| Author | Message | ||
     Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
Yes... hmm, Amanda's document is for BHDTA training clinics so I guess that Someone would assess the little dears before they get behind a pony. Child would have had some contact with the instructor, probably, before going to a clinic. If you were in my IHDT area I would wish to persuade you to have a lesson or drive with someone I knew was competent to assess you/child/turnout. Competitors have a wide range of acquaintance and usually someone can vouch for your experience otherwise. If you are having lessons, your instructor would vouch for you. If you aren't, it's a good idea to have one or two??? (Sorry - I really don't mean to patronise you, but I and many of my fellow drivers have lessons regularly, and I still don't know everything!) A suitably anxious expression and a few wrinkles might prove that one is over 21... (er, I have shot myself in foot here). The parent or guardian signs the junior IHDT competitor's form with their date of birth (child's dob). I have never had the problem of having to prove that the groom is over 21 (yet)! Oh dear, I hope I've helped more than hindered! | ||
| Anna Perkins Username: Annap Registered: 10-2007 |
Owhhh... Now, you've made me confused again Fiona.... More questions.... "Every competitor must have been assessed for competence and safety before being allowed to participate in any driving function." How? Where? Who? "For drivers aged 5 – 10 yrs, the groom must be over 21 years and have driving experience. Evidence of this will be required." What evidence is required? From whom? | ||
| Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
Anna - sounds good! We have an eight-year-old driving in our events but she has her own public liability (?) insurance. See the thread "minimum age for junior drivers" in General Chat for a document about juniors driving, which says (on my cursory glance) that 10-year-olds needn't have double reins but must have 21 years or over groom and must wear a body protector in the marathon phase, amongst other things. Hope this helps? Fiona | ||
| Anna Perkins Username: Annap Registered: 10-2007 |
Thanks all. So if I'm right then, Ro (aged 10) can groom for me at our first event in P + P Phase 1 , and in Cones Phase 2, both with no verbal help, but I can find somebody else, (eg sensible daughter number 2, aged 15) to groom Obstacles Phase 3, with lots of verbal assistance. But then in the future, if all went well, Ro can drive her pony, Phases + assistance as before, with myself grooming (slightly more than 18). Aaahhhh there may be light at the end of the tunnel...... OK, so, silly question number 14288, Does a junior driver of Ro's age HAVE to drive with a second set of reins to the responsible adult groom's hands?? Our Area appears to be Midlands (Sally Edwards ? ? ) Thought it probably best not to burden her with lots of very confused telephone calls (on my part not hers)!! | ||
| Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
Anna, the organiser for your area's events will probably know people who would reliably backstep for you. Give him/her a call a couple of weeks before the event you want to enter, I suggest. We have several excellent "rent-a-grooms" in the East Anglia region, usually people who are keen to get involved so they can learn or competitors who aren't competing for some reason - they even dress up as fairies/elves etc. for the fancy dress competition for us and you don't get much keener than that! So do keep trying - it's a great sport, we are all very friendly and I'm sure you'll soon meet some people who'll support you.  Pic-Kim Lewendon "fairies up" for Pippa Botting's ice princess and they win fancy dress second prize, Wix EC, 30 December Fiona | ||
| Joanna Bassett Username: Joannab Registered: 10-2007 |
What area do you want to compete at? | ||
| Duncan Seth-Smith Username: Sakofox Registered: 08-2007 |
Anna don't give up, there will be plenty of grooms/whips at your chosen event that are willing to backstep for you. I know of people who enter events and get a different groom each time. give it a go. Duncan | ||
| Anna Perkins Username: Annap Registered: 10-2007 |
Thanks for answering my post, Mike. Just managed to remember my password this time, must have had a really frazzled brain yesterday. Yup, that's what I thought. Sadly, that maybe is us out of it then I think. Never mind eh, the best laid plans etc etc. Anna IMG]https://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc295/LazyPhotoDaisy/30thDec2007003-1.jpg[/IMG] | ||
| Mike Watts Username: Mikew Registered: 10-2006 |
Yes, the groom needs to be 14 or older, at least for the obstacles phase. Also if the driver is under 18, the groom must be 18 or more. Sorry to complicate, but this year we've recognised dressage and cones is less demanding on the groom and allow grooms as young as 10 for those phases if the driver is 18 or more. 2.4.2 The minimum age of a driver or groom is 10 years on the day of the event, but at least one person on the vehicle must be a competent adult aged 18 years or over. Also, grooms for Phase 3 – Obstacles must be capable of assisting and at least 14 years old on the day of the event. | ||
| Guest Username: New Registered: 12-2006 |
Hi everyone. Season's greetings and all that. Just a really simple quickie for someone knowledgable to answer. Am I right in thinking that a groom/backstepper has to be 14years old or older, to help in a competition? The old grey cells are feeling a little tired and grumpy, and I'm not sure if they're pulling a fast one and telling me the wrong info!! |