Around the Start Box What Eventers Need to Know for 2012
by Katherine O. Rizzo
The Defi nition of “Rider” Changes Again
Entering an event can often be confusing when competitors must choose which division they would like to compete in. In fact, the cur- rent USEA entry form requests that competitors rank their top three choices for competition. And yet, USEF rules place restrictions on profession- als versus amateurs and USEA has rules as well that place restrictions on riders versus horses. T at last one might seem like a no-brainer but things just got a bit more complicated. According to Appendix 3, the defi nition of
“rider” and “horse” as it relates to competition divisions has just changed. A “rider” division is open to competitors “who
have not completed an event above the next highest level in the fi ve years pre- ceding the date of the completion.” For example, competitors may enter a Novice Rider division as long as they have not completed an event at the Pre- liminary level or higher in the past fi ve years. T ey may have com- pleted an event at the Training level within those fi ve years. A “horse” division is open to horses who have
sidered one level higher than a Preliminary horse trial. T us, if you have completed a Preliminary horse trial, you are allowed to compete as a Train- ing Rider, but if you have completed a one-star, you may not compete as a Training Rider. And then add the last part of the defi nition
change, which states, “a rider who has complet- ed an event at the Advanced level is not eligible to compete as an Intermediate Rider.” Sharon Gallagher, director of competitions for the USEA, stated that the rule change was proposed and backed by several USEA mem- bers. “Really this is to allow riders to be able to move up one level and then drop back down for whatever reason without being forced to ride in the Open divisions,” she said. T e goal is to give riders a bit more fl exibility and fairness when competing.
Incentives for Maryland TBs
As reported in the March issue of T e Equiery, the Jockey Club has launched the T orough- bred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) to recognize and reward the versatility of the Thoroughbred. T e following Maryland events will be off ering T.I.P.
awards
Awards from the new Thoroughbred Incentive Pro- gram will highlight off-the-track Thoroughbreds who successfully transition into other careers, such as Ma- jestic Falcon, who earned $42,548 on the track before competing through the Intermediate level in eventing.
not “completed an event above the next highest level.” So, a Novice Horse may have completed an event at the Training level but not at the Preliminary level or above. T e restrictions for the horse divisions are based on the horse’s life career and have no time limit. T erefore, once a horse has completed, lets say, a Preliminary horse trials, that horse can still be competed in a Training Horse division but no longer a “horse” division below that level, even if the rider changes or it has been longer than fi ve years competing at Preliminary. But wait, there is more… Section 4.7 of the rule states, “For the purposes of this rule, FEI divisions are considered to be one level higher than the equivalent National di- vision.” T is means that an FEI one-star is con-
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at this year’s competitions: MCTA Horse Trials (May 5-6), Waredaca Horse Trials (August 18-19) and Waredaca/ Area II Adult Riders Training
T ree-Day Event (October 25-28).
Quite an Impact In January of 2011, the U.S. Equestrian Fed- eration added a rule for eventing that put into place a timeline for when a rider could return to competition after a concussion occurs (see GR1317 in the USEF Rules for Eventing). T is past December, the U.S. Eventing Association off ered ImPACT testing to those attending the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention in Nashville. T e ImPACT test establishes a baseline neu-
rocognitive skills level for a competitor. If a rider falls during a competition, this test can be readministered and compared to the baseline for that rider. Section “d” of rule GR1317 now states that a rider can return to competition af- ter submitting a certifi cation stating that they
have passed a follow-up ImPACT test. T is can often allow the rider to return to competition much sooner than the possible 21 days manda- tory suspension. ImPACT testing can be done at many lo-
cal hospitals and doctors’ offi ces. Several area schools already require the test of their student athletes under the “Return to Play” guidelines off ered by the state.
Should the “One Fall” Rule Come Back?
One of the proposed rules on the table at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention this past December was to bring back the one-fall rule for the Training level and below. If the rule had been passed, riders at the Training level and below would have been allowed one fall on the cross-country course and been allowed to re- mount and continue the competition (only if the rider did not need any medical assistance). T e rule was deferred until the USEF convention in January and was not passed then, either. T e Equiery wants to know: What do you
think? Should the one-fall rule make its way back into the USEF Rules for Eventing? Email your thoughts to
editor@equiery.com.
New Event Horse Classes
T e USEA has recently added the New Event Horse classes to the competition calendar for 2012. T e program is similar to the Young Event Horse program. T e New Event Horse classes focus on the education and preparation that the horse should receive to become a suc- cessful event horse. Where the Young Event Horse classes are restricted to four- and fi ve- year-old horses only, the New Event Horse classes are for horses four years old or older. T e horse will be judged in three sections.
Section I is conformation and type and is worth 15% of the fi nal score. Section II is a dressage test, worth 35%, and Section III is a jumping test with a gallop and general impression part that is worth 50% of the fi nal score. Like the Young Event Horse classes, scores are given for each section on a 10-point scale with 10 be- ing “excellent.” New Event Horse classes can also be subdivided by age, experience, gender or breed if the organizing facility so desires. Judges are looking for horses who have the aptitude for dressage and jumping as well as the temperament and suitability for eventing. Pri- ority is supposed to be given to horses who are the most likely to become capable and sensible partners for the Preliminary level and below. Horses in these classes may be cross-entered at the Beginner Novice or Novice level if com-
continued... APRIL 2012 | THE EQUIERY | 21
120412-847860
Katherine O. Rizzo
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