GENERAL EVENTING INFORMATION:

Copies of the dressage tests, medical armbands and eventing vests can be purchased at many local tack shops.

USCTA - www.eventingusa.com provides more information about eventing - their on-line store carries medical armbands, rule books and lots of neat stuff and their competitions section includes pdf versions of the rule book and the new dressage tests.
USDF - www.usdf.org sells the USDF Intro Level test that our Elementary division uses. Download a copy here.
USPC - www.ponyclub.org lots of interesting link and they sell dressage tests and lots of other things at their on-line store.

WHAT DOES A TD DO?

This is an article by Mike Hillman about being a TD. You can learn along with him.

EVENTING, A TRAINER'S STORY

This is an article by Mike Hillman about one of his students.

EVENTING RULES - AN OVERVIEW

These are the rules used at Full Moon Farm's Starter Horse Trials. Our Horse Trials run under USA Equestrian rules with one exception - our helmet rule requires ASTM/SEI approved helmets with fastened attached harnesses for all riders at all times when mounted which is a more stringent requirement than the USA Equestrian rule. Violation of any of these rules will result in mandatory elimination.

We recognize that many of our competitors are new to the sport of Eventing, and might not have access to a USA Equestrian rule book, and therefore are unaware of rules governing the sport of Eventing. In line with our belief that our events should be first and foremost a learning opportunity for all, we have compiled a short list of some key Eventing rules. While we would like to think our list is good, it's no substitute for the rule book. A good rule of thumb for our Horse Trials is, 'If in doubt, ask one of our officials if what you want to do is ok.' For those who want to go straight to the source, a rule book is available at the secretary's stand.

General Rules

The following rules apply throughout the day

• Only the competitor is allowed to warm up their horse.
• Proper dress is required for all three phases.
• Unauthorized assistance during actual competition is grounds for elimination. Unauthorized assistance includes calling directions to the competitor while on course and encouraging the competitor's horse.
• While mounted, all riders must wear ASTM/SEI helmets with attached, fastened, harness and proper riding boots.
• If you are eliminated in any phase, you must receive the permission of the Technical Delegate to continue.
• Do not enter any arena without the permission of the ring steward.
• If you disagree with an official ruling, please see the Technical Delegate. You may go to the office to ask to have the Technical Delegate paged.
• Pressing a tired horse, or cruelty to a horse anywhere on the grounds will result in immediate elimination. [We recognize that it might be necessary to 'remind' one's horse that his job is to jump. To avoid charges of cruelty to a horse, a good rule of thumb is not to 'remind' your horse more than three times.]
  
  

Dressage Phase

• Horses must compete in approved bits. (If you are not sure, ask. A plain jointed snaffle is always acceptable at this level.)
• Prior to entering the dressage arena, riders must report to the dressage ring steward for bit and spur check. The dressage ring steward will be located near the entrance to the dressage ring.
• Whips are not allowed in the dressage ring.
• Horses may not wear bell boots, splint boots, or support wraps in the dressage arena.
• Riders have one minute to start their test after the dressage judge rings the bell or blows the whistle. If you are circling outside the arena you have one minute to enter at A. If your test is in an indoor arena and you are allowed to do your warm-up there, then you have one minute to start down the center line from A.

Stadium Phase

• Riders must wear an approved helmet with attached, fastened, harness.
• Riders must wear a medical armband when jumping, both schooling and on course.
• Stadium warm up fences may only be jumped in one direction, with the red flag to the right.
• Standing martingales are not allowed.
• Running martingales must have rein stops.
• Whips must not exceed 30 inches in length.
• Omission of a fence on course results in elimination.
• Three stops in the whole test results in mandatory elimination.
• Once eliminated, riders must leave the ring, and under no circumstances attempt to jump another fence.

Cross Country Phase

The USA Equestrian's number one priority is the safety of horses and riders.

• Riders must wear an approved helmet with an attached, fastened, harness.
• Riders must wear a medical armband when jumping, both schooling and on course.
• To enhance rider safety, the USA Equestrian requires all riders to wear a safety vest during the cross country phase. If you do not own one, borrow one or share one.
• Cross Country warm up fences can only be jumped in one direction, (with the red flag to the right.)
• Standing martingales are not allowed.
• Running martingales must have rein stops.
• Whips cannot exceed 30 Inches in length.
• Three stops at any one fence, or five stops on course, result in mandatory elimination. Once eliminated, riders must leave the course, and under no circumstance attempt to jump another fence.
• Two falls of the rider, or one fall of the horse, results in mandatory elimination.
• Riders being overtaken by another rider, must yield unless they are in the process of jumping a fence, in which case, overtaking riders must yield.
• Omission of a fence on course results in elimination.
• It may necessary, although we hope not, to put a hold on course to help an injured horse or rider, or to fix a fence. If this does happen, an official will stop riders at designated fences. Failure to stop when directed will result in elimination.
• Pressing a tired horse, or cruelty to a horse will result in elimination. [We recognize that it might be necessary to 'remind' one's horse that his job is to jump. To avoid charges of cruelty to a horse, a good rule of thumb in not to 'remind' your horse more then three times.]
  
  

Scoring

• Horse Trials are scored in penalty points so a perfect score is 0. Since no one is perfect, the lowest score wins.
• Dressage judges score in plus points so the scorer will convert your dressage test score to penalty points - the percent less than perfect. Additional penalty points will be added for errors (think "off course"):
  • 2 points for the first error,
  • 4 more for the second error
  • 8 more for the third error
  • 4 Errors is elimination.
• Stadium jumping is scored in faults:
  • Knockdown - 4points
  • First disobediance - 4 points
  • Second disobediance on the whole course - 8 more points
  • Third disobediance on the whole course - Elimination
  • First fall of competitor - 8 points
  • Fall of horse - Mandatory retirement
  • Second fall of competitor - Elimination
• Cross Country is scored in faults:
  • First refusal, run out, circle, or stop - 20 points
  • Second refusal, run out, circle, or stop at the same obstacle - 40 points
  • Third refusal, run out, circle or stop at the same obstacle - Elimination
  • Fifth penalized refusal, run out, circle or stop on the entire course - Elimination
  • At obstacles 30cm (approximately 1 foot) or less in height a stop followed immediately by a standing jump is not penalized, but if the halt is in any way prolonged it is penalized.
• First fall of competitor - 65 points
• Fall of horse - Mandatory retirement
• Second fall of competitor - Elimination

Remember that these are only a few of the many well-thought out rules governing the sport of Eventing. If you have any question on these or other rules, feel free to seek out our Technical Delegate.