General Rules and Regulations
1. THE AMERICAN DRIVING SOCIETY, THE COLUMBUS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE COLUMBUS CARRIAGE CLASSIC COMMITTEE, OFFICIALS AND STAFF, AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, WISCONSIN, and any property owners of any such land which may be used for any aspect of the Columbus Carriage Classic will not be responsible for any claim resulting from injury or injuries to any person, horse/pony, or loss or damage to property incurred on the show grounds, staging/stabling area, or on the Dickason Drive course. Furthermore, in all situations the driver assumes the responsibility and the liability for any injury or damage to himself/herself, to groom or grooms, and/or passenger/passengers riding with them in the vehicle. All persons riding on any vehicle MUST sign a waiver which MUST be on file with the Show Secretary.
2. The ENTRY FEE for all classes is $12.00, and Juniors are $6.00. STABLING consists of an on-site covered box stalls at the cost of $130.00 each. Stabling is available Thursday noon through Sunday evenings. Initial bedding is included. Turnouts working out of their trailer $50, juniors free. A division consists of Pleasure, Turnout, Reinsmanship, Town & Country, Obstacles - Scurry and Progressive Cones, and the Dickason Drive. All turnouts must compete in Dickason Drive to be eligible for the division championship. Exceptions to the requirement for Dickason Drive are the Maiden Horses, Novice Whips and Juniors to Drive. There is no entry fee for Concours d' Elegance Class or Best of Show. Entries close June 1, 2010. POST ENTRIES will be accepted up to 1 hour before each class. The Post Entry Fee is $17.00 per class / $11 per class Juniors. Drivers packets may be picked up when Show Office opens on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at noon.
3. The Show Committee reserves the right to decline any entry, and to return any entry fee before or during the competition, without being liable for compensation.
4. In the case of horses/ponies being entered and not exhibited, entry and stall fees will be forfeited. Refunds on entries will be made only upon the receipt of a Veterinarian's Certificate attesting to the inability of the animal to participate due to illness or injury. This certificate MUST be received prior to the opening of the show on June 18, 2010. Stall fees are not refundable. There will be a $25.00 processing fee that will not be refundable.
5. Any question or dispute not provided for in these Rules and Regulations will be referred to the Technical Delegate for his ruling and/or decision. Should a competitor wish to protest the Technical Delegate's decision and/or ruling, he/she may do so at the time such decision is rendered by filing a formal protest (a $50.00 filing fee will be assessed) with the Show Committee, which shall be final. No protest will be heard after the close of the show. The $50.00 filing fee will be returned to the competitor if a decision is rendered in favor of the competitor.
6. In the event less than 3 entries are received for any of the listed classes, the Show Committee reserves the right to combine or cancel classes.
7. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN ANY DIVISION, THE TURNOUT MUST BE EXHIBITED IN ALL CLASSES OF THE DIVISION: (a Division consists of Pleasure, Turnout, Reinsmanship, Town & Country, Obstacles-Scurry, Progressive Cones, and the Dickason Drive). Dickason Drive is optional for Junior, Maiden Horse and Novice Whip divisions. All Championship Ribbons will be presented Sunday Afternoon at the Awards Dinner in the Fireman's Park Pavilion after the close of the show.
8. Ties for Division Champion will be broken by the competitor's placing in the Turnout Class of that division.
9. The Columbus Carriage Classic defines animal height as follows:
- VSE - Under 9.3 hands (39 inches).
- Small Pony - 9.3 hands (39 inches) and over; not to exceed 12.2 hands (50 inches).
- Medium Pony - Over 12.2 hands (50 inches); not to exceed 13.2 hands (54 inches).
- Large Pony - Over 13.2 hands (54 inches); not to exceed 14.2 hands (58 inches.)
10. The minimum age for a horse/pony to compete is three years of age.
11. A JUNIOR DRIVER is someone who has not reached his or her 18th birthday. For show purposes, the age of an individual on January 1st shall be maintained for the entire year. Junior Drivers not yet 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult knowledgeable and capable of rendering help at all times. Failure to comply incurs elimination. Stallions are prohibited in Junior Classes.
All Juniors in all classes MUST WEAR properly fastened protective headgear, which meets or exceeds current ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carry the SEI tag. It must be properly fitted with harness secured. Failure to comply will result in elimination.
12. In all classes the driver will wear a hat (Juniors see Rule 9), an apron, or knee rug, and gloves. An appropriate driving whip shall be carried at all times while driving. The whip thong must be able to reach the farthest horse/pony. A driver not in compliance with the above shall be severely penalized. FAILURE TO CARRY A WHIP IN AN OBSTACLE CLASS INCURS ELIMINATION.
13. The driver may be either an amateur or professional. Passengers are allowed and encouraged. drivers and passengers must sign a liability waiver.
14. The only person to handle the reins, whip, and brake is the driver, under penalty of elimination for an infringement, but under emergency circumstances, assistance may be given without penalty by the grooms or passengers, who may dismount from the vehicle for this purpose. Exceptions: Groom down on any part of the Town & Country Course will incur faults; groom down in any other obstacle class will incur elimination.
15. Outside assistance is forbidden, under penalty of elimination for an infringement.
16. If shod, horses should be suitably shod for pleasure driving.
17. All animals must be serviceably sound, specifically, must not show evidence of lameness, broken wind, or impairment of vision in both eyes. In the case of any protest on this ground, the Judge will have the protested animal examined by the official show veterinarian, and his/her decision will be final.
18. It is the competitor's responsibility to be certain that all harness is in good repair and that the vehicle is in sound condition. No competitor will be allowed to continue in a class when, in the opinion of the Judge, any part of the turnout has become dangerous or unsafe. Competitors riding horses on the grounds MUST wear approved protective headgear as specified by the United States Equestrian Federation Rule Book.
19. Dogs: The Columbus Carriage Classic neither encourages nor discourages dogs accompanying an entry. However, under no circumstances should dogs be allowed to run freely alongside, beside, or under the vehicle during competition. If a dog is riding on a vehicle, it must never be tied or in any way attached to the vehicle. No dogs will be allowed anywhere on the grounds unless retained by a leash. Aggressive or unsafe dogs will not be allowed on the grounds.
20. THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOLING OR WALKING A HORSE OVER ANY OF THE OBSTACLE COURSES. DOING SO WILL INCUR THE PENALTY OF ELIMINATION. While walking the obstacle course, competitors shall not alter, adjust, or in any way move an obstacle/cone or any part of an obstacle/cone. Should a competitor have a question regarding the course, he/she should call it to the attention of the Course Designer or Technical Delegate for clarification and/or adjustment.
21. Competitor numbers will be provided in the Secretary's office after all fees have been paid. All entries must have a number before entering any class. Numbers are assigned on a turnout basis, i.e. horse/pony, vehicle, and driver. When any one of these three components of a turnout changes, it is considered a different entry requiring a different number. Always be sure you are displaying the proper number for your turnout when entering the ring or going on course.
22. Order of go will be announced prior to the class and division order of go will be posted.
23. WIRE WHEEL VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED. The only exceptions allowable, at the discretion of the Show Committee, are those antique vehicle types equipped with wheels having long wire spokes and hard rubber tires.
24. In the event of a breakdown in the obstacle classes, to either harness or vehicle, which necessitates a halt for repair, the competitor is to make only those adjustments/repairs necessary for the safe removal of their turnout from the obstacle course.
25. The pleasure driving horse may be of any breed, color, or size. Over 14.2 hands will be classified as a horse. 14.2 hands and under will be classified as a pony. A registered horse of a breed permitting horses to be under 14.2 hands e.g. Arabian, Morgan, Quarter Horse, Fjord, may be shown as a horse, but not as a horse and a pony in this event.
26. The Show Committee reserves the right to split any class, in the interest of safety, should the numbers of entries warrant such action.
27. Bridles should fit snugly to prevent catching on a vehicle or other pieces of harness and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITION SHOULD A BRIDLE EVER BE REMOVED FROM A HORSE OR PONY WHILE IT IS STILL PUT TO A VEHICLE!
28. All vehicles will be measured by designated Show Committee members and will be taken at the tread width, as cones with balls on top will be used. When you are approached by Show Committee members, please take the time to present your vehicle to them for proper wheel measurement.
29. No person, horse, or pony may appear twice in the same class, or over the same course. This prohibition includes twice as a whip and/or as grooms or passengers. Grooms or passengers may not compete as a whip over the same course.
30. The entire turnout must pass through the intended path of the obstacle marker. If the entire turnout passes outside of the markers, the competitor will be judged off course. All wheels must pass through the start and finish markers to be considered driven correctly.
31. A refusal is defined as stopping and stepping back or sideways before an obstacle.
32. In the case of an accident, the Technical Delegate or Show Manager may require a safety inspection of the vehicle(s) involved in the accident before allowing the vehicle to be used in succeeding classes.
33. In all Columbus Carriage Driving classes flash nosebands, drop nosebands, figure-eight nosebands, or any bridle part or attachment which extends below the appropriate bit are prohibited.
34. A pair or tandem must carry a groom or passenger capable of lending assistance in case of difficulty; a unicorn/four-in-hand must carry two grooms or passengers capable of lending assistance in case of difficulty. Failure to comply entails elimination.
35. Bell boots, shin boots, and wraps may be used on the Town & Country Course only.
36. Any competitor who is not a current American Driving Society member must pay an ADS fee to participate in this ADS recognized competition. ADS members must provide their ADS membership number at the time the entry form is submitted.
37. No Cantering - Cantering is prohibited in all classes. Breaks into canter are defined as three full strides if an advantage has been gained; six full strides if no advantage has been gained. Prolonged cantering will be penalized according to class specifications. In the case of multiples, all horses in a turnout must break into canter to incur penalties.
38. Golf carts will be available for rental beginning Thursday afternoon for the entire show. The golf carts must be reserved by June 1st. All drivers must have a valid driver's license and proper insurance coverage.
