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
• Two supports at start and end; ladder 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 and recovers independently: partial score in the Insufficient band. The rules do not separately prescribe an automatic jump-off equivalence for every failure to recover.
• Individual steps on a side beam devalue; using a beam for a large part of the ladder or strong step insecurity → Insufficient.

Sources

FCI/IRO 2025, §3.3.16. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.