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ADCS ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW - MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE
(If an event is ADS sanctioned, like the 2023 Festival of Driving, club membership is not required.)
Yearly ADT Series
Arizona Driving Trials
These are a series of usually one day events held at various locations throughout the year.
Competitors earn year end points towards awards at the end of the series. Each year, the Series can include 4 to 6 separate events.
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Competition includes a
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Dressage Test
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Cones Course
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Obstacles/Hazards
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Driving Clinics
ADCS offers Driving Clinics in several locations a few times a year. Please check the Calendar for any upcoming clinics.
Some of our members are driving instructors who offer lessons, clinics, and evaluation of horses for the discipline of driving. Contact us for more information if you are looking for an instructor. Check the non-ADCS sponsored Calendar for any clinic offerings we know about.
Other Combined Driving Events
Since 1986, shortly after this Club was formed, ADCS offered a Combined Driving Event each year for the next 30 years. Usually these were recognized 3-day events (CDE), with a few 2-day HDT formats here and there. Our wonderful venue was Goree Farms in Coolidge, AZ.
Currently, we are attempting to reestablish this tradition at a new venue and eventually plan to offer recognized events again.
General Membership Meeting/Awards Banquet
Held after the final Series ADT, the membership gathers to enjoy a dutch treat meal and to present the awards for the current ADT Series. A fun gift exchange closes out the year.
Pleasure Shows
A Pleasure Driving Show generally includes "rail" classes, where all competitors in a class (classes can vary by breed, hitch, equine size, etc.) are in an arena at the same time and display various paces while being judged on turnout, way of going, reinsmanship or other specified factors..
In addition, shows often include other classes where individual entries negotiate various patterns or a course for a "time" or for points. The "score" then determines the placings in that class.
Newsletters
ADCS produces an informative Newsletter, usually monthly during the AZ driving season, and less frequently during our slow season. The Newsletter is emailed to the Membership.
At this time, classified ads are not being accepted, but members may list a horse related business or service for free. Contact the Newsletter Editor if you have news to share.
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Contact our FaceBook editor for information on Advertising on our FB page..
WHAT IS A "CDE," "HDT," AND A "CT"?
COMBINED DRIVING EVENT or CDE
Traditionally, a CDE refers to an event taking place over three days. Day 1 is Dressage, Day 2 is a Marathon course which is comprised several sections, each of which has a specified distance and time window. The last section of the marathon contains the obstacles. Day 3 is the Cones competition. Should there be any ties coming into day 3, the time on course in cones is used to break any tie.
HORSE DRIVING TRIAL or HDT
This is a combined driving event usually held over two days. Dressage and Cones competitions are held on the first day, and a "B" section only Marathon is held on the second day.
Section B includes all the Obstacles as well as the pathways (course) used to get from obstacle to obstacle between the Start and Finish markers. Course length is usually 1 km per obstacle.
Time is recorded for the Marathon, and includes time on the entire course as well as the time within each obstacle-which adds penalty points for obstacle elapsed time. There is a specified speed for each level/eqiune size which determines the time window for the marathon course. Additional penalties are added for being too early or too late based on that window.
Scores (penalties) for Dressage, Cones, and Marathon are combined to determine placing in the various classes.
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COMBINED TEST OR CT
This is usually a one-day competition that combines a Driven Dressage Test and a Cones Course as the only Event sections. There is no Marathon or Obstacles section.
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Frequently, an event will offer both an HDT and a CT option for competitors.
Julie Mitchell at Shady Oaks
