Where would I find the patterns/plans to create for cones and hazzards for an ADT? I tried searching online and am not finding any.
Thanks.
No one knows how to set up the pattern for cones??? Hazzards??? How much space between the cones to the next set, etc.???
The ADS rulebook has measurements that might be helpful to you.
Thanks… I did check the ADS, and can find the width between the cones for the carriage to go through, but not for the actual layout for the cones course.
Well, basically if you start out with a standard dressage size ring or larger, then just draw a line from the start and include an equal number of right turns and left turns , an equal number of right circles and left circles, a staircase or two or three, and then back to the finish you should have a good start. Another way or in addition to, I take my atv or mower and ride the course and then stick the cones where I feel they go best. Keep in mind the measurements the ADS recommends and try to always keep the next set of cones visible to your eye and you will probably be on the right track. If you show or know someone who shows, they usually have a copy of the cones course in their packet. I usually have to walk the cones courses as much as I do hazards at the 3 big shows in Florida as they can get a little trickey. Good luck.
Thanks 
[QUOTE=49’er;6491023]
Well, basically if you start out with a standard dressage size ring or larger, then just draw a line from the start and include an equal number of right turns and left turns , an equal number of right circles and left circles, a staircase or two or three, and then back to the finish you should have a good start. Another way or in addition to, I take my atv or mower and ride the course and then stick the cones where I feel they go best.[/QUOTE]
Does it reflect poorly on my comprehension skills that I could not follow this at all 
:eek::no:
I too would love to see a map of a cones course so I could replicate it and play… does such a thing not exist?
Is there anyone here that shows that would be willing to post, email or fax a copy of a cones course they may have?
Every CDE has a different course. A map is included in your packet when you pick it up. I usually do not look at the map. I just walk it 3 to 6 times depending on its complexity. Give me a couple of months and I will have some copies. Our show season in Florida has not yet started and I did not save anything from last year. 
Are you asking how to set up a cones/hazard course for your own show? Just use your imagination! A lot of of cones courses I’ve seen include elements like a figure 8, or “zig zag” lines, and circles. Some of the courses I have seen and done are just big circles or maybe an “S” shape. Easy and simple.
Set up some cones at your home arena and play with them, so you can get an idea of what works, and what’s fun.
There isn’t a standard guide of setting up hazards & cones, just be practical for what works with your area and also the level of the show.
With hazards, you’ll want to use things like barrels, “gates”, fencing rails, anything you can find like even round bales, if practical! And for training level, there are 3 gates, (A,B,C) in each hazard and for Prelim there are 4, I think (A,B,C,D)
Not sure if that helps, or is what you needed to know?
[QUOTE=Chewbacca;6492471]
There isn’t a standard guide of setting up hazards & cones, just be practical for what works with your area and also the level of the show.[/QUOTE]
Ah haaaaaaaa. I was under the impression that there was some sort of guide, rather like a dressage test. Different course but set amount of “tests” or “questions” that had to be performed. I didn’t realize it was more or less willy nilly.
No wonder its been so challenging finding a “cones test” map :lol: it doesn’t exist :lol:
Thank you SO much for clarifying this!
eta: if anyone has any cones test maps in a drawer or someplace that they’d be willing to share I would be IMMENSELY grateful, just to give me a starting point to start visualizing courses.
eta#2: So… how do you guys practise/prepare for your cones?? What is SOP for people who compete?
We prepare by doing dressage at speed the higher up in level you go. Be sure your horse is forward, bending, not falling in on a shoulder and line yourself up so you are going straight thru the cones even if you are in training with lots of room. If you only have 4 sets of cones for practice, set up a staircase one day, a 20 meter circle the next, cones on opposite ends of the arena, etc. Just dissect the test into parts and practice separately. Also I find it helpful to practice my dressage tests with some cones set up in the arena, so the horse does not anticipate always doing cones when he sees them.
Sometimes I will lay my cones out in the pattern of the dressage test I am working on. That way, I can “multi task” my session and do both dressage and cones at the same time. lol.
Here are a few schematics I made up quickly to show some cones & hazards courses I’ve done at shows, or have set up at home.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/KShai/cones1.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/KShai/cones2.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/KShai/Hazard1.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/KShai/Hazard2.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/KShai/Hazard3.jpg
Cones are numbered, Hazards have letters. Red on the right. The measurements for the distances between the obstacles is in the ADS rulebook somewhere. If I recall, at training level, the cones are set up to the width of the widest portion of your wheels + an additional 10 cm. The hazards are set to a minimum distance of approximately 8’, I think.
I haven’t checked the measurements in a while, actually, but I have them written down somewhere.
My vehicle is 5’6" wide at the widest (167.6cm) (My horse is the same height, oddly, lol). And for practice at home, my cones are set to 7’ wide, and my obstacle hazards are set to 8’6". That gets a little tight, but that’s probably because I have the worst hand/eye coordination known to exist, lol. Pretty sure my horse could do a better job without my “guidance”.
I’ve only competed a couple times, I wish I could get out to do more, but I have hauling/help problems that make it too difficult to organize what I need and get out to shows. Bummer. But, even now that I am not probably going to show again this year, I am still practicing for shows. I like to school at home for shows, then usually the week before the show, I just do a couple short and easy sessions. I don’t like to “cram”.
WOW - great replies… I’m printing this out. :lol:
wow wow wow!! thank YOU!!! a zillion times thank you!!!
The facility wher my driving horses live (Sargent Equestrian Center) hosts a series of Scurries which are basically cones courses “at speed.” Maps of many courses can be found at the following link: http://www.sargentequest.com/events-forms--info.html
Just look for the ones that say Scurry Course. Hope this helps.
Sorry, those look like fun, but are not anything like a regular cones course at a pleasure show or a CD.
49’er, both of those cones courses were ones I personally competed in at shows. One was set up at an ADT show and the other was set up at a pleasure driving show that included several “fun classes” . Cones was one of those classes.
My husband has also competed in several cones classes, and I’ve been to numerous shows to spectate and volunteer as a cones setter, including CDE’s and the cones courses I have set up, and the ones he’s competed in are quite similar… including a cones course at a show called Iron Horse CDE, which unfortunately is no longer held.
Please let me know how the shows you’ve attended are dissimilar? I would love to know. I can tell my local driving club gurus and the ADS gurus that are in my area the news.
I am very curious to know!
I am referring to the CDE and ADT shows on the east coast, particularly Florida with Live Oak, SC with Katydid and NC with Southern Pines. No relation to the ones I saw in the scurry diagrams. I was at the last Iron Horse and again it was nothing like the scurry diagram. Maybe we were looking at different diagrams.
Well, you are right - the shows I attended, with the exception of spectating at Iron Horse, were not ADS shows, although they followed ADS rules. I don’t recall which year I went to Iron Horse, I don’t think it was the last one, though. Not that it makes a huge difference, but the cones course I saw at IH was similar. 3 of the shows I participated in as competitor or cone setter were all run under ADS rules with our ADS gurus from the driving club organizing them.
I have only competed a couple of times in cones, my husband has done a few more than I. When I can’t compete, I volunteer to set up. In fact, I am setting up for an ADS HDT tomorrow… and doing cones, lol. I always seem to end up as a cones person. I don’t mind. I like doing it. I’m navigating for a competitor at the show on Saturday. 1st time being a “gator” can’t wait for that
I’ll be sure to snag a copy of the cones map and put it here, too.
Maybe the cones routes at the bigger rated shows are different, I don’t know. I’ve only done small non-rated shows, and open shows, and that is where my little cones routes came from. The hazards routes, only 1 of them was one I actually did at an event, the other 2 are just variations of what I do at home. I only have 6 barrels at home, so not much to work with, but I put up a different “route” every week, so I try to be creative.
Here is a video of me with Chewbacca doing our cones class at the ADT we did this year. This was only my 2nd time in cones at a show, and the horse’s first time at a show doing them, too. He did pretty well, I did worse, lol 
Please don’t mind the bouncy cam and occasional close ups of the grass, lol.
Well, since we are trading videos…here is one from Black Prong in Florida. Hope everyone can see it as it is indicative of what we have here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDWfgaoYQSI&list=UUjE04OfKv3DK323cXOmyKng&index=10&feature=plcp
