INTERNATIONAL HORSELOGGING CHAMPIONSHIP – FRAMONT 2011
( english translation by Julian Philipson, BRITISH HORSE LOGGERS)

Introduction

This is an international competition in horselogging. It will take place 26 and 27 July in Belgium on the land of the community of Paliseul and will form part of “Forestry Demonstrations” planned as part of the Agriculture and Forestry Festival of Libramont.

Three contests are on the 2-day programme; a test of manoeuvrability to show the skills of the profession of horselogger; a test of voice control to show the docility and high confidence of the horse in man; and a pulling test to show the strength and willpower of the horse.

There will be two categories; single horse and pair.

Each participant and one assistant will be fed and lodged by the organisers.

Horses will be kept in boxes on site. Hay and straw will be provided by the organisers.

CECD (Comite Europeen des Chevaux de Debardage) will assist with travel costs.

Registration

Competitors must register by midnight on 1 June 2011. The registration form is available on our site www.cecd.be under the tab FRAMONT 2011.

To be valid the registration must be accompanied by a deposit of Euros100 to be paid to the account of CECD - IBAN BE80 1030 1106 8677  BIC NICABEBB or by sending a cheque to CECD, Rue des Aubepines 50, B-6800 LIBRAMONT.

Candidates will be selected by the organising committee according to professional and geographic criteria. The competition will be limited to 15 singles and 15 pairs. The final choice will be notified to each applicant on 15 June 2011.

Applicants not accepted will have their deposits returned. Selected applicants will receive a refund of their deposit on arrival at CECD reception on Monday 25 July.

Conditions

Competitors must have insurance cover for public liability for such events.

Belgian competitors must be members of CECD.

Neither competitors nor horses may register as both singles and pairs. It must be one or the other.

Horses must be 4 years old or more and up-to-date with tetanus and equine flu inoculations.

Practical matters

Competitors must be on site at Framont at 19.00 on 25 July for a general briefing.

On 26 and 27 July the presence of competitors is required at 7.30 in the CECD marquee for detailed information.

For reasons of security the whole site “Demonstrations Forestieres” is patrolled. No one may remain overnight after 18.00 hours from Monday to Wednesday. CECD will provide your lodgings. We accept no responsibility for theft. Horses will be under surveillance by a special equine team. They will be able to contact you during the night in case intervention is needed for the health or safety of your horse.

Horse owners should put their mobile-phone number including the country code on the box/es.

NOTE: During the night of Wednesday 28 to Thursday 29 security of the site will not be maintained as all the exhibitors will be clearing their stands throughout the night. In order that the festival does not break up early we have provided for lodgings for that night and breakfast in the morning. You can sleep in your wagon or use the lodgings provided. We cannot guarantee security on the site as there will be constant vehicle movements.

Lodgings are in individual rooms. Please bring a sleeping bag. Shuttle buses will be provided at set times.

TESTS

General

Competitors must supply their own swingletrees, chains, hooks and double tree (if required). No specific standard is required but these should be strictly suited to the shape of the horse.

Driving of the horse may be done with double reins or with a jerk line.

Competitors must wear safety boots.

Please wear your traditional local dress to bring a more regional flavour to the event.

Competitors must enter all 3 classes else they will not be included in the final classification.

Pairs may be worked abreast or in tandem.

If equipment should break one repair is allowed in each competition with a maximum time allowed of 90 seconds. The competitor must act alone.

Encouragement of the horse must be by voice alone. You are not allowed to use a whip nor to use the ends of your reins as a whip.

Presentation

A special jury will examine participants as to:
the horse
its harness
its shoeing

Weight Pulling

This requires a continuous pull in a straight line at walk over maximum 40 metres of a heavy log chosen by the competitor.

The choice will be between 6 or 7 logs. If you choose a big log you get more points than if you choose a light one.

The choice will be made by all contestants before the contest.

There will be a maximum time and distance covered will be measured in metres.

Three attempts to start are allowed and after that the competitor will be eliminated.

Two thirds of the marks will be given for the outward sector and one third for the return.

Return of the log will start with rollers placed under the log.

One halt is permitted in the outrun, but incurs a penalty. On the second halt the run is concluded and the distance is measured.

The gait required is working walk. A special jury will allot penalties for incorrect gait.

Working to Voice Commands

The test will consist of a course of gates equipped with skittles, to be completed in the specified direction and order. The participant walks behind the horse(s).

There will be an ideal time and a maximum. Penalty points will be imposed for exceeding the ideal time and plus points are given if the competitor completes quicker than the ideal time.

Passing each gate without dislodging a skittle earns plus points.

For singles, reins must not be used throughout the course; using the reins will incur penalties.

For pairs, competitors must not use the reins in defined areas near to the gates. If they do so, they lose all the points given for passing this gate. Taking up the reins outside these areas will incur penalties.

Various situations are planned: bridge, water, wall of branches, standing still ……

Manoeuvrability

The test will consist of a course with gates with skittles.

There will be an ideal time and a maximum. One penalty point will be incurred for each second over the ideal and one plus point will be given for each second under.

Passing each gate without knocking down a skittle will earn plus points.

Handling the chain is permitted for hitching up and unhitching, but the chain must not be touched when the horse is in draft.

There will be a stacking task; the stack will differ for singles and for pairs.

Singles – log will be +/- 50 cm. circumference and 12-13m. long
Pairs – log will be +/- 70 cm. circumference and 14-15m. long