How to interpret driving trials results

Because the rules and scoring of horse driving trials competitions are quite complex, interpreting results can be a daunting task for many newcomers.

The competition

The Driving Trials competition (Concours d'Attelage) is divided into three phases - A (dressage), B (marathon) and C (cones).

Competitors are awarded 'penalty points' in each phase, which are then added together to get a final score. The competitor with the lowest number of penalties is the winner.

The results are normally presented in separate columns for each of phase of the competition, showing penalty points and placing for each competitor. A final column may be included showing the total penalty score and placing.

More detailed pages are available for each phase, showing actual times and scores during that phase.

There are two kinds of scoring software used by British Carriagedriving competitions and they display the results in a slightly different way. For FEI International competitions, other scoring systems may be in use, with different displays.

Dressage

Depending on the level of competition, there may be between one and five judges for the dressage. The dressage test can have between 20 and 25 movements and each movement is awarded marks between 0 and 10 by each judge.

A co-efficient will be applied for each test - this can be found on the test sheet. It normalises the final score to allow for the different number of movements in the various tests.

If there is more than one judge, the marks will be added and divided by the number of judges to get an average. This will then be multiplied by the co-efficient and deducted from 160 to get the final penalty score for the dressage. Additional penalty points may be added for errors or infringements.

Dressage scores - Lienart (International) system.

  • CLT (the placing)
  • Competitor's name and country
  • For each of the judges - PNTS (points awarded), CLT (placing)
  • PEN (additional penalties, if any)
  • TOTAL - + (average marks for all judges) - (penalties) CLT (placing)

 

Dressage scores - Mike Watts system

  • Competitor number
  • Name
  • Penalty score for each judge
  • Additional driving penalties
  • Total penalty mark
  • Placing

Marathon

 
 
 
 

The final results table carries the scores from the three phases of the competition - A (dressage), B (marathon) and C (cone driving). Each CLT column gives the driver's placing in that phase.

The FINAL column contains the total penalty score (PNTS) and the final placing (CLT).

 
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