GUIDELINES & RULES FOR NEW DRIVERS

The Scottish Carriage Driving Association Ltd. is keen to attract and encourage new people to drive at Grassroots and Club Events, and to help you to understand the sport.

The rules for new competitors are designed to ensure safety within our sport, and to guide you along the most suitable path to your first full event. If unsure of anything, don't hesitate to ask for help.

1. Basic Training

At the Basic Training level, the British Driving Society (B.D.S.) already has a schedule of basic training in place all over Scotland and focuses on producing safe, knowledgeable drivers. It backs this up with a series of well-established proficiency tests.

The Scottish Carriage Driving Association Ltd (SCDA Ltd) encourages all those drivers wanting to compete at Driving Trials, and will guide them to Grassroots One-Day Events.

2. Grassroots Events

Grassroots Events are the many small events run in all areas. These are not Scottish Points Qualifiers. They are the ideal place for aspiring drivers to start. The atmosphere will be less competitive, giving the new driver a chance to seek help and advice when necessary, but nevertheless get a real taste of what is required in the competition. A basic level of driving competence is required for safety. Any First Time Competitor who has complied with the qualifying conditions may enter the Newcomers, Small Pony, Single Horse/Pony or Horse/Pony Pairs Class. The Rules and Time Keeping of an Event are quite complex and need to be studied carefully before entering. Ask an experienced driver if in doubt - they will be happy to help.

A One-Day Event has a Marathon with a length of up to 10 km, often over hilly terrain. Ponies must be fit enough to complete this distance at a trot.

Don't substitute fitness with over feeding concentrates. Your pony will be excited enough at his first event without extra oats!

3. Scottish Points League Events

Scottish Points League Events are Events organised around Scotland and run under the auspices of the SCDA Ltd. Competitors qualify for points in the Scottish Points League. Events run different classes, depending on local terrain, and circumstances, at each organiser's discretion. Please check the schedule to ensure that there is a class suitable for you at the chosen event.

The following classes have points qualifiers at most Club Events.

Club Novice, Small Pony, Single Pony, Single Horse, Pairs, Multiples, Young Driver

A Club Novice Class is designed to encourage new drivers to take part in One-Day Events. The marathon is shorter than in the other classes, and in some cases pneumatic tyres are allowed. To enter a Club Novice Class for the first time, the driver must have complied with the entry qualifications for "First Time Drivers" as set out below.

To be eligible to enter the Club Novice Class a Driver may not have competed at Club Novice for more than two seasons (which must run consecutively) (excluding the qualifying outings for first time drivers).

If, for lack of fitness, or to bring on a young pony, an experienced driver wants to enter this class, then they must do so H.C., and at the discretion of the organiser.

Both Grassroots Events and Scottish Points League Events are run in principle under National FEI Rules, which in some areas have been adapted for Club Level Competitions.

4. National Events

National Events are run under National FEI rules and are administered by the British Horse Driving Trials Association Ltd (BHDTA Ltd) of which competitors have to be full members before being allowed to enter National Events.

N.B. BHDTA membership gives any driver full Third Party Liability insurance cover for horse related accidents. Associate membership is also available, which gives full Third Party Liability insurance cover to Club Level Drivers, as well as newsletters and information about driving.

5. Entering a One Day Event

A First Time Competitor is a Driver who has never competed in a One-Day Event, which includes the three phases: Dressage, Marathon and an Obstacle (Cone) Driving Competition.

6. Qualification for competing at a Grassroots Event

Before being allowed to compete at a Grassroots One-Day Event, the First Time Competitor must have attended:
Either - One Instruction Day organised or approved by the BDS or SCDA Ltd
Or - Have passed BDS Proficiency Test Level 1
A photocopy of a Competence Form signed by the Training Day Instructor, or a BDS test certificate must be submitted with entry.

7. Qualification for competing at a Scottish Points League Event

Before being allowed to compete at a Scottish Points League Event the First Time Competitor must:
Either - Have passed BDS Proficiency Test Level 1
Or - Have attended an Instruction Day organised or approved by the BDS or SCDA.
And
Either - Have taken part in a public outing organised or approved by the BDS or SCDA
Or - Completed, without elimination or retirement, one Grassroots One Day Event.
The same horse or pony entered in a proposed event must be used for both qualifying outings. A photocopy of a Competence Form signed by two of the following officials at the qualifying outings must be submitted with the entry.

The Organiser, The Technical Delegate, The Driving Judge at an Event or Approved Outing, The Driving Instructor at an Approved Training Day, BDS Area or Assistant Area Commissioner, An Open National Competitor nominated for the event by the SCDA Ltd or BDS.

8. Safety Inspection

All First Time Competitors, and Competitors entering a competition for the first time with a different format of turnout, will be asked to present themselves for a safety and competence inspection before the dressage at their first event, at a time specified by the Organiser.

9. Tandems and Teams

A Competitor wishing to compete with a Tandem or Team at any event, must first have completed, without elimination or retirement, three (3) Scottish Points League Qualifying Events with a single or a pair, and present themselves for a safety and competence inspection before the dressage at their first event with the Team/Tandem, at a time specified by the Organiser.

10. Hard Hats

It is compulsory that hard hats are worn at all times by the Driver, Groom and any Passengers when on the Marathon.

At Scottish Club Events, no one will be penalised on presentation for wearing a hard hat for dressage and/or cones.

11. Insurance

To enter any Grassroots or Scottish Points League Event, the competitor must be a member of The Scottish Carriage Driving Association (SCDA) or a Full, Associate, Club Competitor or Club Restricted member of the British Horse Driving Trials Association (BHDTA.)

N.B. BHDTA membership gives any driver full Third Party Liability insurance cover for horse related accidents. There is also Associate membership available, which also gives full Third Party Liability insurance cover to Club Level Drivers, as well as newsletters and information about driving If you wish to join the BHDTA please do so through the SCDA on the form available from the secretary or the web site as SCDA receives £20 for each new BHDTA member that joins in this way.