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 will hopefully help make your first FEI competition less scary by telling you about some of the differences between Club and National events.
You will be competing in Novice Qualifier classes, possibly hoping to qualify for the Novice Championships at Windsor (more about this later). Some of these classes are allocated to Club events whilst others are held at National events, but the basic rules are the same for both.
First of all, you must send your completed 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 entry forms for Novice Qualifiers held at National HDTs 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 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 relevant entries 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 FEI 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) for links to sites that will be able to help you with all the information you will need.
Before leaving home
On arrival at the Showground
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 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.
There will probably be a competitors’ briefing in the evening which you must 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 (4 hours before you set off).
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. The times that you start and finish each section are recorded on them so they must not be lost. 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 10 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 7 or 8 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 be interpreting your scores, or lending you some 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.