The British Horse Driving Trials Association is proud to announce the formation of the British Young Drivers Scheme to include ages from 5 to 25 years from all over the British Isles.

The aim is to encourage and educate young drivers and help them develop their skills. It is hoped that this will create the foundation for the future of our Sport with a progressive structure of training levels that will underpin their natural talent and enthusiasm.

It has been encouraging to see how many young drivers are showing a keen interest in competition driving.

Most regional clubs now have programs for their younger members.

The BHDTA has been running annual training clinics and Summer Camps sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds, the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Zilco and more recently the National Junior Championships sponsored by the BHDTA Supporters.

In response to the increasing numbers, the British Young Drivers Scheme was suggested by those drivers who have progressed through the current system and would like to develop it further. The scheme will focus on structuring training programs suited to their individual abilities with long term goals of competing Nationally and Internationally. It is intended to be totally inclusive and open to regardless of age or ability.

MISSION STATEMENT

To encourage young drivers to the sport and develop their knowledge and skills

Aims

• To promote young drivers
• To help young drivers develop their skills

Short Term objectives

1. to complete nationally as a squad
2. to organise competition workshops
3. to raise the profile through branding, marketing and publicity through:
       The supporters tent at Nationals
       Horse and Hounds young riders section
       Club and BHDTA newsletters
       British Young Drivers clothing
4. Attend equine college and centres open days as a squad to promote both carriage driving and young drivers

Long Term Goals

1. To compete internationally as a squad

 We hope to be able to have an A and B team, the A team will compete internationally and the B team will compete nationally, creating a structure for progress.

Structure

1. Membership It seems the most logical solution for membership to the British Young Drivers is to divide it up into age categories initially. We will require the young drivers to be either a member of a club or of the BHDTA:

5 - 9 years - have a to be a member of a club
10 - 13 - have to be a member of a club
14 - 25 - have to be members of the BHDTA

We will divide the members into skill categories:

• Advanced – for those who have competed at National level
• Intermediate – for those who compete regularly at club level, i.e. more than 5 times a year.
• Novice – for those who only compete minimally or those who have started driving within a year.

Progression will be monitored yearly, and discussions made at the Easter Clinic as to whether any young drivers need moving up a group. We hope to keep track of the progress of each driver by providing a log book which they produce when the assessments take place.

This will allow us to focus on each groups needs more efficiently. It also encourages progression and hard work, as we hope each young driver will aspire to being in the advanced group. Each member of the British Young Drivers will be offered the chance of owning clothing; we feel that this will give the identity to the young drivers and to feel part of a team.

Communication Chain

BHDTA
|
Training Committee
|
British Young Drivers Committee
|
British Young Drivers

Everything the British Young Drivers do will first be approved by the Training Committee who in turn will ask approval from the BHDTA Council.

Nominate Representatives

• Ben Grose - Graphics and Marketing
• Andy Pilkington - Publicity - producing/collecting articles
• Amie Woodward - collecting data/co-coordinator/website Scottish/Irish/Welsh representatives to be announced.