Obstacle class penalties

In a recent post I mentioned that we are penalized for cantering at some shows.  Most pleasure shows do not allow cantering at all.  At the end of this post is the penalty structure for ADS obstacle class, one of the most common places accidental cantering occurs.  Most shows, including pleasure shows, have some type of obstacle class as drivers tend to really enjoy them.

For CDEs (Combined Driving Events) you can canter if you're competing in the higher divisions.  At the World Equestrian Games most of the teams will be cantering at some point, and that is definitely allowed.  This is a video of Gavin Robson driving a Four in Hand of Dutch Warmbloods at the 2009 Kentucky Cup and Lexington Combined Driving Classic - a 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Test Event.  Something to keep in mind as you watch the video is that the cones are only set 6 inches wider than the carriage wheel base.


Penalties


a) Knocking over start or finish marker ................................................. 5 seconds

b) Knocking down or dislodging obstacle.............................................. 5 seconds

c) Break to canter

1st break to canter..................................................................... 5 seconds

2nd break to canter ................................................................... 5 seconds

3rd break to canter .................................................................... 5 seconds

4th break to canter .................................................................Elimination

Prolonged canter.............................................................................Elimination

d) Disobedience or groom(s) dismounting (cumulative over course)

1st incident................................................................................ 5 seconds

2nd incident ............................................................................ 10 seconds

3rd incident............................................................................Elimination

e) Starting before signal......................................................................Elimination

f) Failure to cross starting line within one minute of signal ..............Elimination

g) Off-course.......................................................................................Elimination

h) Outside assistance...........................................................................Elimination

i) Failure to carry whip (Article25B.4) .............................................Elimination

j) Use of a tie-down or overcheck .....................................................Elimination

k) Breakage of harness or vehicle .......................................................Elimination

l) Exceeding time limit (twice time allowed) .....................................Elimination

m) Entries that overturn .......................................................................Elimination

n) Failure of entire entry to pass through start or finish markers .................................................................................Elimination