The course must be one of the approved HTAD courses: 1, 2, 3, 4, or Course 5. Courses 1 – 4 are detailed in Appendix A. Course 5 is a variable-element course, similar in type to a ranch course but held in a single arena; Course 5 elements must meet the requirements indicated below, and at least one-half of the course must be more than 20 ft. away from a fence. The course number must be indicated on the Sanction Form. In the case of Course 5, which is approved on a case-by-case basis, the sanction application must also include a course diagram and description with course time, tiebreakers, and a score sheet. The flyer or premium list provided to entrants must include the course number; in the case of Course 5, the premium may either provide information about the course or indicate that the details of the course will be provided at the handler’s meeting.
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 x 100. For ducks, no more than 100 x 100 and no less than 100 x 50.
The course may begin with either a gather or a take pen. On courses with a gather, stock may be set out in a specific location off of the fence or may simply be pushed out into the arena through the gate; the set-out method is to be consistent for all runs. The distance between the stock set-out point and the handler’s post shall be preferably one-half or more of 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 onlead 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. Once the take pen gate is opened, it may not be closed until after the stock have exited the pen.
A drive section is included on the course. The length of the drive shall be preferably one-half or more of the length 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 no more than one-half of the total drive length may be alongside a fence. 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 at least three obstacles. The obstacles are to be 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 freestanding 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. Pens used as obstacles should measure approximately 8-12 ft. on each side for sheep/goats, 12-16 ft. on each side for cattle, 4-6 ft. on each side for poultry; sides may not be solid. The opening of a freestanding pen or trailer may be in any direction. Handlers are not required to hold a rope when penning at any level. 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.
All classes include a hold, which takes place in an area approximately in the center of the arena. The stock is settled briefly and held in place. The judge signals the end of the hold/settle.
There is a sort at the HTAD III level only. The area for sorts other than a gate sort is located approximately halfway between the hold area and the repen gate. The type of sort will be the same for all entrants. A specified number of unmarked animals may be sorted, or particular animals may be designated by marking with a colored marker or spray paint, or by specifying animals of a certain appearance, or by means of a light, easily-removed ribbon fastened around an 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. 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 the remaining animals 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. A shed of two animals may be used with sheep instead of a ribbon-removal. For cattle and ducks, a shed is done of two animals rather than a ribbon removal. Where three head of cattle are used, the sort/shed shall be with one animal separated from the remaining two. For ducks, putting a certain number of the ducks into a small carrying crate is an acceptable alternative, in which case the crate shall be set in the location specified for the shed.
The stock are repenned at the end of the course. The repen may be the same as the take pen or may be a different pen. The stock should be held a short distance off the gate while it is opened. When a gate sort has been used, the animals that had been left out in the arena are repenned. The run ends when the repen gate is closed after the last animal has exited the arena.
Course time for sheep, goats and poultry is 10 minutes for HTAD I and II, 12 minutes for HTAD III. Course time for cattle is 14 minutes for HTAD I and II, 17 minutes for HTAD III. Course times may be adjusted at the discretion of the judge to take into account larger arenas or other circumstances, but must be consistent throughout the classes. 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:
Courses 1 & 3:
Levels 1&2
Level 3
Gather or Take Pen
15
15
Obstacle 1
15
15
Drive
15
15
Obstacle 2
10
10
Obstacle 3
15
15
Hold
10
10
Sort (HTAD III only)
—
10
Repen
10
10
Total
90
100
Courses 2 & 4:
Levels 1&2
Level 3
Gather or Take Pen
15
15
Obstacle 1
15
15
Drive
10
10
Obstacle 2
15
15
Obstacle 3
15
15
Hold
10
10
Sort (HTAD III only)
—
10
Repen
10
10
Total
90
100
Scoring for Course 5 should roughly follow this outline, but may vary as needed, although there should be no fewer than six scoring elements and no more than ten. On Courses 1-4, ties are broken with the best gather/take pen score, followed by best repen score, then time. On Course 5, the course designer will specify which scoring section will be used for breaking a tie, with two sections listed in order, followed by time.
