To drive a turnout at any SCDA event (training or competition), you must have Full Driver membership (Adult or Young) or be a full member of BC or another BC Affiliated Club.
For drivers new to competition, you must also have a BC Introductory Safety/Competence Assessment form completed and submitted to the club by a qualified assessor before competing. The form is available on the BC website. If you need help in arranging an assessment, please contact the club secretary.
In general, SCDA club competitions conform to the BC rules for competition, which can be read and downloaded from the BC website or purchased in hard-copy form.
However, a small number of amendments to BC rules are applied at SCDA events as follows.
- New for 2025 – the Club Gateway class is open to all drivers, irrespective of level of experience.
- For Gateway, Pre-Novice and Novice classes, the dressage test can be read out by the backstepper.
- At the discretion of Event Organisers, it may be permissible for a groom to drive a turnout or to groom for two turnouts, or for a driver to drive more than one turnout, if sufficient notice is given to the Event Organiser for scheduling purposes.
- Horses and ponies may wear protective boots in the dressage.
- Vehicles with pneumatic tyres are permitted.
Please also note following BC Rule regarding back/body protectors. This applies to all SCDA events that have a marathon/obstacle phase
Athletes and grooms must wear securely fastened protective headgear and a suitable back/body protector on the marathon or Combined Marathon/Derby1. Infringement will incur Elimination. Any athlete / groom who continues on the course without a hard hat or a suitable body/back protector after Elimination, will be disqualified.
Notes for Guidance – Article 928.2.2
British Carriagedriving considers that it is the responsibility of each Athlete and their Groom(s) to determine what form of back/body protection is most suitable for them, taking into account the risks inherent in the marathon competition and the characteristics of their turnout including size, shape and experience.
The following are not, however, considered to be suitable and do not comply with the requirement of article 928.2.2:
a. Any back or body protector that has not been certified as being suitable for use in equestrian sports or another sport or activity which, in the opinion of the Athlete/Groom, involves comparable or equivalent risks
b. An air jacket, unless worn with an additional back/body protector which is suitable.