Rules & Guidelines
Standard Rules of Safety for TCCA Events
From ADS Rule Book
Article 4.2 — All animals must be serviceably sound, and must not show evidence of lameness, broken wind, physical distress, or impairment of vision in both eyes.
Article 5.1 — All persons involved in the competition: drivers, passengers, grooms, officials, spectators, etc. should keep safety foremost in their minds. Having the horse under control at all times is a safeguard not only for the driver and his passengers, but for everyone involved in the sport.
Article 5.2 — The judge must eliminate from a class or competition, or disqualify from an event any entry with an unsafe vehicle, unruly horse(s) or the driver clearly without sufficient control.
Article 5.4 — It is the responsibility of each driver to ensure that harness and vehicle are in good repair and structurally sound.
Article 5.6 — The driver should always be the first person to enter the vehicle and the last to leave.
Article 5.7 — The ADS strongly recommends that no turnout should rely solely on a groom or other attendant standing on the ground to control the horse or horses, with the exception of hitching and/or unhitching. If a driver dismounts for any reason other than to make minor adjustments to harness, vehicle, or to unhitch, the reins should be given to a driver seated on the vehicle.
Article 6.1 — Whenever being put to or taken out of a vehicle, a horse MUST wear a bridle with reins attached to the bit and passed through the saddle terrets.
Article 6.2 — The Horse MUST NEVER be left unattended while put to a vehicle.
TCCA Standard Rules of Safety.pdf
The American Driving Society, Inc. Code of Sportsmanship
Our sport of Carriage Driving has the valuable reputation of being welcoming to all, a sport where the welfare of the horse is foremost, and the thrill is in the partnership with our equines (regardless of the results). Protecting these ideals is of paramount importance to the health of driving.
In order for the sport of driving to prosper, our expectation is that every participant knows the rules, plays fairly, graciously accepts the final results, and always conducts themselves in a composed manner. It is the duty of all to behave in a manner that creates a positive environment. Therefore, any infringement of the common principles of good behavior, fairness or good sportsmanship will result in disciplinary action. Sportsmanship infractions include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Abusive, or intimidating language at ADS Recognized Events.
b) Refusal to accept Officials’ final decisions.
c) Intentional circumventing of the rules.
d) Unsafe behavior while on event grounds.
e) Damaging land or property.
f) Actions detrimental to the welfare of the horse.
g) Negative interaction with volunteers.
h) The use of social media, or any public platform, to personally attack the character or reputation of fellow competitors, organizers, volunteers, or Officials.
We all have a duty to each other and to our sport to display good sportsmanship.When our members display good sportsmanship, it not only makes driving more enjoyable for all, but presents a positive impression of the driving community to the general public.Let us always do the right thing for our equine companions, our sport, and our fellow
ADS members.
codeofsportsmanship.pdf