your dressage sheets from them, and their noticeboard is where you will check for any changes to times, etc. You may have to present your animal's paperwork for inspection. ' The Stable Manager or the Event Secretary will have your paperwork for you. This envelope will contain your numbers, start times, marathon times, maps etc and is very important. As soon as you have a quiet moment sit down and go through it. Make sure you know where your dressage arena is and how long it will take to get to it. ' Find your class representative ' look in your yearbook or on the website for your class's current rep. He or she will be pleased to see you and will tell you about any meetings that are being held, and will help you with any queries you have. Friday ' dressage day As a Novice you will have standing presentation. This usually takes place half an hour before you are due to drive your test so bear this in mind when judging how much time you need to work your animal in, especially as you may be on very early in the morning ' an 8:00 am start is not uncommon. Your whole turnout will be inspected for fit, condition and cleanliness ' don't forget the underneath of your carriage and harness, and also your spares which must be spotless. You will need your lamps ' make sure the candles have been lit and blown out and have not melted! You and your groom must be in your best gear; ladies don't forget those hairnets. There will probably be three judges for your dressage, at C, E and B. The rest of Friday will be taken up with walking the marathon obstacles. You will probably need some form of transport as it can be a very long way round eight obstacles which should ideally be walked at least five times. Bicycles are useful or you may decide to get a little motorbike for which you will need a pass from the BHDTA; just send the Office a copy of your motorbike or ATV's current motor insurance and they'll send a pass. There will probably be a competitors' briefing in the evening which you ought to attend. The course designer or technical delegate will inform you of any changes to the times for the next day, and will give important information about the conditions out on the route. It is also your opportunity to ask questions. You should work out your times and speeds for the various sections (ask your rep. if you are unsure about how to do this) and make sure your carriage is ready for the next day, remembering your spares (include a sponge). You may also wish to take a spare whip on the carriage. Saturday ' marathon day If you have an early start time you will have to be up early to feed your animal. Check your stopwatches ' it is advisable to have two (if your groom has problems starting two as well as holding on try starting one on the ten second countdown and the other on zero). You may wish to wear a strap or a belt that the groom can hold to stop you bouncing out but you must not be tied on to the carriage in any way. You and your groom may also wish to wear back protectors. Your groom should wear the number bib with a number front and back, it's also a good idea to take the sheet with your times on from your paperwork, and any maps. Allow plenty of time to put in any studs that your animal may need ' you don't want to be fiddling about with awkward studs if you are in a rush. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the start of A. You should be there ten minutes before you are due to start: there will be a judge there who will cast an eye over your turnout to check for safety, and your groom should pick up the Green Cards. Green Cards These are vitally important and must not be lost. You will have two, one to be handed in at the end of section E and one for you to keep as your own record. The times that you start and finish each section are recorded on them so don't lose them. Back pockets of grooms' jeans are not safe places for these cards ' slide them into the number bib. The groom may have to sign to agree each time written on the Green Cards ' always take the time to work out and check that these are correct. Stewards do a fantastic job but they are only human and mistakes are occasionally made. It is far easier to sort things out there and then rather than wait until you finish. The Halt After the walk section you will have a ten minute halt where your animal's pulse and respiration will be checked by a vet. Your animal may come in with a very high rate ' don't panic, this may just be due to the excitement of the competition, but you must do all you can to make sure it comes down at an acceptable rate so that you can carry on. The best way to do this is to get seven or eight bucketfuls of water tipped over your animal (practise this at home, say on returning from exercise), use your sponge to press water into his mouth if he won't drink, and to wash under the harness. At the end of E there will be a judge with whom you can bring up any queries you may have regarding your times etc. Then get your animal back to your camp and set about making him comfortable. You may be able to walk the cones course on Saturday, remember that your groom is not allowed to walk them. Then there will usually be some form of a party put on by the organisers in the evening. Sunday ' cones day Your turnout must be clean and smart again for this; the rules say that lamps need not be carried for the cones at National level but many people do. Remember to extend your axle to the correct width. You may walk the course again but if you do so once the competition has started (i.e. between classes) you must be correctly dressed. The steward will tell you when to enter the arena and whether to salute the judge, if possible watch another competitor. Do not start before the bell. Your carriage will be measured when you come out of the arena. At some events the whole class is called into the arena for prize-giving, at others only the first six will go in. One of the most important things to remember is that carriage driving people are very friendly and helpful so never be shy of asking your neighbours for help whether it's interpreting your scores, or lending you boot polish. A word about qualifying For most people the aim of the competition is to qualify for the National Championships. Check with the BHDTA what the rules are regarding qualification ' you may feel that it would be better not to de-Novice yourself in your first season, on the other hand you may have your sights set on becoming Champion. Check the rules and make sure you can do what is best for you. Sue Starnes, Open Driver (Single Pony) [It is a very good idea to have studied the Rule Book, as Sue recommends. New 2005 Rule Books are only £10 plus £4 for the cover, £1.50 P+P, available from the Office. See the website for Novice qualification rules.] Horse and Pony Registration If you are bouncing off the top of club events, need a challenge or perhaps you're thinking of going further afield and dipping a toe into National events, here's what you need to know about registering your horse or pony and so getting hold of those National event entry forms. Sue Starnes' article offers some excellent ideas about many aspects of starting to compete in National events as a Novice driver. When I started on the sometimes stony path towards Open, it was a mystery to me how to enter a National, so here's some help for the aspiring. I'll start by presuming that you've already completed your competence card and sent a copy of it, plus the signed scores or results of your three club events to the BHDTA Office and they've put you on their list of qualified drivers. Note that pairs and tandem drivers also have to send in a competence card before entering their first National event. It is only by registering your horse or pony that you are sent the entry forms for National events. You must be a paid-up Full, Young or Company Member of the BHDTA to register a horse or pony. There's one exception to the horse registration and BHDTA membership type rule: a Novice driver's horse or pony can be entered in a Novice Qualifier (NQ) class at one (and only one) National event without being registered, provided that the driver is at least an Associate member of the BHDTA and the (marathon) groom is at least a Groom member. Having received your completed competence card, the Office sends you a concessionary entry form allowing you to compete in one NQ class at a National event without upgrading your or your Groom's BHDTA membership or registering your horse. A list is kept at the Office of everyone who's applied for Novice status and NQ class entries are checked against the list for every club and National event. Remember to upgrade your own and your Groom's membership and register your horse before entering a second National event or (if you qualify) the Championships. The cost of registration for the 2005 season is £35 per animal for the first five animals registered (plus VAT if the animals are registered by a Company Member). The sixth and additional horses cost £30 each (plus VAT, as before). If you have a horse or pony that has never been registered, you can get the special form for its initial registration from the Office or download it from the BHDTA website. Post the completed form, cheque and original horse vaccination document or passport (provided the vaccination details are in the passport) to the Office and await your entry forms. If your horse or pony has been registered in the past with the BHDTA, you can renew its registration, provided that you are a fully paid-up member, as before, by sending a photocopy of the diagram page from the vaccination document or horse's passport to the Office, with a cheque for the appropriate amount. Your animal's unique number is put on the documents and they'll be returned to you. Tip: it's a good idea to keep photocopies of these important pages from the passport in a safe place. Entry forms for National Driving Trials will be sent out to all members as soon as they register their horses and ponies this season. Your horse's registration documents might be checked at any National event. If he's not registered, you will face a fine of £50 plus the registration fee and the wrath of the Technical Delegate ' be warned! p.s. This cartoon has absolutely no resemblance to any TD, living or otherwise.FP References: General Regulations - 2005 Yearbook, page 19 or 2005 Rule Book, Annex 25, paragraph 3, page 212; Conditions for Participation, Annex 20, paragraph 4, Driver Qualification; see website for registration forms, competence card, Rule Book order form. Letters Page 'I've been bitten and it's Thorneyside Flyers Pride's fault.' says one of our newest members, Christine Kirton I've done my time with the BDS, over the last 15 years. I dragged my children and poor husband round to the majority of the events in the Yorkshire and Cleveland areas. Then in the middle of last year it happened: I wanted something else. I'm not a show person really. My pony hates it, standing in the ring with people always better than us. It could be raining or blazing, at the end it's the same, untack and go home sometimes happy, sometimes not. So showing is no good to me. I like to be able to achieve something that isn't someone else's opinion. I took part in the NEHDT x BDS Le Trec last year, thrilled to bits that I came second (ponies). I keep looking at the driving trials, never brave enough to join. I did the long distance drives but the BDS has changed the rules again, and now you don't get anything to show for it. My 11.2 Welsh Section A has managed to get me up to the Gold. I know he can do it and he loves it. Due to the BDS discouraging the Long Distant Drives, I have decided that the way forward for me and my pony is the driving trials. I read through your December newsletter on the internet, horrified that the novice presentation is so scary, and I have met some nasty judges, even for people who have been there before. Do I want to put myself through that, I won't be able to hold my tongue' I am even remembered for giving Caroline Dale-Leech a mouthful, at a BDS show a few years ago. I would like to thank Thorneyside Flyers Pride for that 'great day feeling' that he left me with after reading 'Turkmenbashi or die'. It had me weaving in and out of the cones as I read through, I could nearly feel the wind in my hair. So I think that my little pony won't mind the showing bit so much with all the fun to be had afterwards. The hardest thing will be keeping him calm - once he knows what's coming up there'll be no stopping him. Please watch out for Beechrise Cannon Ball: he fits his name. And do come and say hello, we would love to meet you all. Christine Kirton, 'subscription in the post' Why change how often we vaccinate against equine 'flu' asks Alan Wilkinson I would be grateful if someone could explain why there is to be a change in the vaccination schedule for equine 'flu. Does this change imply the current schedule has not been providing adequate protection' Has there been a change in the method of manufacture of the vaccine' Is there good scientific evidence that antibody titres (a measure of activity of the vaccine) are significantly better with a six monthly regime compared with 12 months, if so I would like the reference. My local vet, is not aware of any changes in the vaccine, and hence is baffled by this edict. I think it likely that she is not alone! I look forward to hearing the answers to the above questions: best wishes for 2005. Alan Wilkinson F.R.C.S. [Editor's note: You aren't alone, Alan.. See page 11] Novice Presentation - A reply from Diana Brownlie Firstly I have to apologise for the rather badly written article, 'Notes on Presentation for Ponies' that appeared in your last publication. I wrote the notes at short notice for the Pony Drivers meeting at the Nationals last September, when I was not able to be present. Given the opportunity, and knowledge that it was to appear in print, I would have re-constructed, but not changed the phrasing, and tidied it up! I do think that Novice Standing Presentation plays a valuable part in the education of our drivers. It is not only to look for cleanliness but also for safety. It should be an opportunity to discuss a turnout and to be able to give advice if necessary. I always enjoy meeting people and having a look at the newest harness and vehicles which I don't always have time to do, and hearing about the ponies. However, and it is a big however, I do think that, at times the drivers have a good reason for some of their collective complaints. There is sometimes an element of condescension and nit-picking going on, almost as if we judges have to prove how clever we are and how much we know. This is so wrong and not at all what we are there for. I know it is only a small minority doing this but as judges we are all 'tarred by the same brush'. Nothing excuses rudeness and it saddens me to hear that some of you have experienced it. I'm sorry. If I am the only judge doing the Presentation, then I like to talk through my thoughts on the turnout in front of me with the driver, so that he knows why I am giving the marks I am, and then there is no need for written comments. If there are two judges then they have to be independent, which means that that they cannot talk. This is sometimes the reason that the drivers feel it is so unfriendly. 'The Awful Silence'! On these occasions it is imperative that the judges write their comments. The obvious things like ill-fitting harness and badly balanced vehicles, but also positive comments when giving eights and nines. I hope that with all the constructive letters that we have had on the subject there will be an improvement in communications this coming season. If any driver has a real complaint or worry, write to (don't phone) Caroline Musker, Chairman of the Judges Committee. It will be brought up at the next meeting and taken seriously, or write to me, I'm also on the Judges Committee and we are there to help. I know that if you have any worries or concerns ask a senior judge at any event and he or she will try to sort it out for you. I hope you all have a very good season driving. Personally I can't wait for this long, dark, wet winter to finish. Do keep writing to your publication: how else can we get to know about your worries' Diana Brownlie STOP PRESS Di Hayes, National Single Horse Champion and International competitor, based near Salisbury is looking for an experienced groom to join her team. Travel opportunities, accommodation and ridden/driven training provided. Call Di 01980 620166/07775 834664 Junior Chariots Round-up Junior Chariots had a successful year in 2004 competing and bringing on new members. We are slightly different to most 'clubs' as we tend to pile members and ponies into lots of wagons and move to where the action is' Their first long trip south was to the Carriage Fair at Ardingly to participate in the North/South Junior Challenge. A great idea of cones and obstacles together against the clock, while the southerners took the title, Christine James was third and they all did well, especially considering their ponies were half the size and then had to perform in the Display Team. The trip to the National Indoor Finals 2004 was eventful for several reasons. The number of Juniors driving meant we had to do a 'double run' with the artic to get all the ponies there, which meant driving through the night and arriving a bit late necessitating the Junior class starting later than planned. Megan Carruthers drove like a demon to win the Junior title for the club and Scotland. Then half the ponies had to return to Scotland and the others waited for us to return and take them to the Junior Clinic at Stow. In the meantime a storm blew up at Keysoe which ripped the stabling off the side of the wagon! Guess the juniors now know how to deal with an emergency and full credit to Anna McGill for dealing with the crisis and cleaning up the mud. As always the Junior Clinics are great fun and bring together friendships from all over, we had ten kids attending and they all came home wiser. The summer has seen us competing at club events as well as organising an event at 'home' for newcomers to the sport as well as our members. We also held a training day for grooms and backsteppers as we do emphasise safety. We had two separate days of 'fun cones' and obstacles, one of which was following clues to drive through 'towns' in the correct order from Land's End to John 'o Groats! Two of the highlights of the year have to be the opening ceremony at the World Championships for drivers with disabilities and the Junior Championships. The club produced the Musical Drive for the opening ceremony, 30 people, 12 ponies, one cow and two sheep and a golden loo were part of this story that came alive at Hopetoun in May. The ability and, at times, the speed and accuracy of the juniors was quite phenomenal and it was loved by all. The Junior Championship at Escrick Park in Yorks was a first for Junior Drivers. Fabulous atmosphere with competitors from all over the UK and Ireland made it a competition to remember. Our club proudly brought home two National titles. The first Junior Chariots indoor driving competition of 2005 took place on 19 February at Greenlands Equestrian Centre near Carlisle. The greatest possible age range was represented from the littlest Junior to our 'Galloping Granny', Meg Hewat, who won the Adult Novice class driving her own pony Tommy. Meg's son David won the Open class after a very hard fought battle with two of the Chariots Juniors. After the first two obstacles there were only 0.6 penalty points between David in first and Christine James (14 years) in second. But there was no catching David in the final obstacles and he also walked away with the overall Championship. Young Dan Wilson (11 years) in his first ever competition (he's only been driving for four months) won the Junior Novice Class driving Mary Bassett's spotted pony, Calypso. Scores were also very close in the Junior Open class, but some really snappy obstacle driving ensured that Emily Burley (11 years) walked away with the red rosette. Despite a bitter wind and flurries of snow a thoroughly enjoyable, safe and challenging day was enjoyed by all! A new venue has been added to the Scottish Indoor competition league - Ingilston Stud near Glasgow on 6 March. The Juniors (and seniors) are all training hard with both the Scottish Indoor Championships at Dabbs in Fife, and the National Indoor Championships still ahead. Amanda will be defending her title as the 2003/2004 Indoor Scottish Champion with her rescued pony pair, Charlie and Dini. But the real excitement of the year... the Juniors have been invited to present a short display of driving for the Opening Ceremony of the World Pony Championships to be held at Catton Park in July. Heads are together to design a presentation that will not only be very different and exciting, but also show off the talents of our young drivers, who really are the long term future of the sport of carriage driving. Amanda Saville Equine flu vaccination ' why six-monthly' We've received a number of queries from people who believe that the adoption of the latest FEI requirements for vaccination is a 'new rule'. This is not the case. The Rules of the BHDTA (Article 912 National in both the old Rule Book and the new 2005 rule book) requires, at 912.1.3, 'Vaccination in accordance with the prevailing International Rules'. Also, the General Regulations of the BHDTA which have been in place for some years have the same requirement at paragraph 5. Eighty-four of the 85 national federations present at the FEI's general assembly in Paris in April 2004 voted to increase the frequency of equine 'flu vaccinations from annually to six-monthly. The main reason for this is veterinary advice based on strong evidence that the vaccine becomes less effective with time because the 'flu virus is continually mutating and different strains are emerging: a process called antigenic drift. A horse can lose protection after six months and catch the disease while showing no symptoms. These cases can then spread the disease very quickly. It's a respiratory disease and horses affected can develop severe symptoms such as a fever and dry, hacking cough. The virus is extremely contagious and can be spread by nasal discharge, droplets carried in the air and by infected brushes and rugs around the yard. Horses might refuse to eat for a few days but usually recover in two to three weeks. Young horses in particular are more susceptible and secondary infections can occur, such as pneumonia. Australia and Dubai don't have the disease and, as the FEI encourages international competition, it regards this measure as an important step towards preserving sports horses' health. 2003 was a year when a significant number of outbreaks occurred throughout the world and this must have contributed to the subject becoming a top priority for discussion and preventative action. While you and I might think human 'flu's just a case of a few days in bed, equine influenza, although it's a related virus, must be taken more seriously. In South Africa in late 2003, after the South African Jockey club allowed 'flu vaccination to be optional instead of mandatory, over 1,000 horses were affected by equine 'flu, one horse died and racing was cancelled. James Wood, Head of Epidemiology at the UK's Animal Health Trust says, ''despite the fact that horses have been very well vaccinated and have very high antibody levels, they are still becoming infected with this strain of the virus.' Research is going on into new vaccines continually and Dr Frits Sluyter, head of the FEI veterinary department, does not rule out going back to the annual vaccination regime in the future should a satisfactory product become available. The issue is reviewed annually. Dr Sluyter points out the FEI is a global organisation and vaccines which are obtainable in Europe might not be so in India, for example. 'The case is that it's safer to vaccinate every six months.' In 1996 one horse took equine 'flu to Hong Kong: one sick horse is all it needs to cause a major outbreak. What it means to anyone competing a horse or pony in any of the FEI's eight disciplines at FEI events is that your animal must comply with the six-monthly vaccination programme. The ruling therefore applies to horses and ponies being driven at National and International HDT events, and it came into force on 1 January 2005. Do not despair: 2005 is the year when your horse's vaccination programme is changed from the exactly 365-day cycle, (when, if the date of the jab was 10 April, 2003, the next vaccination must be on 9 April, 2004, or before) to a more frequent but flexible six-months-plus-or-minus-three-weeks cycle. The six-week 'window' was allowed to give sufficient flexibility that horses need not miss a competition. It's common for a horse not to be worked on the day of the inoculation. So what should you do about your horse's vaccinations in 2005, assuming you are competing at National or International level' How can you work out the right date' It's not as complicated as it seems. After a jab on 9 April, 2004, for example, your horse could now be vaccinated on 8 April, 2005, and again on or between 17 September and 29 October. Work out the vaccination dates for your horse by adding six months to the last vaccination date ' 8 April 2005 + six months gives us 8 October 2005 Then subtract or add 21 days. That gives us a range between and including 17 September and 29 October 2005. Easy' So by 1 January 2006 your horse's flu vaccinations would comply with the FEI rules and you carry on every six months, plus or minus three weeks, from then on. My vet advised getting your horse vaccinated at the beginning of the season, in late March/early April, and again at the end, late September/early October. This avoids having an injection between competitions when a day off or a bad reaction might be a problem. Philip Bateman has assured me that no-one will be fined or penalised at a National HDT or International event this year if a horse has not been vaccinated in the last six months but he stressed that everyone's expected to use this year to get their vaccination programme changed. There is a schedule of fines for 2006 already laid down by the FEI: see their website. No affiliated club has published, as far as I know, that it is changing its rules to admit only horses vaccinated every six months, but I recommend that you either consult your club's rules or find out from event organisers what their policy is before you turn up. FP, with help from Ian Douglas and Philip Bateman References: General: FEI website ' www.horsesport.org Horse and Hound ' www.horseandhound.co.uk, www.thehorse.com. Veterinary: Animal Health Trust ' www.aht.org.uk/sci_randd_virol_influenza Members' News Congratulations to Wally Binder and Eunice Gleissberg, both strong supporters and enthusiastic participants and organisers in horse driving trials, BDS drives and in the show ring, regular stewards at National and club events, were married on 5 February 2005. Slaves wanted for Grand Auction - Brighton The money raised will be put towards the organisation of entertainment at Catton to make the first World event in Great Britain since 1986 a success. Auction to be held at Brighton HDT - do please join in. Harness cleaning, plaiting, mucking out, lunging, massage, training, the list is endless'.. Please think; there must be something that you can offer to raise funds. Nothing touchy-feely unless by private arrangement after the auction. Contact: Bob Johnston, Poplars Barn, Evenlode, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, GL56 ONN. 01608 650816, bobandyvonne@onetel.net Auction of Promises Remember the auction of promises in the gloom at Sandringham' We had a great night and raised much needed funds. We are doing a repeat performance this year with the addition of lights in the marquee. The money raised will be put towards the organisation of entertainment at Catton to make the first World event in Great Britain since 1986 a success. It is our intention to advertise on the web site so that foreign competitors could join in. Please send your promises as soon as possible to: Yvonne Johnston, Poplars Barn, Evenlode, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, GL56 ONN 01608 650816, bobandyvonne@onetel.net Help wanted at Farleigh House! Can you spare some time to help to dress up, paint and generally tart up the site ready for the popular National event (pictured above) planned for 3 ' 5 June' All help gratefully received no previous experience necessary but helpful! Please contact Angie Pickford on angiep@waitrose.com or 07803 959470 or John Pickford - 07802 366645 Club Reports MDTG ' Grangewood 2004 'Innovative', 'challenging' and with a 'wide choice of routes', these were just some of the words used to describe Geoff Kirby's obstacles at Grangewood. This venue improves year by year ' helped, it has to be said, by the trees growing! Muggy conditions on Saturday were replaced by cooler misty weather on the Sunday morning so we had fewer flies to bother the horses. Alex Hunter kept her promise to come to our next event and duly won the Pre-novice class by a large margin. Alex had the best dressage score of all drivers during the weekend - expect her to move up a class next season. Kim Child driving in her first competition won novice horse, this included a double clear in cones. Kim was second in the marathon to Wan Ming who was driving a horse owned by David Gulley. Open Pony was the largest class with Angela Flanagan leading all the way. Rosemary Neale was second in dressage but her pony's reticence at the water proved her undoing. Julie Tomasik came overall second. Wendy Wadsworth won the pony pair class. Her margin in the dressage was more than enough to hold off the challenge from Keith Harding who won the marathon. Chris Doughty was first in the horse pair class although second placed Toby Gaddum declared himself pleased with the first outing of his young pair of horses. The Midlands Area Inter-Club team trophy was won by the Moorland Mob consisting of Julie Tomasik, Alex Hunter, Faye Pountney and Wendy Wadsworth. The Ming Dynasty could not live up to its earlier billing and trailed in at third place. MDTG at Catton Park 2004 Course builder David West made good use of the wonderful obstacles at Catton for the Midlands Group at the end of August. Lots of alternate routes suitable for all classes from pre-novice to teams enabled the competitors to have a really enjoyable weekend. Pre-novices were excluded from obstacle three 'The Hill' and your correspondent, who felt intimidated by this challenge, was pleased to negotiate it safely. It took its revenge on several competitors who managed to miss gate A! The second water obstacle also caught some out - for those unfamiliar with it, the wooden bridge drops steeply into the water. Club events offer a long route to avoid the bridge as when on top some horses freeze at first sight of the water. Once on the bridge you either drive into the water or you unhitch the horse to get out ' a very expensive choice of the short route. Alex Hunter continued her domination of the Pre-novice class. Terry Kirby followed up in second but Eddie Alder driving his new pony Reggie was pleased with his season's best performance of fourth place. Dawn Tebbett won the Novice Pony helped by a very low cones score. Such scores were rare this weekend as the speeds had been set at those to be used next year and this caught out many drivers. Angela Flanagan was first again in the Open Pony class followed by John Pattison and Julie Tomasik in equal second. In the tandem and team class Anna Grayston had one of the best dressage scores of the weekend with 38 points but Colin Allen drove an excellent marathon to come in first overall. Kim Child handed back the reins to husband Pete who beat all comers in the National Novice Qualifier horse class. However, as he has already qualified, the real competition was between Mike Fallowell and Geoff Kirby. Separated by less than a point after the first day we thought that this was going to go to the wire. Unluckily, Mike damaged his vehicle in obstacle six and although he finished the course the knock effectively put him out of the running and allowed Geoff to take the remaining qualification place. Forthcoming Events BHDTA select central location for judges clinic Note: This event is aimed at prospective dressage judges as well as competitors seeking to improve their marks. Anyone is welcome ' membership of the MDTG is not required. It's dressage day. Do you know what the judge is looking for' Come and find out on 20 March 2005 at Scropton, South Derbyshire. Andrew Counsell, a very experienced FEI judge will answer this question, and more, at the annual clinic organised by the Midlands Driving Trials Group. Volunteers will drive both single and multiple turnouts and act as guinea pigs whilst you mark their efforts. Andrew will then discuss your performance as well as that of the drivers. The clinic takes place at the Scropton Driving & Riding Centre between 10:00 and 15:00. Selected by the BHDTA and MDTG for its ease of access, Scropton is in the middle of England, near Burton upon Trent and is close to the A38/A50 junction. The A50 links the M1 and M6. Entry costs £5 per person in advance or £7.50 payable on the day. Light refreshments are available. More details can be obtained from Lesley West - 01630 661314 or email jodders@lineone.net Wolverley & District Driving Club 'is staging two major one day trials in 2005. Sunday, 5 June - One Day Trial at Upper Sapey, near Great Witley, near Worcester. Sunday, 11 September - One Day Trial at Shakenhurst House, Mamble, West of Kidderminster, Worcs. Both trials have a shortened course available for Shetland ponies and for the less fit. All enquiries to Linda Sprosen - 01562 824350, email lindasprosen@hotmail.com Thoresby Park 23 ' 24 April 2005 The Midlands Driving Trials Group will hold its first major event of the year at Thoresby Park near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The event takes place on the 23-24 April and is always an ideal event at which to warm up for the Brighton and Royal Windsor events in May. Thoresby will also act as a National Novice Qualifier. Chris Doughty, chairman of the MDTG, said 'We welcome non-members to Thoresby for a weekend of competition set in a top quality venue.' Members of the North East Driving Trials Group can enter at reduced rates as part of a reciprocal arrangement agreed between the two clubs. The event will again hold classes for ponies and horses in every combination from pre-novice to team driver. The three-section marathon course is mainly on estate roads and forest tracks and there will be a water crossing or an obstacle that includes water. Warmth and good food will again be available in the indoor riding school on the Saturday evening ' this year will it will also include a disco. Entry schedules can be obtained from the Entry Secretary: Lesley West - 01630 661314 email jodders@lineone.net Fenix Quick Change Challenge One of the highlights at the South of England Carriage Driving Fair this year on the 20 March held at the Ardingly showground will be the Fenix Quick Change Coaching Competition. The competition was conceived by Mark Broadbent of Fenix Carriages to show how a team of horses should be unhitched and then hitched correctly with the added twist of the clock ticking (think Ferrari pit stop for tyre changing at a Grand Prix). Three coaches have already entered the competition to test their skills against each other and the clock. This will be only the second time this competition has run in this country and it is the first time indoors. This spectacle will be both educational and amusing with Mark Broadbent commentating at the ringside. Bob Alexander with his team of Gelderlanders (pictured inside the back cover) who won the competition last time will be challenged by John Carter and a coaching team from the Household Cavalry' so join the action this March. More details from www.brockhamharnessclub.co.uk Indoor Horse Driving Trials Prize Draw Results The fourth prize goes to Scotland ' two lucky ticket holders are £500 richer after their prize draw number - 399 - was drawn at Hand Equestrian by one of the twins, Isobel Broom-Waugh, who won the second draw. Winners Mr and Mrs David Nisbet are the parents of John Nisbet who organises indoor events in Scotland and who is also involved in the Chariots of Fire Indoor Junior team. The next draw is on 6 March. See www.indoordriving.co.uk forum for announcements. Championship News 2005 The organising committee of the SsangYong National Carriage Driving Championships are very pleased to announce and welcome the following obstacle sponsors to this year's championships: * Carriagesales.com Three obstacles are still available along with several other sponsorship opportunities to suit all budgets. For more information get in touch with Nigel Dipple, BHDTA Marketing Director, 07831 272397, email publicity@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk First 200 Club Winner - 2005 The first draw was at the Judges Clinic at the Unicorn Trust, 5/6 March. Lucky winners were Chris Wyllie, Jane Trivett and John Hunter. More subscribers are wanted for the 200 Club ' remember, you're much more likely to be a winner than if you buy a National Lottery ticket! To join, please send a cheque for £20, payable to 'BHDTA 200 Club' to Sheila Hawking, Pollums House Farm, Lumby, South Milford, Leeds, LS25 5LD - 01977 682298. Horse passports update As you know, the EU insists that horse passports are required for all horses, ponies, donkeys and mules (but not, of course, zebras) in case we inadvertently eat them after they've been given medication which might disagree with us. Failure to bring in passports could have meant that medication such as bute would no longer be allowed to be used on horses in the UK. If you have not yet applied for a passport for Neddy, get on with it or face a fine of up to £5000 or two months at Her Majesty's pleasure. Get in touch with your horse's breed society, if it has one, or contact a passport issuing organisation (PIO). The cheapest passports I've found were £10 for BDS members, (£7 for your donkey), and £20 for non-members, although there are cheap (as low as £14) passports from other PIOs. FP Competitors please note: DEFRA says the passport must accompany your horse in the following circumstances: * When it is moved into or out of Great Britain; * When it is used for the purposes of competitions; * When it is moved to the premises of a new keeper; * When it is presented at a slaughterhouse for slaughter; * When it is sold; or * When it is used for breeding purposes (!) More information can be found on their website or by calling 08459 335577. www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tracing/horses/horses_q&a.htm 2005 Isle-of-Wight 'Trans-Wight' Drive - 10-12 June 2005 Twenty miles of driving each day. Cost £55 per day. Full information, entry forms, ferry details are available from Meg Fenwick, Wyndham Far, Ningwood, Newport, Isle-of-Wight, PO30 4NJ Tel: 01983 760600 HDT Special Development Fund What is it' What does it do' The HDT Special Development Fund was set up in 1991 under the guidance of Ron Hancock with the aim of developing Horse Driving Trials outside the day-to-day running of the sport. Virtually all the money has come from fund-raising activities over the years - including a considerable amount received from the Windsor Sponsored Drive, proceeds from the '200 Club' and other money raised by the hard-working supporters. In addition the fund has benefited from an annual donation from HM The Queen which is much appreciated. In the last few years the current Trustees, Tom Pettifer, Prilly Baron and Jill Holah, have been more proactive in seeking suitable projects to support. This has included the offer of five-year interest-free loans to BHDTA-affiliated clubs for approved capital expenditure (provided they have a specific number of BHDTA members within their own membership), a five-year loan to Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials towards the creation of their new arena, and the funding in 2002 of the construction of the new marathon obstacles on the National Championships site at Windsor. Money was also provided for the purchase of the HDT scoreboard trailer some seven years ago, and last year the fund covered the cost of the venue hire for the inaugural Junior Championships at Escrick Park. More recently support has been offered to national events to enable them to send their chief medical officers to an official Rescue Trauma and Critical Care (Equestrian) course. All these projects, it was felt, contributed towards the overall development of the sport in some way or another. Following the success of their 2004 event, the committee of Hopetoun Horse Driving Trials have been able to repay their loan in full, two years ahead of the scheduled date, for which the Trustees are very grateful. More recently, a very generous contribution to the Development Fund has been received from the now sadly disbanded Sarum and Forest Driving Club who have donated their remaining funds. Many thanks to them. The HDT Development Fund is run as a charitable trust, so the Trustees have to closely scrutinise the suitability of projects, but if BHDTA members wish to put forward ideas for consideration, they would be very welcome. Jill Holah International Invitations 2005 The BHDTA receive a number of invitations for drivers to compete at international events. If anyone is interested in competing at these events, please contact the BHDTA office as soon as possible. CAI-B / CAIP-B 'torp, Sweden, 27 April-1 May 2005 The Swedish Equestrian Federation have pleasure of inviting drivers to participate in the above event. Closing dates: Entries in principle: 18 February Nominated entries: 11 March Definite entries: 1 April CAI-B / CAIP-B Iberic Cup, Lezirias, Spain 7-10 April 2005 Entries in principle: 11 February (BHDTA office has made initial entry) Nominated entries: 28 February (date when specific entries have to be in by) Definite entries: 15 March - last date for withdrawal without paying penalty (non-return of entry fees) If your horsebox has a tachograph' If, like me, you are in the throes of horsebox servicing, don't get caught by the new annual test (MoT) regulations on tachographs. If your lorry is fitted with a tachograph, even if you aren't using it, it must now be sealed and it must have been calibrated at some point with a little label on it which says so. If your tachograph has not been calibrated, my mechanic tells me, it must be calibrated in order to pass the test and this can only be done at a tachograph calibration centre or speed limiter authorised dealer. He gloomily said it's not cheap. You must also present a form at the test to say that you aren't using the tachograph. You can get a tachograph exemption form from the Vehicle and Operator Service Agency's website, www.vosa.gov.uk or find out more by calling them - 0870 606 0440. There's a useful checklist to help you to get your horsebox through the annual test (left). The Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners' website also has a few FAQs of interest on the subject. Write, phone or fax: Whitehill Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 0HP, 01488 657651, fax 01488 657652, or see www.horsebox-rescue.co.uk. FP Zilco Young Drivers Challenge From Debbie Butler and Pippa Jarman We are delighted that Zilco Europe Limited are contributing a substantial sum towards the running costs of the BHDTA Young Drivers Clinic to be held at Forest Farm in July. The "challenge" is to drivers who share the BHDTA and Zilco's enthusiasm to promote driving to the young. Photos of you 'Golden Oldies' when you were young riding or driving are sought. For each photo sent in a contribution of £100 is sought to make up the funds needed to make the Young Drivers Clinic a really great event. The history behind the photo would be nice! Of course, if you didn't get involved with horses until later in life you may have a photo that you would like to share with us - this doesn't prevent you from joining in - all donations will be gratefully received. Perhaps this just sounds like a good way to give something back to a sport which has given you such good times. Supporting these youngsters now could produce National, European and International winners for the future. We would love to have photos of these contributors, of their driving or riding times when young - or at any other time! Who is brave enough - maybe it's worth the £100 donation not to show these photos!! Anyone who feels they would like to play a part in encouraging these young people, please send cheques (made payable to Forest Farm) to Forest Farm, Barnes Lane, Milford on Sea, Hants SO41 0RR. British Equestrian Federation Board Directors wanted There's still time to apply! The BEF, working in conjunction with its member bodies, is the national governing body for British equestrian sport. Following a thorough review of its corporate governance structure, the Federation seeks new Non Executive Board Directors to assume responsibility for the direction and strategy of the BEF and so for its future success. Directors are sought with experience and competency in each of these areas, and who have the drive and commitment to deliver the following portfolios: * Chairman Further details of the British Equestrian Federation and Terms of Reference for each of the directorships are available on www.bef.co.uk or from Andrew Finding on 02476 698871. You are invited to submit your expression of interest, supported by a brief CV and referees, to the BEF on or before 31 March 2005. New FEI Corporate Identity Well, I like the new FEI logo and, no, I don't know how much it cost. (If you look hard you can see a stylised horse's head between the F and the E.) The new purple logo was revealed to the world in January 2005 and will be used to replace the old logo. It was designed and accepted after extensive market research, which revealed that there was a need to 'valorise the horse and its role in the sport' and to strengthen the presence of the FEI as the sport's governing body. It must also be 'strong, clear and recognisable'. You can read the whole text of the logo launch's press release on our website. The FEI website is at www.horsesport.org Want to be a real life cowboy' We are looking for young men with a passion for adventure to take part in a major TV series. What we are offering: the chance to travel back in time and live the life of a genuine cowboy on a working ranch in Texas, USA in 1867. We provide expert training in all aspects of ranch life, including equestrian skills, livestock care, frontier tools and technology, as well accommodation, food and clothing of the period. The Challenge: To give up modern life completely for up to five months and go back to the year 1867. There you will live and work like the cowboys of the day, 24 hours a day. Your duties will include building corrals, taming wild horses, rounding up and branding free roaming cattle. The going will be incredibly tough, there will be gruelling days in the saddle, campfires beans for supper and lonely nights under the stars. Expect the unexpected! If you think you can survive the Texas Ranch House for up to five months then contact us now. Closing dates for applications is 18 March, 2005. Filming is expected to run from June ' October 2005. You must be: * Male, aged 21-25 * Able to ride a horse (this is vital) * Physically and mentally fit * Passionate about the outdoors Apply by calling Natalie - 020 7241 9275, or email natalie.crew@walltowall.co.uk Please mention Horse Connections when applying. Apply online at www.pbs.org/ranchhouse Safety training is provided and will be monitored throughout. Indoor Driving Events Most of the regions have completed their events and the people who've qualified for the Indoor Finals on 2 and 3 April can breathe a sigh of relief ' until then, of course. There have been some heroic ding-dong battles in my own East Anglia region and, although our judges have been kind enough to say we've all improved throughout the season, we can still do better. Anyway, fingers are crossed for all and I look forward to the weekend for a chance to get my adrenaline levels going (on the backstep, this time) and see friends and watch some good driving. There will be a Team Challenge event on the Saturday evening. Tickets are available from Rita Bundock, Secretary, 15 Hollow Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3SB, if you send an SAE price £7.50 per person, cheques payable to IHDT UK See their website, www.indoordriving.co.uk for the Precision & Paces Test 10 which has been used all season and see www.equifor.com for the tests being used for the Finals. Note that there are two different tests, one for Novices and the Junior class and one for Open competitors. You'll also find your regional organiser's contact details and some lively on-line forums, for sale and wanted items and news. Date Venue Region 20 Mar 2005, Muirmill, Scotland 20 Mar 2005, Adlington, North West 20 Mar 2005, Coombe Park, Totnes, Devon, Devon & Cornwall Indoor Finals: 2-3 April 2005 at The College EC, Keysoe, Bedfordshire. Team Challenge on Saturday night. Tickets £7.50 from Rita Bundock. Come and watch! More Training Dates - 2005 30 March Young Drivers Training & Competition Day for BDS members at Fordham, near Newmarket. Call Claire Bourne 01638 721655 Georgina Frith Training Dates at Forest Farm Friday, 4 February & Saturday 5 February Thursday, 3 March & Friday 4 March Friday, 29 April & Saturday 30 April Book your place: contact Georgina Frith 01306 631561/ 07740 872615, email georginafrith@aol.com If you would like to extend your stay or have accommodation or stabling contact Forest Farm on driving@ffarm.fsnet.co.uk or phone/fax us - 01590 644365 Georgina Frith Training Dates at Blandings Farm Wednesday, 27 & Thursday, 28 April Heiner Merk Training Dates at Blandings Farm Monday 11 July ' Wednesday 13 July Tuesday 9 August ' Thursday 11 August Three-phase training facilities six miles north of Newmarket include three-phase training. Bookings - Louise Garget 01638 720664 louise.garget@virgin.net BDS 'spring into Action' Driving Demonstrations 6 March 2005 Moreton Morrell, Central 13 March 2005 Arena UK, East 13 March 2005 West Wilts Equestrian Centre 2 April 2005 Greenways Equestrian Centre, Carlisle. 16 April 2005 BDS Annual General Meeting and Dinner Dance, including Judges' Conference and Area Commissioners Conference, to take place at the Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, Leics. Wanted Pony wanted to take competent Novice forward in driving trials, but also to enjoy pleasure driving and maybe showing. Circa 13 hh, forward going, easy box, clip and shoe, and obviously no vices. Trials experience ideal. Gelding preferred, age preferably between 6 ' 12 years. Excellent home in the New Forest awaits. Contact Ian Wichall 01425 476009 wingneath@msn.com Ride and drive horse, approx 15 hh, 7 - 11 yrs, mare or gelding, preferably not a Welsh Cob, but any colour for competitive Club Novice to progress comfortably with, so looking for honest, kind, forward-going, genuine type (but with a bit of class!) which will give confidence to driver and groom. Dorothy Webb (Andover) 01264 735397 CARRIAGE HORSE MAGAZINE All items to be sent to BHDTA Office or preferably e-mailed to: editor@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk This publication has an independent editorial policy and is intended as an open forum for BHDTA members. All letters and reports from members and clubs of the BHDTA are welcomed and will be published where possible, although some editing may be necessary if space is limited. Letters will have the right to reply in the same issue if considered appropriate. Anonymous, defamatory or objectionable letters will not published. Unless the contrary is shown, the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the BHDTA or its Council. |
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