[drivingpairs] ReShetland Rule, Breeching (I'm in the Mid Atlantic States !)

I'm not sure how the American Shetland Club handles rule changes and suggestions, I would think there is a rules committee that must take input from membership.

At the ADS, we have a pleasure driving committee, and a CDE committee. Rule changes (in writing)
are submitted for consideration. Often these changes are "housecleaning rules" where we've discovered a better and clearer way to word something, or one rule contradicts another. (hopefully those have all been found and fixed !)

The last major equipment rule we considered was whether or not to allow flash nosebands in pleasure classes. Use of flashes has increased, maybe due to influence of ridden dressage and CDE's but they are not a traditional pleasure driving way of dealing with a mouth problem (or hands) The proposed rule chnge was published in the "Wheelhorse" for comment by membership. The committee received a large volume of mail concerning this proposed change, from competitors and trainers; and from the comments the rule was ammended to say "Flash nosebands are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED in pleasure driving classses. " So there you have an example of an organization that takes membership comments into consideration.

As with the USEF, one primary question is always, how does this rule affect safety ? Breeching is certainly a standard and traditional piece of driving equipment, and has safety implications as you mentioned : at a minimum comfort for the animals in ease of backing up and reaching the show ring. In the best of worlds, maybe American Shetland Club would consider letting it be optional. Then you need to EDUCATE the judges not to penalize someone who is using breeching correctly and has it properly fitted.

This is I'm afraid, a good example when the disconnect between driving in the ring and actually driving "out and about" widens. . . look where show hunters have gone since the days of showing over an outside course over solid, real hunting fences has virtually vanished.

I manage an ADS pleasure show. (this is our 24th year !) We have a very supportive and loyal miniature horse contingent that comes because we promised them a division if they came. We keep inviting people from the various mini horse clubs in the region to come, and sometimes hit a brick wall when we say, well yes we run under ADS rules, so that means no overchecks. Some mini drivers believe that overchecks keep their minis from kicking. . . . and their ears close up when I've tried to explain that our rules work for the vast majority of breeds, and rather than trying to specialize we are trying to be inclusive, plus they have the option of using sidechecks. Then follows (if I get that far. . . ) the discussion on how driving an animal on the aids and allowing it fuller use of its body is harder in an overcheck, but sadly it becomes a one sided converation by then.

So, I would gather as many like minded people as yourself, approach the relevant rule committee, and put it in writing, why you would like to have breeching allowed. Good luck !

Dana Bright
ADS and USEF pleasure judge, member of pleasure drivng committee ADS


_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.shtml
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: