IRO SAR Test / Exercise 13 — Horizontal Ladder

Obedience & Dexterity

Exercise 13 — Horizontal Ladder

Applies to: RH – F, FL, T, MT; Level A and B
Points: 10 p

Obstacle Spec

  • Beam ladder: length 4 m, rung distance 30 cm (centered), rung width 5 cm, 14 rungs
  • Padding at start and end: height ~0.50 m
  • Mounting ramp: length 1.20 m, width 0.50 m; cross struts permitted as mounting aids.
  • Ramp must be solid and stable.

Permitted AC/VC

  • 1 AC and/or VC for “mounting”
  • 1 AC or VC for GS (at end)

Execution

Level A:

  1. RDT assumes GS in front of apparatus (D off-leash).
  2. At AC/VC: D goes up ramp onto ladder and independently reaches the last rung, remaining there.
  3. As soon as D reaches first rung with front paws, DH walks alongside the working D — without touching the dog or the apparatus.
  4. At the end of the ladder, DH lifts D off and GS is formed.

Level B:

  1. RDT assumes GS in front of apparatus (D off-leash).
  2. At AC/VC: D goes up ramp onto ladder.
  3. DH stays until D has reached the last rung with front paws.
  4. At TJ instruction, DH walks to the waiting D.
  5. DH lifts D off and GS is formed.

Evaluation — Critical Rules

  • D jumps off within first half → 0 points
  • D jumps off after first half → Insufficient
  • D jumps off after last rung → maximum Satisfactory
  • D falls between rungs: if D recovers independently, scored as Insufficient; if D cannot recover, treated as jump-off at that point

Source: exercises/13_horizontal_ladder.md