This is old data for referenceclick here for latest

Rules

We have rules to help ensure a fair, safe, enjoyable competition for everyone.

The ICD indoor rules are based on FEI outdoor horse driving trials rules, adapted for a one day indoor competition and are available free of charge here.

Rulebook reissued for 2023-24 - please read!

Please click here to download the latest rule book (2023-24 on).

Notes on 2023-24 changes

To see the detail changes, please see latest rule book with change marks from 2022.

The updated rules include minor clarifications. Some more significant changes are:

A small pony team may now compete with one groom on the vehicle and one in close attendance to assist immediately if needed.

The Small Pony championships class is now split into Novice Small Pony, Intermediate Small Pony and Open Small Pony like the other animal sizes.

The class progression for Small Pony is now the same as other classes. I.e. you go up a class if you finish in the top 50% at the championships, or qualify and don't compete at the championships two years running.

Qualifier events may run Small Pony class(es) at the organiser's discretion if numbers permit, otherwise small ponies continue to run in pony classes locally.

To allow some flexibility on class changes, a driver who wishes to progress class but has not qualified, or downgrade class for example on changing to a larger animal class, may apply to ICD, with reasons, to be changed.

9.2 We've recognised that the course designer may sometimes want to flag obstacles up to F as people progress or want to prepare for championships or outdoors, so we now allow A-F at qualifiers in the second half of the season, i.e. 1st Jaunary onwards, at the course designer and organiser's discretion. ICD encourages course designers to ensure all obstacles permit an entirely, or at least mostly, flowing route and not overcomplicate.

Get the rulebook

Rulebook reissued for 2022-23 - please read!

Please click here to download the latest rule book (2022-23 on).

Notes on 2022-23 changes

To see the detail changes, please see latest rule book with change marks from 2019.

The updated rules are mostly minor clarifications. Some more significant changes are:

Grooms may now speak in cones, so they can help the driver navigate. They still may not use timing devices as part of the competition is judging the pace.

To help newcomers, in club class, the precision and paces test does not have to be driven from memory, so in that class only, grooms may prompt the driver and or the driver may have a map of the test if they wish. 7.10

ICD class progression is now based just on your ICD results. In the previous rules, if an ICD novice did a BC Novice Qualifier outside, for example, that pushed them up to ICD Intermediate. We didn't think this was fair and we think ICD and outdoor classes are parallel. 2.4.7

If you might qualify in the same class in different regions, you can nominate your 'preferred' region for qualification which will be used if you qualify in both. On your membership form or contact the membership secretary. Otherwise and previously, the first qualification counted. This only comes into effect for the rare cases where a person actually qualifies for the same class in two or more regions. 10.9

We moved the veteran's age up to 65, but to try not to disappoint, people who already competed as veteran may continue to if they wish. 2.4.9.

If you see any new errors or if we have done something which doesn't seem right, please contact Mike Watts mike@ihdt.co.uk

Click for more details...

1.4 We removed "each area will organise a minimum of five events" and now give this as guidance to organisers, not a rule.

2.4.3 We now refer to a second set of reins for safety as a "second set of reins" rather than "dual reins". We also clarify that anyone holding them must be seated next to the driver. This is a safety measure - a groom on the backstep cannot safely hold on and control a set of reins.

2.4.7 The ICD class progression is now based purely on ICD results, except for people starting in ICD or returning after five years or more away, in which case ICD can take into account their outdoor class in assigning their ICD class.

2.4.8 We have tried to clarify what happens if people wish to compete more than once in one class Previously, simply the higher score counted. Now the driver must nominate one of their entries as aiming for points and only this entry will count for points in the points league. The organiser must run the nominated entry earlier in each phase than the driver's second entry, to minimise extra competitive advantage. In order to exclude the second entry as not eligible for the points league, the organiser must mark the "championships class" of the second entry as 'Club'. The "local class" remains the driver's normal class and the second entry is placed and eligible for rosettes in the local placings as normal..

2.4.10 We have clarified that grooms standing by for assistance (for a small pony two wheel turnout) must still wear a hard hat. This is for better protection in the event of an incident. We are not requiring body protectors in this case, only for people on the vehicle.

2.4.11 We removed 'warm and waterproof' as a rule about clothing as it is not really a rule. It remains a recommendation.

2.4.12 We require grooms to wear the assigned number on their front and back. We removed the other option of just a number on the vehicle because stewards, scorers and commentators have found that difficult to see. We deleted "(number bibs are normally provided)" as this is simply advice, not a rule. b
3.4 and 4.5 We tried to make it crystal clear that people compete in their assigned class; small pony in small pony, Novice Junior in Novice Junior etc. We have had requests to allow out of class, for example a Small pony in the championships Open pony class, and we think that would be unfair, just as competing a horse in pony or a pony in horse etc.

8.3 We now allow the cones designer to put in more multiple obstacles if they wish, provided the course can be driven at a reasonable speed. We would not expect many qualifying events to do this, except perhaps in their last events before the championships. We also expect cones to be in an area at least 20 x 50m or equivalent size, though larger cones areas are acceptable at the discretion of the organiser.

9.2 We've recognised that the course designer may sometimes want to flag obstacles up to F as people progress or want to prepare for championships or outdoors, so we now allow A-F at the last qualifier of the season only. ICD encourages course designers to ensure all obstacles permit an entirely, or at least mostly, flowing route and not overcomplicate.

This is old data for referenceclick here for latest

Rules

Notes on 2023-24 changes

Get the rulebook

Notes on 2022-23 changes

See also...