ADS Rulebook Glossary

 ADS Rulebook Glossary

Criteria for inclusion in the Rulebook Glossary:

1.       The word or terms must be or have been published in the ADS Rulebook

2.       Definitions to be approved by the ADS Technical Committees for inclusion in the Official Glossary

 

Article 2 Definitions of Terms

For the purposes of ADS Driving competitions, events and clinics and the rules thereof, the following definitions are commonly understood to mean as follows:

 

ADS	refers to and denotes only The American Driving Society, Inc.
Attendant
Carriage Dog	A dog, riding on the vehicle, serving as a companion
Class	An activity by Entries, judged according to criteria specified in the ADS Omnibus or Rulebook.
Coach Dog	A working dog accompanying a coach
Combination class–	A class in which a horse is driven for a portion of the class and ridden for a portion of the class.
Combination hunter	A Single horse entry to be shown in two or three successive sections: in harness, under saddle, over fences
Combination hunter	A Single horse entry to be shown in two or three successive sections: in harness, under saddle, over fences
Competition	The competitive activities of Divisions/Classes or combinations thereof within the Event/Show.
Competition age	Human -  the age of an individual reached during the current calendar year. (See: Horse Age ) Junior – Unless otherwise defined: Competition age under 19. Adult – Competition age 19 and over. Junior A – competition age: 10 and below. Junior A drivers must be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman at all times. Junior B – competition age 11, 12, 13. Junior B drivers must be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman at all times. EXCEPTION: Junior B drivers competing with a single Very Small Equine (VSE) turnout in a securely enclosed arena need not be accompanied by a knowledgeable adult horseman unless required by the organizer. Junior C – competition age 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Junior C drivers competing with a single horse/pony turnout at their discretion need not carry a groom/passenger unless required by the competition.
Competition Age, Horse	minimum competition age, Multiples - restrictions are applied considering the age of the youngest horse. Combined Driving - four years Dressage - three years Pleasure Driving - three years Recreational Driving – three years
Competition knowledgeable person	A person generally accepted as having experience in competition rules and procedures. Not necessarily licensed by any association.
Competition participant	Anyone who rides on a vehicle or assists an entry at any time during a competition
Competitor / Athlete	The person identified as the Driver on an Entry Form
Concours d’Elegance	An award or class in which a turnout representing the most elegant effect, to include vehicle, harness, appointments, horse(s), driver, passengers, grooms, etc., but above all, general impression is most important.
Course	A series of obstacles or gates that a Turnout must navigate, usually companied by a published navigational map. Dressage Tests, Reinsmanship Tests are not considered Courses.
Disability	Physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which may hinder [a person's] full and effective participation as a participant on an equal basis with others
Dismounting		The deliberate or accidental departure of an Athlete or Groom from a vehicle
Dispensation	The suspension or modification, issued by the ADS, of certain rules or requirements of competition
Disqualified	Prohibited from taking any further part in the Event or winning any prize; may be required to forfeit all prizes won at the event
Division	a group of Entries, combined according to various criteria, including but not limited to driver and/or horse, experience, configuration, turnout, animal size, animal or driver gender, vehicle style, breed, etc.
Draft	a. Draft Pony – Under 14.2 hands, approximate weight less than 1200 pounds b. Draft Small – 14.2-16.2 hands, approximate weight 1200-1600 pounds c. Draft – over 16.2 hands, approximate weight greater than 1600 pounds
Driver	The Competitor or Athlete controlling the reins and whip and brake
Eliminate(d)	Prohibited from taking any further part in a class or competition for contravening the rules; not eligible for an award in that class or competition See: Art 208; the entry remains eligible to compete in the remaining competitions of the show. May be applied where no other specific penalty is prescribed.
Entry	A turnout participating in an event or show, usually defined by the Organizer as the combination of the horse, vehicle and driver
Event/Show	the entirety of activities, classes, competitions or combinations thereof, commencing and concluding as defined by the Organizer in the ADS Omnibus
Excuse(d)	Must leave the competition as instructed by the ringmaster or judge.
Groom	A member of a turnout capable of rendering assistance
Headgear	protective headgear that meets the recommendations of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF); helmet
Horse	In a general sense, any equine
Judged	Participating in a class at least to the point when results have been officially determined by a judge
Knowledgeable adult horseman/competition knowledgeable/technically qualified	for Junior A and B Drivers, may be the groom, when one is required, or may be an additional person – in which case that person is subject to the same requirements and penalties as a groom
Livery	Stable Livery consists of one of the following: (1) A conservative suit, white shirt, dark tie, derby, dark shoes and leather gloves. (2) A conservative jacket, jodhpurs or drill trousers, jodhpur or paddock boots, white shirt, stock or four-in-hand tie, leather gloves, derby or conservative cap. (3) Hunting attire with a hunting derby or bowler.   Full Livery consists of:  a close-fitting body coat with buttons of yellow or white metal to match the furnishings of the harness used (if possible), white breeches, black boots with tan tops, white stock, black top hat and brown leather gloves. The color of the coat remains the owner’s preference, but preferred colors are conservative in nature and, where possible, complementary to the color of the vehicle.
Maiden, Novice, Limit, Open	Pleasure Driving: see Article 214 ; Combined Driving: see Art 913.3
Management	The person(s) responsible for organizing and running the competition.
Measurement Card	An ADS Form recording the official height on an equine
Must, Shall	When the terms “must” or “shall” are used in these rules, and no penalty is prescribed, any competitor who fails to comply MUST BE SEVERELY PENALIZED by the judge.
Official	Judge or Technical Delegate who is eligible to officiate at ADS Recognized Events
Omnibus	list of the details of a competition or event;  prize list if one is published.
Pony	Combined Pleasure
Prohibited, not permitted, mandatory, obligatory, required	When the terms “prohibited,” “not permitted,” “mandatory,” “obligatory” or “required” are used in these rules, any competitor who fails to comply MUST BE ELIMINATED or DISQUALIFIED by the judge, unless another penalty is stipulated
Retire	An entry not wishing to continue in any competition for any reason may leave the competition; although not eligible for an award in the competition from which it has retired, the entry remains eligible to compete in the remaining competitions of the show.
Salute		The acknowledgment by an athlete of the presence of a judge or other persons performed as described in the rules.
Should	When the term “should” is used in these rules, any competitor who fails to comply SHALL BE PENALIZED AT THE JUDGE’S DISCRETION.
Showgrounds		All land used for the Competitions comprising the Event, and areas for exercising and warm-up, stabling and the parking of trailer, Carriages. A showground is a place where driving-related events occur.
Sporting tandem	See Art 229
Test
Turnout	The combination of driver, horse(s), groom(s) and vehicle entered in a competition.
Warning Card	A notification issued by a competition official to any competitor, participant or official for improper conduct or for non-compliance with the rules of the ADS. See ADS Policies and Procedures – Warning Cards
Withdraw	An entry not wishing to continue competing for any reason may withdraw from the show.

The following are definitions currently in the 2022 rulebook and probably can be scrapped.

 

From 2022 Rulebook

Children – See [FEI] General Regulations Appendix A – Definitions

 

Entry – In Driving, the unit composed by the Athletes (Drivers), horse(s), Groom(s), harness and

Carriage appropriate to the turnout as defined in these Rules.

Event Official – See [FEI] General Regulations and Annex 3.

Horse – Refers to a Horse or Pony authorized to compete under [FEI] Chapter 6.

Junior – See [FEI] General Regulations Appendix A – Definitions

Organizing Committee “OC” – See [FEI] General Regulations.

Period of an Event – See [FEI] General Regulations Appendix A – Definitions

Schedule - the list of times and dates at which actions of an event are intended to take place

Turnout – A Carriage with the Horses, harness, Athlete and Grooms.

Young Drivers – See [FEI] General Regulations Appendix A – Definition

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. (𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟯) 𝘉𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘩, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴

 Making sure to adjust nosebands, flashes, browbands and making sure the buckles do not push into delicate facial structures or the poll strap does not push against the horse's ears (and of course checking bit fit): This is something good horse people should be quite fanatical about.

A quick look at what cranial nerves do, reveals how important their healthy functioning is to the overall health of the horse --and why properly fitted tack is paramount.

There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. They have a role in:

Balance

Heart rate (sensory and motor control of viscera including heart, lungs, and bowel)

Hearing

Smell

Vision

Eye movement

Neck muscles that move the head

Sensation from the face

Motor to the muscles for biting, chewing

Facial expression

Taste from the anterior 2/3rds of the tonque

Taste from the posterior 1/3rd of the tonque

Tearing (lacrimal gland)

Salivation from the parotid gland as well as not from the parotid gland (different nerves)

Sensation and some motor to the pharynx

Swallowing (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx)

Vocalization (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx)

gastrointestinal peristalsis

Tongue movement

Every part of a bridle has a role to play in stabilizing it and ensuring it does not put undue pressure on any part of the horse's head’s joints and nerves including ears, jaw, teeth, tongue. It is paramount that tack is fitted properly.

There is not one bridle model or brand that fits all horses so with all bridles it is important to pay attention to fit and check the following:

Is it pressing on a joint like a too tight browband pushing on the TMJ.

Is the crownpiece pressing or rubbing on soft tissues like the base of the ears.

is the noseband too low and resting on cartilage or placed too high and touching the horse's cheekbones neither which are good.

is the throatlatch strap too tight, pulling the bridle down on the poll and "strangling" the horse? This strap should remain loose regardless of neck and head position.

is the bit too high or too low.

are some of your buckles rubbing or poking into the horse's soft tissues or laying on bone.

Is your noseband and flash (if you use one) correctly adjusted?

Make sure there are two fingers stacked between your noseband and nasal bone. If you aren’t sure, invest in an ISE gauge (http://equitationscience.com/store/taper-gauge)

Are all the bridle parts that touch the horse's skin smooth, supple and clean.

Following this simple, common sense age old advice can help any horse be comfortable in tack.

For more information on tack and anatomy, check our Photo Albums.

Source: HorseAdvice.com and The Merck Veterinary Manual.

3/12/2013 - Italian Veterinarian and equine réhabilitation specialist Massimo Da Re offered these additional insights on CRANIAL Nerves, the Brain and Limbic System:

The head of all vertebrates is one of the most important parts for the life of the individual: It is home to the brain that has the delicate task to process the information that comes from the body and from the outside world and returns to the various parts of the body with essential indications for life.

The brain encodes what the sense organs perceive and organize the existence of the individual. The brain also reads the feelings of the heart which is the true center of life.

In the head are located vital organs: hearing, smell, sight, taste, touch. ( and breath)

Think for a moment about your horse, observe how important its highly mobile ears, his large nostrils, his very expressive eyes are for its essence.

Finally the mouth.

The horse lives with his mouth: eats, vocalizes, works, relates to the outside world. It contains more than 4 billion nerve endings and is closely associated with a portion of the brain called Limbic System, responsible for the control of emotions and learning: think about this before acting with your hands on your horse's mouth.

There are no horses "deaf" or "hard" in the mouth, pain receptors can not be deleted nor go out: horses fight oral pain in different forms: some rear, others pull on the reins, while others seem to be resigned and have a heavy mouth.

Study well this beautiful and useful image and use the equipment on your horse with awareness and respect : avoid too tight nose-bands, make sure bridle and bit fit well.

Be careful with the halter, especially if it is made in rope or fabric that are too thin: they can lead to excessive pressure on the nerves of the face; always remove the halter when the horse is free, in stall or outside in the field. Be gentle with your hands, both when you lead the horse and when you ride."

The subject is vast and deserves full days of discussions!