| Author | Message | ||
     Judith Broom Posted From: 81.139.132.130 |
I suggest you get in touch with Derek Wootton, he is based roughly in your area and is an experienced course builder and LHHI. | ||
| Graham Cooper Posted From: 194.106.44.161 |
Thanks Fiona and Mike and everyone. This'll give us something to go on. I'll let you all know if and when she gets them done. | ||
| MikeWatts Posted From: 80.176.138.26 |
The rules seem rather brief on the subject of marathon obstacles, though they define the cones obstacle dimensions in detail with diagrams. The guidelines give slightly more, at https://www.horsesport.org/PDFS/A/04_01/FEI%20Guidelines%20for%20Organisers%20and %20Officials.pdf While the rules require a driveable route no less than 2.5m wide, there will often be a short cut below that width, so it's good to practice with some narrow openings too. 3m boxes with 3m gaps make a good basic practice. The guidelines say: "5.2 Natural features seldom suffice to make a complete obstacle and it is unlikely that sufficient natural features exist in places where they would be most convenient. Consequently the majority of obstacles may need to be constructed. The first and most important requirement is that they are very solidly constructed as repair becomes progressively more difficult after several competitors have battered it. Secondly, the principle should be adopted in the construction of all obstacles that there should always be an alternative route or an easier but longer way round any tight corners. 949 5.3 It is worth remembering that the pole on pair or team vehicle protrudes 2.5m in front of the carriage so that the limiting factor is the size of the arc covered by the end of the pole as the carriage comes round a corner. Teams can ‘turn back’ on themselves very sharply provided that there is room for the pole to swing round. It is therefore difficult to lay down any hard and fast rules about the width of openings (other than“marked” gates) as it depends so much on the position of the next opening. In principle, an enclosed right angle turn becomes difficult if the width of the opening is less than 2.5m. All ‘gates’ must be at least 2.5m wide and 1.30 m high. There should be at least one route to all gates that is at least 2.5m wide. 5.7 Dislodgeable elements, of any design provided they do not interfere with or are liable to cause injury to horse/ponies or damage to vehicles when dislodged, may be used. The maximum number allowed is double the number of obstacles (i.e. 8 obstacles = 16 elements) in all classes. The Technical Delegate must approve the designs together with the President of the Jury. 5.8 The entrance and exit of the penalty zone are marked with red and white turning flags and the number of the obstacle is placed on, or by, the red flag of the entrance. The spectators should be kept at least 20m away from any ‘gate’ within the obstacle by barriers. Exceptions are allowed subject to the approval of the Technical Delegate. 5.9 Entry and exit gates, ideally using the same gate for in and out, should be placed at least 20m from the nearest marked gate. 5.10 It is important that the construction of the obstacles is horse friendly. Posts should be rounded or hexangular. Rails should be let into the posts or fixed inside the posts. Fixings should not protrude or if appropriate rope used. Roping is better inside an obstacle where there is an option for a particularly tight turn. If concrete or hard material is used then a wooden running board should be fixed over the concrete to protect the horses sides. 5.11 Bridges should have a slatted floor for grip that will be safe for the horses in all weather conditions. The bridges sides should be particularly strong and a wooden running board fixed at the base of the sides. There should always be an alternative route if there is a bridge included in an obstacle." | ||
| Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
Graham - jammy dodger! Why not have a look at www.mikewatts.com for photos of the marathon obstacles at several national venues - some good ones of Farleigh (from above), Henbury, Catton, Normanhurst, Brighton (with Claire Bourne in some)? These will give you some idea of variety of design, if not of dimensions. Yes, I agree with Chris: make dimensions between gates wider rather than narrower. Also read Mike's excellent "Better than a sack of potatoes", his groom's handbook, which is downloadable. Have fun! | ||
| Graham Cooper Posted From: 80.177.0.217 |
Thank you. I like the evil laugh. I sneaked my pony and carriage onto a pleasure ride around the Sandringham Estate at the weekend, side-stepped the stewards and got onto the obstacles for a bit of a play. Had the yard owner mentioned what she was planning before then, I should have got out with my camera, sketch book and tape measure. I'll check my yearbook when I get var/www and see if I can give her some tips. | ||
| Clanger Posted From: 192.85.50.1 |
If you are after the dimensions for obstacles without having to purchase the BHDTA bluebook, you can pull the FEI Driving Trials rules from the Reference section of the BHDTA website. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any differences in the rules regarding obstacle design between the BHDTA rules and the FEI rules. As Sue says, the best design of obstacles should not be too tight (3 metre gaps all round is normally about right). It is also worth trying to design it so that there is more than one possibility to get from one gate to the next. [evil_laugh]as a course builder there is nothing more satisfying than causing an arguement between a driver and a groom[/evil_laugh]. I hope that this helps, Chris | ||
| Graham Cooper Posted From: 80.177.0.217 |
Thanks. I'll take a look at the yearbook. It'll be fantastic if the owner will do this and would be great for other drivers in the area as well. | ||
| Sue Posted From: 86.137.0.147 |
You lucky things, this sounds as though it could be a fabulous facility. The BHDTA Rule Book has minimum dimensions for obstacles and is a useful starting point for ideas. Having driven obstacles built to these minimum dimensions several times over the years I would suggest that you err on the side of generosity in order to make the obstacles fun and safe to drive, particularly for novices. The more experienced drivers will still be able to gain useful practice from the resulting wide. open obstacles that will offer a lot of scope for both long, flowing routes as well as tight, twisty ones. Have fun, I'm sure you will get lots of visitors once the facility is ready. | ||
| Graham Cooper Posted From: 80.177.0.217 |
I keep my pony on DIY livery at a yard just outside of King's Lynn where most of the liveries drive. I am sure that many of you from the East will have been as the owners do B&B and many people come for the off-road driving. The owner of the yard also drives and mentioned that one of the large flat fields on the farm is going to be set-aside for the next couple of years. As many drivers come to the farm for B&B, she is keen to provide facilities (she already has a few rustic jumps scattered across the farm). She would like to build some obstacles on the field and set up a flat area for dressage/cones. However, she is stuck as to how to build the obstacles, ie dimensions, gaps, heights, etc. I was wondering if anyone knew where we might get some input on this. Are there any manuals for course building etc. Having recently started to break into driving trials, I am keen to have this facility available and think that it might be great for others as well. Does anyone have any ideas? |