SO YOU WANT TO START COMPETING ?
by Jill Holah

The step from pleasure driver to taking part in your first competition may seem enormous – but don’t worry, help is at hand to ensure that it is not such an ordeal.

This article assumes that you have already got a suitable horse/pony and some sound equipment. Depending upon where you live, the first step is to contact your local club. The addresses are in back of Year Book or on the BHDTA website (where there are links to those clubs with their own sites). Most clubs cover a wide area, and their activities are not just restricted to the area in which their secretary lives, so it is worth a phone call to check. They should also be able to put you in touch with an experienced trainer in your area if required.

Most clubs have some form of assessment for newcomers to their events to ensure that correct practice is being observed at all times and that everything is safe and well-fitting. Unfortunately history shows that the majority of claims on the BHDTA insurance are as a result of incidents at club events, so safety is a very important issue.

Some Club events are run all in one day – others run over two, usually with Dressage and Cones on the first day and Marathon on the second. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own portable stabling – the event organiser may well be able to help you with alternative arrangements.

Some clubs run a “Pre-Novice” class for newcomers, and many have their own rules for these classes, so it is worth checking. Each club has its own grading system for promoting competitors from novice to open at its own events, but this should not be confused with the BHDTA criteria.

You will be required to do standing “Presentation” for most novice classes. It is always very nerve-racking to be under such close scrutiny, but think of it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Most judges will “think aloud” as they go round your turnout and will be delighted to discuss things with you. Even with ageing harness and a well-used vehicle, provided everything is scrupulously clean, safe and fitting, you are unlikely to be far behind in the marks. The Dressage test will be selected by the club, but copies of all the tests are in the back of the BHDTA rule book (which would be a useful purchase in any case!). Alternatively you can download them from the BHDTA website, or you could purchase the laminated coloured diagrammatic Dressage tests from the BHDTA at £3 per test.

The Cones competition comes next. Carriages are required to be a minimum width depending upon the class. For National events the width for both horse and pony singles is now 138cm and carriages wheels have to be set to give this standard width. However, your club’s rules may differ and it may be possible to continue to use “hoops” attached to the wheels to attain the minimum width, so it is very important to check with the secretary.

The Novice Club Marathon is likely to be over three sections (although some clubs run Section E only) with a maximum length of about 15Km depending on the venue. Full details of the competition are given in the rule book. You will need to purchase a number bib in order to compete and this can be obtained from the club secretary or the BHDTA. The other vital equipment for this phase are a stopwatch (or two!) and hard hats for both driver and groom.

The BHDTA runs a programme of Novice classes under full National rules which qualify for the National Championships at Windsor. Some of these are allocated to club events, while others are held at National events, but the basic rules are the same for both. In order to compete in these classes a competitor must have completed three Club events (novice or open).

Never be too proud to ask for help and advice – we are a friendly lot in the driving world and only too willing to assist! Rest assured that once you have taken the plunge and competed in your first event, there will be no stopping you!