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Martyn Willis
Username: Martynw
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 28 December, 2012 - 05:17 pm: | |
I believe there is room for both formats What the World Cup format can offer is the ability to offer as Deirdre says arriving for your class/event at a set time, competing and leaving works for other equestrian disciplines such as Dressage, Jumping and Showing. World cup driving is very spectator friendly. |
Helen Bridges
Username: Helenb
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Friday, 28 December, 2012 - 11:32 am: | |
i totally agree with ginny.dressage is so important,it shows skill,suppleness and obedience and helps with all aspects of driving,from showing to driving on the road.training for manners is part of this phase-lets not lose it,leave the indoor alone,its fine. |
Lindsey Doran
Username: Lindseyd
Registered: 04-2010
| | Posted on Friday, 28 December, 2012 - 01:10 am: | |
I agree with ginny... |
Ginny Ashford
Username: Ginnyashford
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, 27 December, 2012 - 08:29 pm: | |
NO, you cannot be serious, indoor driving trials and world cup type events are totally different competitions.
Each of the three different parts of the IHDT competition test the overall ability of whip and pony. Obedience & the paces of the ponies and the accuracy of the whip in the dressage. Judgement of speed/pace and accuracy in the cones. Agility, speed and memory in the obstacles. The world cup is more akin to scurry, whilst accuracy may be important the goal remains to achevieve the fastest time over a course of combined cones and obstacles, basically a race.
The IHDT events run during the winter using indoor venues, it is therefore sometimes wet and cold, unfortunatley we are talking british weather. Changing the format to alter the time it takes to compete will not alter the cost of entries, diesel ect. perhaps only reduce the value for money, these events are run for the competitors and not as a spectator sport for the general public. In my experience organiser's and competitors are both helpfull and encoraging to any newbies. The dressage tests can hardly be called intimidating, the movements are simple and the IHDT even provide diagrams of the test to make learning easy.
There is already a scurry & trials group, last summer they ran events at game fairs and shows which I understand was both a success and very popular. Why would the IHDT want to compete with this group? Also in the Yorkshire area the NEDTL ran arena challenge events, and during the winter many of the areas IHDT offer similar one off events.
I love to compete, (although I have been unable to this season due to ill health), and feel realy strongly about this subject, I do not want to just race around an arena against the clock. Why should a tried and tested, successfull format of driving be changed for the good of the sport when entries appear to be as high as ever, and last year the finals had more competitors yet again (the intermediate classes have had to be removed to reduce numbers for 2013).
Please dont try and fix what is not broken!! |
Deirdre Luff
Username: Pinkpink
Registered: 01-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, 26 December, 2012 - 10:17 pm: | |
Over the last few months I have read with great interest the discussion regarding the development and promotion of our sport. With all the possible changes that are afoot and the possible use of the World cup series to reach and promote our sport to the general public, would this be a good time to highlight and reformat the use of the Indoor Driving Trials?
World Cup Driving is in effect Indoor Driving.
Within the Indoor circuit, the more affluent regions with high density populations are thriving, but those of us in more rural settings are struggling with the cost of hiring venues, diesel costs to distant venues and the entry fees.
I like dressage; even if I’m not that good at it, cones are fun and a wonderful schooling aid, the obstacles always exciting. I would go to more Indoor events but the format is time consuming and in the wet winter months the day is too long. The thought of turning up for 3 rounds of world cup style competition and then tucking the ponies safely away and watching others or even going var/www to dry off is appealing. This would also mean that the smaller venues would have room for parking and warm up with the competitors rolling in throughout the day. The public would also have action to view throughout the day.
The format of arriving for your class/event at a set time, competing and leaving works for other equestrian disciplines such as Dressage, Jumping and Showing. It might even allow for evening competition where the facilities are available, which could increase exposure to the public. This worked at the Conference. The World Cup format might also get us entry to the county show circuit.
I appreciate that this goes away from the format of Dressage, Cone and Obstacles, but if it gets people driving and enjoying their driving, rather than being initially intimidated by the thought of trying to remember the dressage test, or scared that dressage is only for posh people!
Any of those following the development of our sport work very hard to earn enough, train enough and be fit enough to enter our flagship events. To continue to do so we need to get enough people on board to support our events at all levels. I think the reformatting and promotion of World Cup Series format for Indoor Driving may benefit Indoor, Club and National Driving. A series of local, regional (such as at Addington) and National Indoor Driving events could provide positive exposure to the general public and potential sponsors for the sport.
Just a thought
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