Category: General information

At SCDA club events, a novice is defined as a driver who has not competed in any open or intermediate class at club or national level.

A driver can remain in the novice class until they have completed one or more of the following:

1. A maximum of 3 seasons – where a season is clarified to be a calendar year in which the driver has completed, without retirement or elimination, all phases in at least 3 events from our outdoor “Points League” calendar of events.

2. A maximum of 12 events

3. Be the class winner at 4 events. If there is only one competitor entered in the class, the win is disregarded.

The above changes will come in to force from the end of the 2024 season.

However, from the beginning of the 2024 season, a driver who returns to competing* after a break of 3 or more years will be permitted to enter at Club Novice level for:

1. A maximum of 2 seasons

2. A maximum of 8 events

3. A maximum of 2 events as class winner.

*Note that the rule that a driver could only return to Novice if they previously did not compete more than one season in Club Open, has been removed.

Once the competitor has reached one of the above criteria, they will be required to move to the Club Open class from the start of the next season.

The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information on the website as a basis for making any business, legal or any other decisions.

Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, SCDA makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services or related material contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such material is therefore strictly at your own risk

SCDA and the British Driving Society are hosting a Junior Carriage Driving / Try Driving day at Pitscandly, Forfar on 2nd April 2023.

Full details can be found on the entry form. You can download it here. Please print the form, have it signed by a parent or guardian and return by post or email to Heather Gow.

Parents/guardians are welcome to stay for the day – please bring warm clothes and lunch with you!

We look forward to seeing you there.

It is with much sadness we share the news of the passing of Irene Donald. Irene was a long time supporter of Carriage Driving in Scotland, and around the UK, with her late husband Archie Donald. After Archie’s passing, Irene continued to support our Scottish events from National to Grassroots level, covering a number of different roles from stable manager, dressage writing, catering and most of all just being a wonderful friend to all who knew her. I am sure everyone will have fond memories of Irene and will have many a tale to recall from time spent in her company. We offer our deepest condolences to the Donald family at this time.

Congratulations to all the winners in each of the categories of the SCDA Points League 2022. You can view the final results here.

You may have seen that there is currently a shortage of vaccinations for equine influenza. This has arisen due to supply difficulties being experienced by one of the largest manufacturers of equine influenza vaccines, Boehringer Ingelheim. It is hoped that this will be resolved by the end of October or shortly after this date.

The British Carriagedriving Rule Book currently states in Annex 11:
1.3.4 Booster vaccinations must be administered at a maximum of 12 month intervals, the same day in each year being acceptable for these purposes, however Horses competing in Events must have received a booster within 6 months +21 days (and not within 7 days) before arrival at the Event.

British Carriagedriving, as a short term measure, are removing the requirement for a vaccination to have been administered within 6 months of the event but recommend that annual boosters are maintained. We recommend that any member in a situation where this is impossible to achieve should contact the BC office for further guidance.

We have recommended that members are extra vigilant and implement the strictest bio-security protocols when competing.

Further information will be circulated in due course.

Notes / information for competitors

We thought we’d put together a post, listing some bits and pieces of information about the July event. Here goes….

There will be a Club Novice class – the latest schedule is available (and it’s also on the events listing page. Entries can be made using the usual SCDA entry form – for details of how to enter, see the schedule.

If you would like to do an additional dressage test, they are available at £10 each, notify when entering please.

Marathon – there is a new route this year of approximately 13km, 7 obstacles for the Regional Classes, except National Novices who will drive 6 obstacles. Club Classes will drive 6 obstacles. Club Novices will omit Section A.

Obstacle Cone Driving – to be driven in Arena 2 immediately after Dressage

Gateway Classes: Briefing 08.30 Sunday. Dressage will be in Arena 1 at 09.00 followed immediately by cones in Arena 2

BC Regional entries are made via BC/myClubhouse – BC members can also enter Gateway classes there. SCDA members can enter Club and Gateway classes – please use the SCDA entry form.

ATV’s/Scooters: Protective Headgear must be worn. Protective Headgear must also be worn on the event field when exercising ridden or driven horses/ponies

Catering: There will be no catering facilities on the event field