January 2019
A pair of Fjords waiting to begin the marathon at the 2019 Nature Coast CAC Driving Trial & CT at Black Prong Equestrian Center. Photo by Abbie Trexler
The 2019 ADS Rulebook is hot off the press! Quantities of the 2019 ADS Rulebook are limited. Order yours today at the link below.
Order Rulebooks HERE
While you're reading your Rulebook... After some discussion in the Annual Members Meeting the ADS Board of Directors on December 2, 2019 clarified the Safety Vest rule that went into effect on January 1, 2019, remove previous wording regarding “applicable International or Domestic standards”: To require protective vests for everyone participating on a carriage during a marathon or any competition that includes marathon-type obstacles starting January 1, 2019. Junior requirements would be unchanged.
ADS Offers its Members $1,000,000 in Excess
Liability Insurance through Equisure. The American Driving Society, Inc. (ADS) is thrilled to announce a new member benefit for all ADS members. Available immediately, the ADS is offering its members $1,000,000 in excess liability insurance through Equisure for their equine activities! The policy will run from 1/1/19 to 12/31/19 and cost $25 for an individual and $45 for a family. You MUST be a current ADS member in good standing to purchase the insurance. Coverage will commence with your payment. Coverage ends on December 31 at 12:01am of each calendar year. Sign up today! Click on the link below to learn more and to purchase your policy through Equisure.
Learn more about Excess Liability Insurance HERE
NEW ADS Member Discount ADS is proud to announce a new member discount on safety equipment through the Fraser School of Driving. Fraser School of Driving fits and sells Tipperary safety vests, and is offering 10% off all orders of safety equipment to ADS members. Visit their website at drivehorses.com or call them today at: (406) 846-3686.
New Website for Results and Show Info A friend of carriage driving recently created CarriageDrivingToday.com to keep the carriage driving community up to date on show results and info from the organizers. Check them out online and on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carriagedrivingtoday
Announcing the 2019 ADS Annual Meeting Location and Dates In the interest of moving the ADS Annual Meeting around the country, staff investigated several options for the 2019 meeting. It was hoped that Mackinac Island would be a great option, but we were unable to make the dates work due to member show schedules and the island closing after the last weekend in October (this is a wonderful, special location that relies on horse-drawn carriage for all transportation. Please check out their website for more information: mackinacisland.org).
After a wildly successful 2018 meeting this past December, Tom Warriner, along with equine manager Kacy Tipton-Fashik, graciously offered to donate the facility for the 2019 meeting. ADS is proud to partner with The Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, Florida for the 2019 ADS Annual Members Meeting over the weekend of December 6-8, 2019. The second annual ADS Awards Gala will take place the evening of December 7th, 2019. Details will be posted on the ADS website as they are available.
Exciting Hours to Drive Program Update The ADS Board of Directors voted at the January meeting to increase the ADS Hours to Drive Program recognition levels. Previously, ADS members could record up to 1,000 hours for recognition. Beginning in 2019, members may apply for 500-hour increment awards past 1,000 hours. Submit your Hours to Drive records by October 15, 2019 and make sure to attend the ADS Annual Meeting to receive your awards in-person!
Omnibus Deadlines Is your club putting on an event between the dates of July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019? Do NOT miss these deadlines! For the 2019 v2 Omnibus, all shows with USEF classes MUST complete their Omnibus submission and have TD approval by February 15, 2019.We must send all Omnibus entries with USEF classes to the show compliance department of USEF for approval (they require 30 days to review), and if your show isn’t in by then we won’t be able to publish it. All other ADS events must have their Omnibus submissions completed and TD approved by March 15, 2019.
A Reminder about Vaccines As published in the ADS Rulebook, all equines must be vaccinated for flu and rhino within six months of competition. As per GR 6.3: “At ADS-recognized events, all equines entering the event location must be accompanied by documentation of Equine Influenza Virus and Equine Herpes Virus (Rhinopneumonitis) vaccinations within the six months prior to entering the competition venue. Equines not in compliance with this Rule are required to leave the driving event location upon request by Competition Management. The frequency of vaccine administration should be as recommended by the vaccine manufacturer or veterinarian. It is recommended that vaccines be administered by or under the direction of a veterinarian. Documentation should consist of one of the following:
a. In the case of vaccines given by a veterinarian, the Person Responsible, upon request by Competition Management, must provide documentation from the Veterinarian, documenting that the equine in question received the vaccinations on the date administered and the name of the vaccine. b. In the case of vaccines administered by a person other than a veterinarian, the Person Responsible, upon request by Competition Management, must provide a receipt of the vaccine purchase which is signed by the Person Responsible, the equine’s name, the serial number and expiration date of the vaccine and the date of administration. c. In the case of an equine that is unable to receive either of the vaccines due to a history of adverse reactions, the Person Responsible, upon request by Competition Management, must provide a letter from a veterinarian on official letterhead stating the equine cannot be vaccinated due to medical concerns and a log of the equine’s temperature taken at least twice daily for the seven days prior to arrival at the competition grounds. These equines must also have their temperatures taken and recorded twice daily while on the competition grounds. The log of temperatures taken must be provided to the Competition Management, Steward or Technical Delegate when requested.
From Between My Blinders By Hardy Zantke Happy New Year to everybody. With the new year we have a few new rules and rule changes to keep in mind. So let me try to bring you up to date on the most important ones, as I see and recall them just fresh from the Annual ADS Members meeting beginning of December in Florida, which I attended by internet. As usual, I am talking just about Combined Driving and Driven Dressage and I’ll throw in one about the General Rules, too. I’ll leave the Pleasure Driving items to those who are more familiar with them. Also please note, this is just a brief summary of what I see as the most important items. You’ll find the complete details in the updated rule book: americandrivingsociety.org/Events-Resources/Resources/Rule-Book You should all have heard by now - you’ll need SAFETY VESTS on the marathon! There had been questions and discussions as to what standards they need to comply with. That was unclear and difficult to define. The ADS did not want to restrict anybody to just domestically tested and approved vests as there are many good ones also available by different European standards. So the Board decided to strike the standards, which means,
basically any safety vest to protect your upper body will do. Just get one and wear it! I think the Safety Vest requirement is the only change that restricts you more, and where you can get into trouble if you don’t know or follow it: you’ll get the big E! Everything else, as far as I can see, is less restrictive, meaning, you can’t get into trouble if you don’t know the change. But knowing the change will make life a bit easier for you: The marathon pace requirements have been changed for the Preliminary Level. Same as the upper levels too, Preliminary now has any pace in Section B (except after the last obstacle and/or the last 300 meters). So no need anymore to stay at the trot or walk in between the marathon obstacles, you may canter there. The Walk Section has changed to Transfer Section, as the FEI and USEF have it, which means no penalties for break of pace there! The organizer may also use a new option with just a two section marathon, where you’ll have more time in the A Section and decide yourself where to walk your horse to take a break. Grooms Speaking in Dressage is changed from Elimination to now also just 10 penalty points, following the FEI lead. There is also an important change for anybody requiring a Dispensation either temporary or permanently: Rather than putting all that into the rule book as had been proposed by a number of rule change suggestions, the ADS streamlined them and put them into the Policies & Procedures which you’ll find on the website and has changed our General Rule 1.8 accordingly. Basically if you need any dispensation for any disability you can apply to the ADS with a doctor’s certificate and then should get it but make sure to send it in with your entry to the organizer, so he can alert the officials accordingly. Editor's Note: Dispensations Procedures and Applications can be found here: https://americandrivingsociety.org/Members/Para-Drivers If you did follow the Rule Change Process then you will know that there were a bunch of more Rule Change Proposals. To sum it up: All Pleasure Driving RCPs passed. All Dressage RCPs passed. In Combined Driving two RCPs which met with member opposition did not pass: The marathon course still only needs to be ready 24 hrs before the marathon (instead of the proposed 48 hrs) and you may still continue to switch carriages between dressage and cones, as long as you advise management at least an hour before cones. The FEI RCPs also passed, which hardly effect us, except that the FEI will go to just two Collective Remarks in their dressage tests = Driver & General Impression, while we will stay with our five we are used to.
I don’t know as of this writing how the rules will come out from USEF for their events, except their big one this year: As an adult USEF Competing member you MUST have completed your Safe Sport Training requirement. It’s an online course free of charge relating to sexual harassment & bullying etc, which took me about three hours. Have a great 2019 driving season. Hard
Recreational Driving Pictorial Compiled & submitted by ADS Recreational Driving Chair, Heidi Ferguson
Jane Williamson writes: We have Clydesdales and Drum horses that we ride and drive. We are located in Rockford, MI and although we do participate in some shows, we mostly drive for pleasure around our farm and neighborhood. The first picture is of my five-year-old Drum mare Tilly heading out for a drive down the road - we stopped to admire the beautiful color change of the leaves. The second picture is of my nine-year-old Clydesdale mare Olivia and fiveyear-old Drum mare Tilly taking our neighbors for a late afternoon (chilly) drive.
Anne Buckler writes: Attached is a picture of The Wild Women of Moxee (members of Wine Country Equestrian Club) on one of our many trail drives. We are lucky enough to have miles of ditch banks, orchard and hop roads and quiet country roads to drive on. From front to back are Karen Lindhorst and passenger, Karen Lenberg, Lucy Curley and Teresa Mitchell. Anne Buckler is the photographer. Mini power (and small pony and mini mule)!
Blue Ridge Carriage Club writes: (photo credit Kay Wright) Blue Ridge Carriage Club members made their annual trip to drive along the The Greenbrier River Trail again this year! It makes for a great “Ladies weekend” as it a beautiful and welcoming drive along the river. Arriving on Thursday and leaving on Sunday gives us lots of time to catch up with no cell phone coverage. We definitely "eat, drink, and be merry" together as we are all friends with the common bond of our dear equines. This year we had a surprise from Mother Nature! Sunday morning treated us to a beautiful snowscape. Some of the ladies seemed almost gleeful as they cleared a path to the vehicles. This year, as always, our ponies stayed at EJ's Stables, but we rented a house on the lower side of Snowshoe. Although just five miles away from Cass Railroad, the weather was beautiful and snow-free when we arrived to get our ponies and found them "snug in their beds". Our weekend included visiting a bar and grill at Snowshoe Village, watching movies, popping corn and enjoying hot chocolate. What a change from reality for a few days and definitely “Recreational".
Ann Craig writes: Oregon gals on a trail drive in October, 2018 at Elijah Bristow State Park in Oregon. There were 13 of us.
Cyndee Elben writes: Juniper Creek was established last year by a small group of riders and drivers to enjoy equestrian activities and also participate in community events. We started our club by inviting some riders whose horses were getting there and the owners were interested in doing some other activity without being on a saddle. We converted two riders (they still ride but not as often) who enjoy driving their pony and elder horse. We drove/rode less during the rainy winter and then we had the awful fires. Two members participated-one in Sylmar, Ca (they were on standby) and the other member in Fillmore CA was deployed for 10 hours. We evacuate horses as well as farm animals. I will say that having been in this situation myself it is hard to describe. You just work in hauling the animals as fast as you can, close your trailer and go back for more animals; then just continue until a second group comes to take over. Now that things have settled,
some members are going on vacation with their horses, others are getting ready to attend shows and County Fairs. Lisa Hoover driving Misty, left. Julie Sanders and Posse at Morven Park, VA, right. (picture by Rob Sanders)
Linda Thomas writes: (photos by Linda Thomas) On November 3rd, I learned what it was like to husk corn by hand! As you drive by a field of corn ready to be harvested, imagine doing that job by hand - no combines, no tractors, - just people, a horse, and a wagon. The horse plodded through the corn rows, while our group (volunteers from Mt. Hermon Plow Days) hand-husked corn, then threw the ears into the highsided wagon. It can be tedious, exhausting work, however many hands made quick work of the small field we husked. A hand-husked field can be picked clean with the ears virtually free of shucks. This means the ears could be air-dried in cribs. Plus, the horse's job was pretty easy, meaning feed wasn't as heavy a requirement. It's hard to imagine improving the efficiency of the process ... unless, of course, you're the one doing the hand husking. All the corn hand husked will be used at Mt. Hermon Plow Days in April, 2019. Plow Days is an annual family-friendly event that showcases real horse power at work while providing an appreciation for the early methods of agriculture. Farming with horses was a way of life for most families until
tractors became more common in the 1940's. Until then, the horse was more than the family pet - it was a valuable asset.
The lower Eastern Shore of Maryland is lucky to have so many wonderful public land areas on which to drive carriages for pleasure. There is no traffic and minimal changes in terrain (really flat), but there are many opportunities to view nature at its best - from trees and vegetation to water as well as several types of wildlife. DDC Members Sherry Harris and Linda Thomas try to plan weekly drives to these areas: Idylwild Nature Area is fairly large Wildlife Management Area located on the Maryland-Delaware border, just north of Federalsburg, MD and part of the Marshyhope Creek watershed; Wye Island is 2,450 acres in Queen Anne's county, managed by the Department of Natural Resources in order to provide recreation, agriculture and a suitable habitat for wintering waterfowl populations and other native wildlife; Demonstration Forest in Wicomcio County has six marked trails that can accommodate carriages; and the Pocomoke Forest in Worcester County. What a relaxing way to enjoy nature while driving a horse!
A NEW way to support driving Now you can set a monthly donation to ADS that will automatically bill your credit card. You can donate ANY amount on a monthly basis ($5, $10, $100), and your contribution will support ADS' many programs and services to the driving community. The American Driving Society, Inc., is qualiďŹ ed under IRS Section 501 (c) 3 as a charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Code.Â
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