SITE PREPARATION FOR A DALMATIAN ROAD TRIAL

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

STARTING LINE:
A "starting line" should be designated at the start of the "course" ¼ mile before the judged exercises. The required ¼ mile warm up may be conducted in a circular or repeat format, if necessary. The starting line may be marked with. flags, flour, jumps, etc.

EXERCISES:
The same area may be used for more than one exercise
All entered dogs (CC, RD, RDX) must perform the exercises on the same course.
Judge's steward must be provided.
Method of recording scores must be provided (clipboard and score sheets, pencil, portable tape recorder, etc.)
Timepiece (watch or clock) for judge to record "time out on course" of each exhibitor.
HOCK (CC and RD):
Yellow warning flags set about 10 yards before start.
Green flags for start of 200 yards.
Red flags for end of 200 yards.
Should be mostly level, straight, and without potholes.
Grass or weeds should be cut low for a width of about 20 feet, if possible.
HOCK (RDX):
2 posts, markers, obstacles, or natural landmarks set approximately 100 yards apart for the figure 8.
Green flags for start.
Red flags for finish.
HOCK WITH DISTRACTION:
Distraction dog and handler.
Distraction dog should be non-aggressive, medium or large sized.
Length: approximately 20 yards.
Distraction dog approaches on horse's left, at least 15 feet away.
If possible, set this exercise up near a tree, to provide shade for distraction dog/handler between exercises.
It is NOT advisable to provide shade in the form of a canopy (scares the horses).
If a chair is provided, it should be dark in colour, set well off the course, and blend well with the surrounding terrain.
After the exercise, hiker and distraction dog must remain on the down-side of course until after the Mounted Judge has completed judging the remaining exercises.
LONG SIT OR DOWN:
If a shade tree is available, this exercise can be performed under the shade of a tree.
Can be performed at any location on the course.
All dogs should perform the stay at the same location on the course.
Distractions should be kept to a minimum.
Grass/weeds should be cut/cleared.
Should be conducted in an area AWAY from any unnatural, "spooky" objects.
Distraction dog must be a distance away and/or out of sight.
RECALL:
Should be conducted in an area where the judge can view the dogs and handler for at least 30-100 yards.
Distractions should be kept at a minimum.
SPEED:
If the Mounted Judge is judging the Speed, the exercise must be located within, or directly adjacent to, the area provided for the other exercises.
Should be free of obstacles (on the ground AND overhanging), distractions, potholes, rocks, "spooky" objects, etc.
Length: 100 yards.
Yellow warning flags 10 yards from start.
Green flags for start.
Red flags for finish.
Steward must be present.
VETERINARY CHECKS:
The veterinarian(s) may be able to provide some of their own equipment.
START/FINISH:
Licensed veterinarian must be on site from the start of the Trial until completion of awards ceremony.
Should be conducted in an area with enough room for vet to view gaiting of dogs and horses.
Stewards (1 is acceptable; 2 are preferred).
Examination table.
Thermometers for dogs and horses.
Stethoscope.
Leashes.
Lead ropes.
Hoof pick.
Water for dogs (buckets, pans, and/or kiddie pool).
Water for horses (trough and/or 5 gallon buckets).
Water for exhibitors.
Hand washing items.
Shade and seating for vet and stewards.
Snacks/lunch for vet and stewards.
Score sheets (plus clipboards, pencils, etc.).
Clock/watch/stopwatch (for timing and recording of time in & out of vet check, heart rates, etc.).
Emergency care kit (human and animal).
Optional: walkie talkies for communication with Chairman or other vet.
MIDPOINT :
A midpoint vet/vet tech must be provided if there are MORE than seven exhibitors entered.
The midpoint vet/vet tech is not required to remain on site after his/her judging is completed.
Equipment and stewards: same as start/finish vet (above).
The location of the mid-point check must serve the RD and the RDX exhibitors. RDs are checked at approximately 6 ¼ miles. RDXs are checked at approximately 12 ½ miles. If you design a course that is 6 ¼ miles in length, the mid-point vet/Vet tech can be located at the same location as the start/finish vet.
The location of the mid-point check should be accessible by vehicle if at all possible.
In a pinch, the start/finish vet may serve as the mid-point vet for RDX dogs, or for exhibitors driving a cart on a separate course. This may cause a backlog of exhibitors at the vet check, however, and is not desirable.
In the case of two or more exhibitors arriving at any vet check at the same time, the dog(s) of the team with the earliest start time will be vetted in first, then the dogs of the team with the later start time, then the horses.
COACHING CERTIFICATE TEST:
All judged exercises are held on the same course, in the same location.
The CC entries will be judged after the completion of the judging of RDX and RD teams.
The CC entries perform the HOCK exercise the same as the RD entries.

START OF ENDURANCE PORTION (RD & RDX):
The timing of the endurance portion begins after the completion of the judged exercises.
The judge is to record the "start time" and report it the start/finish steward.
Exhibitors wishing to ride with another exhibitor may request to do so, if the exhibitor with the earlier start time is willing to be judged at his assigned time, and then wait for the other exhibitor. The first exhibitor would wait in a designated area until the companion exhibitor has been judged. The start time of both teams would then be the same.
An exhibitor may not request that his judging time be "bumped up".

ENDURANCE PORTION OF COURSE (TRAIL):
May be a repeated "loop", or series of loops.
Must begin and finish at or near the start/finish vet check.
Must be measured. RD trail must add up to 12.5 miles, including judged exercises and ¼ mile warm-up. RDX trail must add up to 25 miles, including judged exercises and ¼ mile warm-up. Suggestions for measuring include using a four-wheeler with odometer, car or pickup, using known trails which have been measured and recorded previously (by local horsemen, forest service, etc.), or measuring the trail on horseback using rate of travel and common sense. Whichever method of measurement is used, it is suggested that a representative of the Host club ride the trail in advance, while being timed, to verify the trail length.
Suggested length: 6 ¼ mile loop. This allows the mid-point vet check to be located near the start/finish vet check, and allows the mid-point check for the RD dogs to be located at the same point as the mid-point check for the RDX dogs.
Two separate 6 ¼ mile loops, which meet at the starting point (i.e., a figure 8), have also been successful.
Course must be marked (Chp. 3, Sec. 3).
Markers must be bright, legible, and tamper resistant.
Minimum of one directional marker per mile, 2 directional markers per every crossroad, fork, or path.
Must include distance markers (Mile 2, Mile 4, etc.) a minimum of every 2 miles.
Water must be available for dogs at a minimum of every 2 miles (Chp. 3, Sec. 3).
Avoid busy roads and parking areas. Stewards must be provided at road crossings.
A sign-in sheet or steward must be posted at the furthest point on the trail, to record the passing of each exhibitor.
Water must remain available on the trail until after the last exhibitor has passed for the final time. Trail stewards must be available on the trail until after the last exhibitor has passed for the final time.

SEPARATE TRAIL FOR CARTS (Chp. 3, Sec. 3):
If possible, the carts should use the same trail as the mounted exhibitors.
If the chosen mounted trail is not suitable for carts, another trail may be designated for carts. This trail may consist of a shorter, cart-appropriate loop. Cart exhibitors will still be required to complete the required distance.

FINISH LINE:
The finish line is usually at the start/finish veterinary check. It should include the required distance for both the RD and RDX.
It is the responsibility of the Start/finish steward to record the time each team crosses the Finish Line (Chp. 1, Sec, 25A)

SPECTATOR AREA (Chp. 3, Sec. 6):
Should be well marked.
Steward could be assigned to direct spectators.
Spectators must be kept out of judging areas and away from horses.
 
Close Window and Return to Previous Page