RCP #12 Article: GR 8.1 - Carrying a Whip

RCP #12 Article: GR 8.1 

Suggested by: Michele Harn

Current wording: An appropriate whip should be carried in hand at all times while driving. The thong on the whip should be long enough to reach the shoulder of the farthest horse. 

Suggested wording: An appropriate whip should must be carried in hand at all times while driving. The thong on the whip should be long enough to reach the shoulder of the farthest horse. 

Reason for change: To be consistent with wording in 207.2 and 928.4.1. See rules GR 2.9 and 2.10 for use of words “should” and “must”.

RCP #11 Article: GR 5.11 - Juniors - Helmets while Riding

RCP #11 Article: GR 5.11 

Suggested by: Michele Harn 

Current wording: At all times while on a carriage, all Juniors must wear properly fastened headgear which met or exceeds current ASTM… 

Suggested wording: At all times while on a carriage or riding an equine, all Juniors must wear properly fastened headgear which met or exceeds current ASTM… 

Reason for change: Juniors should wear protective headgear while driving as well as riding as a matter of safety. This would specifically pertain to PD classes such as Drive and Ride, Combination Hunter, Sporting Tandem, and also when riding any equine while at an ADS-Recognized Event (e.g. hacking on the grounds for fun).

RCP #10 Article: CD 940.2.1 - hoof boots

RCP #10 Article: CD 940.2.1 

Suggested by: Ted Campbell 

Current wording: 

940.2 Bandages and Brushing Boots 

2.1 Bandages and Brushing Boots are not permitted in Dressage. Failure to comply will result in 10 penalty points. 

Suggested wording:

 940.2 Leg, Hoof, Foot Apparatus 

2.1 Bandages and Brushing Boots are not permitted to be used in Dressage. Failure to comply will result in 10 penalty points. At ADS-Recognized Events, this also applies to overreach boots and hoof boots.

RCP #9 Article: CD 939 - Pneumatic Tires

RCP #9 Article: CD 939 

Submitted by: Ted Campbell 

Current wording: 

Article 939 Tires At ADS-recognized competitions for Training division only, pneumatic tires and/or wire wheels may be allowed at the discretion of the Organizing Committee. (See Appendix CD-E. Quick Reference Guide for CDEs.)

Suggested wording: 

Article 939 Tires At ADS-recognized competitions pneumatic tires may be used in Training, Preliminary and Intermediate divisions provided that the wheel on which they are mounted is engineered for use on a carriage. Tire tread type is optional. The use of wire spoke wheels is limited to use in the Training division, at the discretion of the Organizing Committee and approved as safe by the event TD and Ground Jury. 

Reason for change: 

Many or most carriage makers are selling vehicles with these modern design wheels. Many years of experience has shown these wheels to be safe. Therefore there is no longer a safety concern except with the vehicles that compete with the bicycle type tires. These need to be approved as safe by the ground jury and the TD.

RCP #8 Article: CD 937.3b - Track Widths

RCP #8 Article: CD 937.3b 

Submitted by: Marc Johnson 

Current wording: 

At ADS-Recognized events, there are no required track widths… 

Suggested wording: 

At ADS-recognized events, with the exception of Small Pony and VSE entries, Advanced and Intermediate Dressage carriages will be required to comply with the carriage widths specified in the above chart effective January 1, 2022. Preliminary Dressage carriages will be required to comply with the specified carriage width effective January 1, 2023. 

Reason for change: 

The result of measuring carriages and setting cones at different width has resulted in frequent inaccuracies, including at our North American Championships. We require too many volunteer hours setting cones for an unreasonable amount of time, making it physically difficult for some and making it difficult to run the cones arena on schedule. In England, the drivers were given two years to comply. It got done quite easily. By having a staggered effective date, it will be easier to implement, and drivers will have time to organize modifications to existing carriages. Training division Dressage carriages will be exempt from this change and may still use the Training Standardized Settings in article 973.1.9. The Intermediate and Preliminary Standardized Settings will be phased out accordingly.

RCP #7 Article: CD 937.3 - Grooms in Dressage

RCP #7 Article: CD 937.3 

Submitted by: Marc Johnson 

Current wording: 

Chart. No groom required for single Dressage carriages. 

Suggested wording: 

Chart. Groom required on all horse and pony Dressage carriages. No groom required for single small pony and single VSE.

RCP #6 Article: PD 306.3 - Coaching Obstacle Penalties

RCP #6 Article: PD 306.3 - Coaching Obstacle Penalties

Submitted by: Bill Venditta 

Current Wording: Knocking down or dislodging obstacle or course marker ......10 faults. 

Suggested Wording: 

Knocking down or dislodging obstacle or course marker .......5 seconds. 

Reason for Change: 

Change to 5 seconds to reflect the same penalty as the other divisions.

RCP #5 Article: PD 231 - Carriage Dog Class

RCP #5 Article: PD 231 Carriage Dog Class 

Submitted By: ADS Pleasure Driving Committee 

Current Wording: 

Article 231 Carriage Dog Class 

a: The dog should be standing, lying down or seated on the vehicle or should run behind, beside or at the axle of the vehicle. 

Proposed Wording:

a: The dog should be standing, lying down or seated on the vehicle. or should run behind, beside or at the axle of the vehicle. 

 Reason for Change: 

The dog is no longer allowed off the vehicle. There is a distinction between a companion dog and a working dog (Coach dog). When a dog leaves the vehicle in a ring full of turnouts, it becomes a safety issue.

RCP #4 Article: Pleasure Driving section - Metric Measurements

RCP #4 Article: Pleasure Driving section

Submitted by: ADS Pleasure Driving Committee 

Suggested Wording: 

Delete all English measurements in the Pleasure Driving Section and leave all Metric measurements. Art 238.4 Leave conversion chart except remove conversions for Pounds and Kilograms. 

Reason for Change: 

This is an effort to streamline the Rulebook. This also would make all of ADS competitions conducted using the Metric system. Most carriage measuring tools now are in metric units. Even the English are using the Metric system!

RCP #3 Article: Appendix GR-B - ADS Pony Measurement Program

RCP #3 Article: Appendix GR-B 

Submitted by: Jeff Morse 

Current wording: 

ADS Ponies are 120cm to 148cm; with or without shoes; 149cm with shoes. 

1.1 ADS Small Ponies are 99cm to less than 120cm; with or without shoes. 

1.2 ADS VSEs are less than 99cm; with or without shoes. 

1.3 Animals will be measured prior to their first competition of each year until reaching the competition age of 8 years, after which they are eligible for a Permanent Card. 

1.4 ADS Measurement Cards are for the exclusive use of ADS competitions. 

Suggested wording: 

Add new: 

1.5 The height of animals with a current, valid ADS Measurement Card cannot be protested. 

1.6 The measurer must not measure animals owned or trained by a member of the measurer's immediate family, a person living under the same roof, nor a person with whom the measurer (exception: veterinarians) has a financial relationship, including a lease. 

Reason for change: 

The height of animals over 8 years should not be protestable. They have a permanent card at age 8 and should not grow. Younger competitive animals are measured annually and because of development and conditioning are going to change height. Sure, there will be some on the borderline but the increase in size in a few months to a year should not be enough to significantly affect results and it would only affect class status until they are re-measured for the next year. Making height non-protestable would avoid hearing processes and fees and the retroactive changing of results. It would keep scheduling from being disrupted by having to move entries to different classes at the last minute at an event. It would allow on site officials to concentrate on their jobs without having to stop.

RCP #2 Article: Appendix GR-A - Officials Requirement Summary (Table)

RCP #2 Article: Appendix GR-A 

Submitted by: Jeff Morse 

Current wording:

 Appendix GR-A. Officials Requirement Summary Organizers of ADS-approved events must secure the services of at least one ADS licensed official. 

Suggested wording:

Appendix GR-A. Officials Requirement Summary 

Organizers of ADS-approved events must secure the services of at least one ADS licensed official. Exception: Sleigh Rallies. 

Reason for change: 

Sleigh rallies are more informal competitions usually on tight budgets and held on short notice due to the vagaries of local weather conditions. To keep the costs within reason, local knowledgeable horse persons are usually capable of adequately officiating and are acceptable.

RCP#1 Article: GR 2.7 - Definition of Terms

RCP#1 Article: GR 2.7 

Submitted by: Hardy Zantke

Current wording: 

GR 2.7 Junior and adult competition participants, e.g., anyone who rides on a vehicle at any time at an event, are defined as follows: 

a. The “competition age” of an individual will be the age reached during the current calendar year. 

b. “Junior A” – competition age: 10 and below. Junior A drivers must be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman at all times. 

c. “Junior B” – competition age 11, 12, 13. Junior B drivers must be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman at all times. 

EXCEPTION: Junior “B” drivers competing with a single Very Small Equine (VSE) turnout in a securely enclosed arena need not be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman unless required by the organizer. 

d. “Junior C” – competition age 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Junior C drivers competing with a single horse/pony turnout at their discretion need not carry a groom/passenger unless required by the competition. 

e. “Junior” – Unless otherwise defined: Competition age under 19. 

f. “Adult” – Competition age 19 and over. 

Suggested wording: 

Add new: g: The knowledgeable adult horseman, as requested under item b & c above, nay be the groom, when one is required, or may be an additional person - in which case that person is subject to similar requirements and penalties as a groom. 

Reason for change: 

In Combined Driving Events no additional person is normally allowed on the carriage besides the driver and the proper number of groom(s). At times Junior drivers do want to have a knowledgeable adult horse person with them on the carriage next to them, but also want to have a groom on the back step, both in the interest of safety. The LOC agreed and issued a directive accordingly in their winter edition of their newsletter to all licensed officials. This, however, not yet supported by our rules. Note: The last sentence in this proposal is important to deal with normal groom down penalties etc, which then need to be applied to all, the groom(s) as well as the knowledgeable adult horse persons. Otherwise the groom might stay on the carriage and have the knowledgeable adult horse person step down and fix that trace down for example.