AHBA

HTAD COURSES

HTAD Diagrams (in Adobe Acrobat format)

The course must be one of the approved HTAD courses specified in Appendix B. When sanctioning the trial, the course diagram number must be indicated on the Sanction Form. The flyer or premium list provided to entrants must include the course diagram and description or specify the number of the course.
Levels are differentiated as indicated on the course diagrams by requirements such as handler’s posts and lines. Except as limited by designated handler’s posts and lines, the handler may fetch and/or drive the rest of the course, with the handler in any position.
Sizes of arenas for HTAD classes are as follows: For hoofed stock, no more than 400 x 400 and no less than 100 x 200. For geese and turkeys, no more than 200 x 200 and no less than 100 x100. For ducks, no more than 100 x 100 and no less than 100 x 50.
On courses with a gather, the distance between the stock set-out point and the handler's post shall be preferably one-half the arena length, but must be no less than 100 feet for hoofed stock, 50 feet for poultry. For HTAD III, the dog and handler both are at the post. For HTAD II, the dog is set at the post, and the handler may go halfway to the stock. For HTAD I, the dog may be taken to a point halfway between the designated handler's post and the stock, and the handler may go to within 15 ft. of the stock. If the gather is at the beginning of the course, the dog may be positioned on-lead in the HTAD I class, but there must be a pause after the lead is removed, before the dog is sent to gather the stock; in the HTAD II and III classes, the lead must be removed just inside the entry gate. If the gather is later during the course, the dog will be off-lead in all classes.
On courses with a take pen, the take pen shall be no less than 12 ft. x 12 ft. for hoofed stock and 4 ft. X 4 ft. for poultry. If animals are run in groups larger than the minimum, larger pens should be used. Pens larger than 50 ft. x 50 ft. are not considered take pens for hoofed stock. Pens larger than 25 ft. x 25 ft. are not considered take pens for poultry. In all three classes, the lead is removed before the handler opens the take-pen gate. HTAD III handlers may not enter the pen when taking the stock out. HTAD II handlers may enter the pen with the dog but should not move the stock themselves. HTAD I handlers may assist the dog in moving the stock. An exception is made for cattle, where the handler may go in and assist if necessary at any level. A heavy penalty shall be assessed for the handler going in the take pen alone (i.e., without using the dog) or for taking the dog in on lead. If the stock come out on their own volition without the handler or dog entering, there is no penalty.
The length of the drive shall be preferably one-half the length of the arena, but must be no less than 100 feet for hoofed stock, 50 feet for poultry. The drive may be in the open or may be partially on the fence, but at least one-half of the drive length must be in the open, at least 20 ft. from any fence for hoofed stock or 10 ft. from any fence for poultry. In HTAD III, the stock will be driven the full minimum distance away from the handler. In HTAD II, the handler may accompany the stock for half the distance, then the stock must be driven the remainder of the distance away from the handler. Any drives longer than the minimum may be in the form of a drive away or cross-drive or both, and may be off or on the fence. For HTAD I, the handler may opt to drive, fetch, or a combination of the two.
There are three obstacles, which are indicated on the course diagrams and may consist of panels, chutes, bridges, pens, trailers, or, in the case of poultry, crates. At least one obstacle must be freestanding, at least 20 ft. from any fence; the other obstacles may be either free-standing or on the fence. For hoofed stock, openings of obstacles may not be more than 12 ft. For poultry, openings of obstacles may not be more than 6 ft. Chutes and bridges or other narrow passages, while they may have a wider entrance as specified above, should be no more than 4 ft. for hoofed stock and 2 ft. for poultry in the runway section. Smaller “single-animal” runways are acceptable. The handler should not enter obstacles unless specifically allowed in the course description; the handler may, however, enter a pen or trailer to take the animals out after they have been penned or put in the trailer.
HTAD III classes include a sorting exercise; in HTAD I and II classes there is a hold instead. The area for the sort (other than a gate sort) and the hold is approximately halfway between the repen gate and the nearest obstacle and is off the fence. The type of sort, which will be the same for all entrants in that particular class, must be stated in the Sanction Form and the premium. For sorting purposes, animals may be designated by marking with a colored marker or spray paint, by specifying animals of a certain appearance, or by means of a light, easily-removed ribbon fastened around the animal’s neck. If a ribbon is used, it should be fairly loose but not excessively so; it should be clearly visible and should come apart readily with a light tug, e.g. by using easily-torn material such as surveyor's tape or by using a velcro closure. In HTAD III classes, the animals are taken to the repen gate in the case of a gate sort, or to the sorting/hold area for the other types of sorts. The sort may be one of the following: (a) Gate sort: The animals are taken to the repen gate. Two animals are gate-sorted and repenned first, leaving three out in the arena. If there is more than one exit gate, different gates may be used in the sort. (b) Ribbon-removal/shed: The handler will remove the ribbon from the specified sheep. For cattle and ducks, a shed is done of two animals. A shed of two animals may also be used with sheep instead of a ribbon-removal. Where three head of cattle are used, the sort/shed shall be with one animal separated from the remaining two. For poultry, putting the fowl into a small carrying crate is an acceptable alternative, in which case the crate shall be at least 20 ft. off a fence. For HTAD I and II classes, the animals are taken to the sorting/hold area and briefly held in the specified area, then are taken to be repenned. The sort ends for HTAD I and II at the conclusion of the hold, and for HTAD III when the gate is closed on the sorted animals or when the ribbon has been removed/animals have been she.
The stock are repenned at the end of the course. They should be held away from the gate while it is being opened.
Course time is 10 minutes for HTAD I and II, 12 minutes for HTAD III. Time starts upon the dog leaving the handler's post for a gather, or the opening of the gate for a take pen. Time is stopped upon the closing of the repen gate.
Point schedule: