National Driving Trials Rules - quick reference

Minimum Vehicle track widths and weights
The standard outside track is measured on the rear wheels.
Class

Cones & Dressage

Marathon

Width Wheels Grooms Width Weight Wheels Grooms
Horses Teams 158 cm 4 2 125 cm 600 kg 4+brakes 2
Pairs 148 cm 4 1 125 cm 350 kg 4+brakes 1
Tandems 138 cm 2 or 4 1 125 cm 150 kg 2 or 4 1
Singles 138 cm 2 or 4 1 125 cm 150 kg 2 or 4 1
Ponies Teams 138 cm 4 2 125 cm 300 kg 4+brakes 2
Pairs 138 cm 4 1 125 cm 225 kg 4+brakes 1
Tandems 138 cm 2 or 4 1 125 cm  90 kg 2 or 4 1
Singles 138 cm 2 or 4 1 125 cm  90 kg 2 or 4 1
Marathon speeds

Pace

Horses

Ponies

Distance

km/h min/km km/h min/km 3 section 5 section
Section A Any pace 15 4'00" 14 4'17" 10km max. 7km max.
Section B Walk 7 8'34" 6 10'00"   800-1000m
Section C Trot 19 3'09" 17 3'31"   4km max.
Section D Walk 7 8'34" 6 10'00" 800-1000m 800-1000m
Section E Any pace 14 4'17" 13 4'37" 10km max. 9km max.
Minimum Age limits:
Competitors and their grooms
may take part in National events
from the beginning of the
calendar year in which they
reach the age given:
Class Driver Groom
Horse Teams 18 14
Pony Teams 16 18
Pairs 16 18
Tandems 16 18
Singles 18 14
16 16
14 18
Penalties  
DRESSAGE      
Early or late entry into arena   EL  
Entering the arena without, losing or putting down a whip    5  
Competitor entering arena without lamps or rear lights or reflectors, apron, hat or gloves   5  
Entering arena with brushing boots or bandages   10  
Error of Course: First occasion
Second occasion
Third occasion
  5
10
EL
 
The whole turnout leaving the arena during test   EL  
Grooms dismounting (per groom) 1st incident
2nd incident
3rd incident
4th incident
  5
10
15
EL
 
Competitor dismounting   30  
Lame horse/pony   EL  
Carriage overturning   EL  
MARATHON      
Exceeding time allowed in any section (per second)   0.2  
Finishing under minimum time in sec. A, C or E (per second)   0.1  
Time in an obstacle (per second)   0.2  
Not having a whip on the carriage (per section)   5  
Missing compulsory flags   EL  
Halt, circle or zigzag between last obstacle and finish   10  
Uncorrected breaking of pace in sec B, C or D (per occurrence)   1  
Groom dismounting while vehicle is moving in any section   20  
Driver dismounting while vehicle is moving in any section   30  
Stopping on the course, other than for repairs (per 10 seconds)   1  
Stopping between last obstacle and finish   10  
Not having a whip in hand when entering or leaving obstacle   5  
Crossing the finish of E with missing or disconnected trace or pole straps   10  
Putting a whip down in an obstacle   5  
Groom dismounting in an obstacle   10  
Driver dismounting in an obstacle   20  
Corrected error of course in an obstacle   20  
Uncorrected error of course in an obstacle   EL  
Carriage overturning in an obstacle   60  
Exceeding 5 minutes in an obstacle   EL  
Displacing a dislodgeable element   2  
Preventing an element being dislodged   10  
CONES      
Failing to start within 60 seconds of the starting signal   EL  
Passing through cones before starting signal   10

+ restart

Entering arena without lamps or rear lights or reflectors, apron, hat, gloves or whip   5  
Knocking down one or both balls of a pair of cones   3  
Knocking down a collapsible element   3  
Groom standing, speaking or indicating, using reins, whip or brakes   EL  
Passing through cones in the wrong sequence or direction   EL  
Knocking down balls or cones which had already been driven   EL  
Knocking down balls or cones before they have been driven   5 +10 secs
Groom dismounting 1st occasion
2nd occasion
3rd occasion
  5
10
EL
 
Driver dismounting   30  
Passing through cones, start or finish without whip (each occurrence)   5  
Carriage overturning   EL  
For every commenced second over the Time Allowed   0.5