Objectives Rules and General Information

The Eventing Objectives,

1.         Eventing provides The Pony Club with a competition requiring courage, determination and all-round riding ability on the part of the rider and careful and systematic training of the horse.

2.         The objective is to encourage a higher standard of riding throughout The Pony Club and to simulate among the future generation a greater interest in riding as a sport and as a recreation.

General Information

Eventing is a three phase competition – Dressage, Show jumping and Cross country. The Dressage test is ridden first, followed by the Show jumping and then Cross country.

Each horse must be ridden by the same rider throughout the event

A horse may only complete once on any given day.

Levels of Competition

For Show jumping - neither water jumps nor water trays are permitted in either level

The course must include only one double

In a combination, only the first element may be a spread

At level 1 and 2, Organisers may reduce distances, speeds, heights and number of obstacles.

No penalties for going too slowly but reverse time penalties may apply for going too fast.

Scoring and Classification

Individuals – The penalty points incurred in each phase incurred by a competitor are added together to give the total final score, the competitor with the lowest / least number of penalties is the winner. A competitor disqualified or eliminated in one phase is eliminated from the whole competition

Teams – Only the lowest three scores of each team are counted. These are added together to give the team’s overall score, the team with the least penalties is the winner. If fewer than three members of the team complete the competition (all three phases) there is no team score.

Equality

If the total penalty score for the three phases gives equality of marks to two or more competitors, the classification is decided by the best Cross country score, that is the competitor with the lowest total of jumping and / or time penalties. At levels 1 and 2, where the lowest total of Cross country jumping penalties is equal and there are no time penalties for going too fast, then the total mark for Dressage will be the deciding factor.

Dress

The Pony Club expects competitors to wear plain dress.

New equipment is not expected, but what is worn must be clean, neat and tidy 

It is the competitors’ responsibility to ensure their dress is in accordance with the rules. Contravention may incur elimination.

Apart from Cross country colours and silks, brightly coloured accessories must not be worn.

Hats

It is mandatory for all members to wear a protective helmet, these must be tagged, in advance, by the Branch DC.

For Cross country riding (over fences 0.80m and above) a jockey skull cap must be worn. It is strongly recommended that a jockey skull cap is worn for Cross country riding even at lower levels.

Hair

In the interests of safety, long hair must be secured appropriately in a hairnet. Hair must not obscure the competitors’ number at any time.

Jackets (Dressage and Show jumping only)

A traditional riding jacket must be worn with a Pony Club tie or hunting stock.

Jackets may be removed during riding in, provided the competitor is wearing a shirt with long sleeves.

The metal membership badge should be worn on the left lapel of the jacket.

Gloves

Gloves are compulsory for the Dressage phase, and optional for the Show jumping and Cross country phases.

Jodhpurs

Must be white, cream or beige.

Footwear

Only standard riding or jodhpur boots with a fairly smooth, thin sole and a well-defined square cut heel may be worn.

Plain black or brown chaps may be worn with jodhpur boots of the same colour. Tassels and fringes are not permitted on chaps.

Stirrups must have 7mm (1/4 inch) either side.

Spurs 

Spurs may only be worn by full B Test holders or with the permission of the Branch DC (signed card) Only blunt spurs without rowels or sharp edges may be worn. If curved, the curve must be downwards and the shank must point straight to the back and not exceed 3cm in length. Sharp spurs may not be worn.

Spurs that have a smooth rotating rubber or plastic ball on the shank are permitted.

Body Protectors

An effective body protector may be worn for the Dressage, it is recommended for Show jumping and is compulsory for Cross country.

If a rider chooses to wear an air vest it must be used in addition to a normal body protector and in the event of a fall, it must be fully deflated or removed before continuing.

Medical armbands

Compulsory for the Cross country phase. Must be worn on the rider’s arm or shoulder.

Jewellery

No jewellery is allowed for safety reasons.

Buttonholes

These are not permitted.

Prize giving

Competitors must be correctly dressed in their competition riding clothes (jackets etc).

Whips

Dressage – A whip of any length may be carried for levels 1 and 2.

Show jumping – No rider may carry or use a whip greater than 75cm in length or less than 45cm.

Cross county – No rider may carry or use a whip that is weighted or exceeds 75cm in length.

Shirts

Long sleeves are compulsory for the Cross country phase.

Electronic Devices

Watches that are capable of being started, stopped or recording time elapsed are forbidden.

Devices used to communicate with a rider – headphones, mobile phone etc. are not allowed whilst the rider is competing.

Saddlery

The Pony Club expects competitors to use plain saddlery.

It is the competitors’ responsibility to ensure that their tack is in accordance with the rules and to present themselves for inspection.

Any competitor who presents to compete in the wrong saddlery /equipment will not be allowed to compete until they decide to rectify the situation and re-present themselves.

The Official Steward has absolute discretion to forbid the use of any bit, gadget or spur that they consider cruel or misused.

Bridles

Plain black or brown only.

Dressage Only

Numnahs, saddlecloths or pads – only white, cream, navy blue or black are permitted. No logos.

Bits – Only snaffle bits that follow the configuration of those pictured below are permitted for levels 2. For level 1, any normal riding bit is permitted.

Martingale – not permitted

Boots and Bandages - may not be used while riding the test.

Neckstraps - may be used

Show jumping and Cross country only

Saddlecloths – Plain white, cream, navy blue, brown or black only. When representing the Branch, saddlecloths in Branch colours with appropriate Branch logos may be worn.

However, the type and configuration of bit may change but in accordance with the following:

Compulsory Retirement

For levels 1 and 2 this is at the discretion of the Official Steward 

Unseemly Behaviour

Unseemly behaviour on the part of riders, parents, team officials or team supporters’ will be reported. Offenders may be penalised by disqualification of the Branch for up to a period of three years.

Disqualification

The Official Steward or Chief Judge may disqualify a competitor at any stage of the competition

a)             for dangerous riding, or

b)             if, in their opinion, a horse is lame, sick or exhausted, or

c)             for misuse of the whip, spur or bit, or ill treatment of the horse, or

d)            for breach of any of the rules, or

e)             for unseemly behaviour, including bad language.

Vaccinations

It is strongly recommended that competitors have their horses vaccinated against equine influenza. Certificates should be carried with the horse to all competitions

Passports

Passports should be carried with the horse to all competitions

Mrs Jean Preston

01293 862187

07597 934 107

preston.family@

btinternet.com

Admin:

Mrs Mary-Ann Arscott

07986 767381 after 3pm

ma.arscott@

blueyonder.co.uk