N.I.P.O.D

October 2010 PRECISION OBSTACLE DRIVING
NORTH ISLAND
RULES
1. General
1.0 To be held in an arena not less than 50 x 20 metres.
1.1 The control of the event rests with the EVENT MANAGER who undertakes the duties of both Technical Delegate and the President of the Ground Jury
1.2 The competition will consist of three phases as follows.
2. Phase 1 - Precision and Paces. (Dressage)
2.1 The arena will be a minimum size of 50 x 20 metres and the markers will be equally spaced apart.
2.2 Only NZ P.O.D and/or British Precision and Paces tests shall be used.
2.3 Judges record their own scores. Comments not required
2.4 Two judges required. One judge to assess and mark Paces. The other judge to assess and mark the Precision of the movements.
2.5 The judge marking Precision to be located at C and will notify the competitor of any errors of Course as per NZCDS Rules. The other judge to be located at B or E.
2.6 Errors of Course and/or any other rule breaking to be noted and marked as per NZCDS Rules.
Plus any penalties for “Errors of Course” etc.
2.7 Each judge to score from a total of 10 for each movement. The score of each judge to added together and the sum divided by 2, this figure to be subtracted from 100 to achieve the penalty score.
2.8 The Judges for this section must be competent and suitably experienced.
3. Phase 2 - Obstacle Driving. (Cones).
3.1 Competitors will be told the bogey time for the course but are reminded that stop watches and/or other timing aids are strictly forbidden. Outside assistance could lead to disqualification.
3.2 The Course
3.2.1The arena will be a minimum of 50 x 20 metres. There will be a maximum of Ten gates.
3.2.2 Obstacle gate markers shall be numbered sequentially. Official F.E.I type cones need not be used but all obstacle gates must have a dislodgeable element.
3.2.3 The course may include one multiple obstacle.
3.2.4 The starting line may not be less than 5 metres from the first obstacle.
3.2.5 The finishing line may not be less than 5 metres from the final obstacle.
3.2.6 There is no minimum or maximum distance between obstacles but the design should enable drivers to maintain an even pace throughout.
3.2.7 Drivers may take whatever line they wish but must take each obstacle in sequence.
3.2.8 Drivers may cross their own line between obstacles without penalty.
3.2.9 There will be 5 penalties for a “knock-down”.
3.2.10 Knocking a previously driven obstacle will incur 3 penalties.
3.3 Speed.
3.3.1 The target time will be calculated from a speed of 220 metres per minute for
horses and ponies and 200 metres per minute for donkeys.
3.3.2 A Competitor will incur one penalty point for each second either above or below the target time.
4. Phase 3 - Marathon Obstacles.
4.1 Each competitor will drive four (4) marathon type obstacles.
4.2 Two (2) M.O’s will be erected in the arena at any one time and will have
a maximum of 5 flagged gates. (If two arenas are available at the same venue two obstacles may be erected in each to give a total of four ).
4.3 MO’s may have any number of “knock-down” elements.
4.4 Start and Finish Gates to be positioned in such a way so as to be common to both MO’s.
4.3 MO’s 1 & 2 shall be driven by each competitor from all classes.
4.4 MO’s 1 & 2 are then re flagged or replaced to form obstacles 3 & 4 which are then driven by each competitor.
4.5 Scoring.
4.5.1 A competitor will be penalised by 0.5 of a penalty point for each commenced second spent in each MO.
Each obstacle will be timed individually.
4.5.2 Where suitable timing equipment and displays are available timing will be made exact, to 1/100th
4.5.3 Each Knock down incurs five (5) penalty points. of a second.
4.5.4 MO’s to be driven in the order given by the EVENT MANAGER.
4.5.5 All penalties for each MO. are added together to give a final penalty score for this section.
5. Classes
Class 1 Open over 148cm
Class 2 Open 108cm and up to and including 148cm
Class 3 Open under 108cm
Class 4 Donkey
Class 5 Novice
(Multiples will compete in their height Class)
*Other classes maybe introduced at a later time.
*Classes maybe combined or deleted at the discretion of the organisers or the EVENT MANAGER.
*Novice class may be sub-divided into height classes as 5.1 Novice over 148cm, 5.2 108cm and up to and including 148cm and 5.3 under 108cm.
Note. In the NI most POD’s are often run in conjunction with A. & P. Shows who sometimes set the classes.
6. Competitors.
6.1 Competitors will be treated as a Horse/ Driver combination. ( Henceforth refered to as a Competitor.)
6.2 All competitors may choose to commence competing in POD’s at the Novice grade.
6.3 A Competitor may choose to upgrade at any time from NOVICE to OPEN grade.
6.4 Once in Open grade a competitor remains in Open grade (subject to 6.7 below)
6.5 A NOVICE competitor will automatically move into OPEN grade after having won Five (5) First Places overall in NOVICE grades in any of the LISTED Competitions, over any period of time. Including the NI POD Championship.
6.6 In the case where there are more than TWO COMPETITIONS in ONE EVENT a competitor will complete the EVENT in the GRADE in which they enetered.
6.7 An OPEN grade Driver acquiring a horse, the horse not in OPEN grade, may choose to move back to NOVICE grade.
6.8 An OPEN grade Driver acquiring a horse, already in OPEN grade, will remain in OPEN grade.
6.9 Points will be given in each LISTED Competition in OPEN or NOVICE grade as:-
1st: 10 points
2nd: 8 points
3rd: 6 points
4th: 4 points
5th: 2 points

7. Grooms
7.1 Grooms optional for Singles.
7.2 Grooms compulsory for Multiples.
7.3 For Singles, if a Groom is carried at the start of the MO Phase they must then be carried for the whole of the MO Phase in that competition.
7.4 For Singles a Groom may not be added during the MO Phase if one is not carried for the first MO in that competition.
7.5 Grooms may stand on the back step for all phases.
7.6 Grooms giving assistance, including verbal or physical directions; sliding, lifting
for moving the vehicle in any way during phases 1 & 2 will incur 20 penalties for their competitor for each
incident.
7.7 Grooms under 16 yrs acceptable with parental or EVENT MANAGER approval.
7.4 Grooms may ride on more than one vehicle.
8. Horse - Pony - Donkey
8.1 Animals may compete only once in any competition. Except in the case of multiples where animals may be split and driven as singles in the same competition.
8.2 Animals may wear boots and / or bandages during all phases of the competition.
9. Dress
9.1 Marathon dress to be worn throughout all phases of the competition.
9.2 N.Z.E.F approved hard hats and body protectors are strongly recommended.
10. Vehicles
10.1 The Competitor will use the same vehicle for all three phases.
10.2 Pneumatic tyres are permitted.
10.3 Minimum weights do not apply but all vehicles must be of a construction
suitable for the competition.
10.4 Recommended wheel widths
Up to 108cms 125cms
Over 108cms 138-140cms
10.5 Vehicles may be measured at any stage during the competition.
11 Other Matters
11.1 Any penalties or items not specifically covered in these Rules will be as for those in the NZCDS Rules for Combined Driving.
11.2 This includes the rule that a Novice Competitor will not be eliminated from a competition but shall be given an “elimination score” calculated by adding to their final penalty score for the phase in which they have been
eliminated 25% of the penalties accumulated by the Competitor, in the same phase, with the highest number of penalties.