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   Hazards are obstacles which may contain up to 5 gates each and are generally comprised of a combination of man-made made panels, rails, posts, boxes or bridges as well as natural features like trees, shrubs, banks and water.

    There is generally one hazard in each kilometer of the marathon.

    The object of driving the hazard is to drive through the prescribed “gates” (colored sets of lettered markers) smoothly and efficiently. Gates must be driven in order, A,B,C, etc and when going through a gate the first time the colored marker must always be on the right. You may use any gait (walk/trot or canter) in the hazard.

   Each hazard has a designated in/out which may be the same or different.

   At the preliminary level time spent in hazards is deducted as penalties. At training level time in hazards is not penalized.

   You must complete all assigned gates in the correct sequence without passing through any gate backwards before it is “dead”. A gate is not considered “Dead” until it has been passed through in the correct sequence. Once a driver has driven through a gate correctly , he may go through that gate again in any direction. For example, the driver drives through gate A and B but in order to get to Gate C, he drives through gate A in the wrong direction…..no penalties are awarded. Gates not assigned to your level are considered “dead”.

    A competitor may correct his course. Example: the driver goes through Gate A and B in order, then drives through Gate D. He then realizes he has made an error. He then drives through Gate C and then through Gate D again. This is considered a “corrected course”.

Notes from Martha Duchnowski
on Hazards:

Don’t worry – you will have plenty of chances to walk through the hazards before you drive it. This way you can figure out the best way YOU want to drive it. Here are a few tips. If you want to canter through your hazards – pick long flowing routes. If you want to trot and cut a lot of corners, then figure out the shortest way for you, your mini and your vehicle.

Have fun with your hazards! Have Fun dressing up in fun helmet covers and ear hats. Decorating the cart is encouraged too in most CDE’s. At Laurels, there is a best “turnout” award for dressing up on Marathon day.

Any of the following driving errors incurs penalties or elimination in a hazard:

Whip Put Down
Driver dismounted
Corrected Course
Turnover
Wrong Course (go through a “live” gate backwards, skipped gate or failure to
correct the course as noted, above)
Over 5 minutes
Outside Assistance