If this is your first horse trial the following information sheet is designed to help introduce you to the rules of eventing. Our schooling horse trials follow the rules set by the USEF (formerly AHSA) and the USEA (US Eventing Association, formerly USCTA). Not every rule is covered on these sheets—we have chosen the ones that we feel are most likely to be of consequence to new eventers. For further info please consult the USEF and USEA rulebooks.

If you are not a member of our local Combined Training Association or the USEA—we encourage you to join. Membership forms are available at the office. It’s a great way to learn about our sport and also to become eligible for end of the year awards.

DRESSAGE PHASE

Warm-up: Only the competitor may ride the horse. Horses may not be warmed up in draw reins or side reins or an illegal (for dressage) bit. A horse may be lunged by a groom or the rider in side reins. The competitor may carry a dressage whip during warm-up. A horse may not be schooled in the dressage arena that he will be competing in during the competition day(s) before he performs his test.

The Dressage Test:

Riders must ride their test from memory. The exception to this is GAG at our schooling shows for riders just starting in the sport, but keep in mind that at recognized shows at all levels and at our schooling shows Beginner Novice and above the rider is responsible for memorizing their test.

The rider may ride around outside of the dressage arena once the rider before has completed their final halt and salute. Until this time all riders other than the competitor in the ring should stay 20 meters or further from the dressage arena. When the judge gives the signal (bell or whistle) the rider has 45 seconds to enter the arena. If the rider is not in the arena after 45 seconds he/she will be eliminated.

Other causes of elimination: Entering the arena before the signal is given. Riding with improper saddlery (as listed above). Any resistance that prolongs the continuation of the test for more than 20 seconds will be grounds for elimination. Horse leaving the arena with all four feet (from the time he enters at A until he performs his final halt/salute). Rider receiving unauthorized assistance from someone other than the judge. Having 4 "errors of course" (going "off course" or performing a movement incorrectly ie: sitting when it asks for posting trot) The first error is penalized by 2 points, second by 4 points, third by 8 points and the fourth by elimination. The judge will ring the bell and stop the ride if the rider has gone off course and does not immediately realize and rectify his error. A horse exhibiting marked lameness will also be eliminated.

A fall of horse and rider will not be cause for elimination. The ride will be penalized for that movement, but the rider may remount and continue from that point.

Any use of the voice, clicking, kissing or clucking will be penalized by 2 points per offense.

When saluting the rider should put reins in one hand and salute with the free hand. It is optional for gentlemen to remove their helmet to salute.

Scoring the Dressage Phase: The dressage test is scored by dividing the good marks received by the maximum good marks obtainable. This is the percentage score. This score is subtracted from 100 to convert it into a penalty score. Any penalties for errors of course are added to the penalty score. This is the total penalty score for the test. The lowest penalty score is best score. Be sure and pick up your test score sheet from the secretary’s office. The test paper will show you a score for each movement, comments and collective remarks that will help you to understand why you received the score you got and give you an idea of what you need to work on.

Penalties from the other 2 phases will be added to your dressage score and the objective is to "finish on your dressage score" by not accumulating any more penalties during stadium and cross country. The lowest score wins.

STADIUM PHASE

Warm Up: Warm up in the designated area. Jumps will be marked with a red and white flag. Only jump these obstacles with the red on right and white on left. Warm up obstacles must not be set more than 3 inches higher than the max height for the level at which you are competing.

Clothing/Tack Requirements:

All riders must wear both during warm up and while competing over fences a medical armband visible, in waterproof covering, on their upper arm (you may pick up a copy of this at the secretary’s stand and Saran wrap and duct tape it to your arm if you don’t have the official USEA model); an ASTM approved helmet with a fastened harness. A black or dark blue helmet cover is required for stadium. Coat, shirt, stock tie, breeches and boot requirements are the same as for dressage. A whip may be carried, but may not be weighted at the end and may not be any longer than 30 inches. For the horse the type of saddlery is optional with the exception that no blinkers are allowed. Only unrestricted running martingales with rein stops or Irish martingales are allowed. No standing martingales or other gadgets are permitted. Reins must be attached to the bridle or bit. Gags and hackamores are permitted. Stirrup irons and leathers must hang free from the bar of the saddle and be unrestricted or unattached anywhere else.

Walking the Course:

The course will be opened for walking for the competitors. A course map will be posted with the track or the course, course measurements and optimum time/time limited specified. Competitors may walk the course, but the horse will not be allowed in the jumping arena until he actually competes. Obstacles will be numbered and flagged (red on right and white on left). Start and Finish will be marked with red on right and white on left and should be carefully noted.

The Course:

The rider enters the arena when it is his turn. Failure to enter the arena when called may be grounds for elimination at the discretion of the ground jury. The stadium judge will blow a whistle to signal that a rider may begin his ride. The rider has 45 seconds to begin their round once the signal has been given or he is eliminated. If the rider begins the round before the signal is given he will be eliminated.

Once the signal is given, if the rider crosses through the start flags, circles and crosses the start flags again before jumping the first fence he will be given a technical refusal. Timing begins when the rider passes through the start flags the first time. After jumping the first fence the start and finish flags may be passed through during the round without penalty unless otherwise indicated.

Riders must cross the finish flags mounted or will be eliminated. The rider should enter the arena and exit the arena mounted and may be penalized with elimination at the discretion of the ground jury.

Interruptions: If necessary to stop a ride to repair a jump(s) after a stop or fall or other mishap (ie: jump blown down by high winds)—the judge will blow the whistle and the clock will be stopped. Once the course is ready to continue the judge will blow the whistle again and the rider may resume his ride. If the rider fails to obey the signal to stop the judge may penalize the rider with elimination. If the rider resumes the ride before the whistle is blown to signal it is okay to continue he will definitely be eliminated.

Deviations from the Course: An uncorrected deviation from the course incurs elimination, including: not crossing the start or finish lines between the red and white flags, omitting an obstacle, not jumping the obstacles in the order indicated, not jumping an obstacle in the direction indicated, jumping an obstacle which does not form part of the course.

Combinations: When there is a refusal, run out or fall at a combination (Obstacles designated with A, B & C) the rider must retake all the jumps or will be eliminated—ie: if the horse refuses the "C" element of a triple combination—the horse must retake A, B and then jump C.

Resistance: Taking more than 60 seconds to jump a single obstacle or first part of a combination, including after a fall and resisting continuously for 60 seconds during a round is grounds for elimination.

Assistance: Any form of unauthorized assistance (verbal or sign language) received by a mounted competitor between the start line and finish line will be grounds for elimination. A rider may accept a leg up and may be handed his whip or spectacles after a fall.

Other Grounds for Elimination:

Jumping or attempting to jump an obstacle without headgear or a properly fastened harness. A loose horse leaving the arena before the end of the test—even before starting.

Competing with improper saddlery, helmet, whip or not wearing the medical armband.

Scoring: Faults at Obstacles:

Knockdown: 4 penalties

First Disobedience: 4 penalties

Second Disobedience in the whole test: 8 penalties or elimination at Preliminary level or above

Third Disobedience in the whole test: Elimination at Training level or below.

First fall of rider : elimination.

First fall of horse: elimination

Time Faults: The length of the course and speed determine the time allowed AKA optimum time. Completing the course in less than optimum time is allowed but not rewarded or penalized. Finishing slower than the optimum time is penalized by one penalty point per second over. If the rider exceeds the time limit (twice the optimum time) he will be eliminated.

CROSS COUNTRY PHASE

Warm Up: Warm up in the designated area, over designated jumps only. Riders must not jump fences higher than 3" above the max height for their level. Jumps must be jumped in the direction they’re flagged—red on right; white on left.

Clothing/Tack Requirements: ASTM regulated helmet with a securely fastened harness—any color hat cover; a medical armband displayed on the rider’s upper arm; breeches and tall boots for teens and adults—any color; a regulation XC safety vest (available for loan at the start box if you don’t have one). The rider’s shirt must have sleeves-short or long. No half chaps or chaps are allowed. Horse tack requirements/restrictions are identical to those listed for the stadium jumping phase.

Walking the course:

The course will be available for walking the day before and all during the day of competition. There will be a course map available for each level. Each level will be numbered with a different color combination for the obstacles. Ie: all beginner novice fences will be designated with a black number on blue sign. Competitors may walk the course on foot even once XC has started, but must always give horses on course the right of way.

Horses are not to have seen the fences at any time prior to when they set out on course. Any horse that has jumped or has been shown the fences the day before or day of the competition will not be permitted to show for points or ribbons, but with the approval of the organizer and TD may be permitted to show Hors Concours (not for points or ribbons, just for a score). If you have schooled your horse the day before on the XC course you must report this to the secretary so that you will be marked H.C. on the scoreboard.

The Course:

The rider must report to the start box when it is his turn. The starter will give him a count down and he must not leave the box before the count down has been completed. The horse should not take a "flying start", but should leave the box from a near standstill. If the competitor leaves the box early he will have 5 seconds added as a penalty to his score.

Optimum Time: The distance of the course divided by the designated speed gives an optimum time. Horses finishing the course any slower than the optimum time will be penalized by time faults (.4 per second). Exceeding twice the optimum time will be grounds for elimination. Completing the course faster than optimum time is not penalized until you finish within the speed fault range.

Speed Fault Time: For Novice and Training: this is the penalty for going too fast. It is figured by dividing the distance by the designated speed fault time. The Optimum, Time Limit and Speed Fault times will all be designated on the course map for your division.

Errors of Course: All compulsory passages including start and finish flags, mandatory flags and all obstacles including all elements and options must be passed or jumped in order with red on right and white on left. A single obstacle may not be jumped again. If any passage is missed the rider will be eliminated.

Pace and Dismounting: Between start and finish the rider may choose his own pace. They must be mounted to pass all red and white boundary flags. Dismounting or falling as a result of attempting an obstacle is penalized as a fall. Otherwise the rider may dismount on course without penalty.

Overtaking: A competitor who is about to be overtaken by a following competitor must quickly clear the way. The rider overtaking must choose a safe and suitable place (ie: not at the takeoff of a fence). A leading competitor who obstructs another competitor from overtaking may be eliminated at the discretion of the ground jury.

Stopping Competitors: A competitor may be stopped on course by an official if it becomes necessary due to a fall or problem with a preceding rider or a general hold on course. The time the rider is held will be recorded and deducted from his final time.

Unauthorized Assistance: Any intervention by a third party solicited or unsolicited will not be permitted and the rider may be eliminated. Use of cell phones or radios is strictly forbidden by riders.

Riders eliminated on course must walk his horse off the course promptly and may not continue. He may be warned or fined up to $100 for continuing after being eliminated.

XC Definitions of Faults:

Disobedience (Run-Out or Refusal):

Refusal: The horse stops in front of the obstacle to be jumped. After a stop, if the rider redoubles or changes his efforts without success this is a second refusal.

Run-Out: A horse is considered to be disobedient of it runs-out, avoids the obstacle to be jumped in such a way that it has to be represented.

Circles: Circles will be penalized when it occurs between elements of an obstacle composed of several elements (Designated by A, B & C). A circle will not be penalized if it occurs between separately numbered obstacles. A horse is considered to have circled if it crosses its track/line.

Falls: A competitor is considered to have fallen when he is separated from his horse in such a way to necessitate remounting. A horse is considered to have fallen if both his shoulder and hindquarters hit the ground. A fall of rider or horse will be penalized when it occurs in conjunction with negotiating an obstacle (approach, take-off or landing). A random fall that occurs nowhere near a jump will not be penalized.

Obstacles with several elements (A, B, C)—unlike stadium—the rider may retake A & B if there is a refusal at C, or he may just re-present his horse to C and attempt to clear it. He is not required to retake the other elements nor is he penalized for retaking them.

Willful Delay: A competitor is considered to have willfully delayed his finish if between the last fence and the finish line the horse halts, walks, circles or serpentines.

Dangerous Riding: Riders may be assessed a dangerous riding penalty or be eliminated by the TD or President of the Ground Jury. See attached explanation on back page.

Scoring:

First Refusal: 20 penalties

Second Refusal at the same obstacle: 40 penalties

Third Refusal at the same obstacle: Elimination

Fourth penalized Disobedience on course: Elimination

First fall of Horse: Elimination.

Willful Delay: 20 penalties

Dangerous Riding: 25 penalties or elimination—see attached

Time Faults: .4 penalties per second over Optimum or under Speed Fault time. Exceeding Time Limit: Elimination.

W: Withdrew. This is when a rider, at any point after entering the dressage arena, decides to not continue on with the competition, but has not incurred elimination at that point.

SCR: Scratch. This is when the rider has entered the competition, but never even makes it into the dressage arena.

Scores will be posted after each phase. Once they are posted the competitor should look at the scores to be sure there are no errors. There is a 30 minute "protest period" after the scores have been posted. If the competitor waits until after this 30 minute period to question a score it is too late and the scores that are posted will stand.

Hopefully this primer will help you through your first eventing experience.

Good Luck And Enjoy—we do this for fun!!!!

If you’re uncertain about anything ask the officials or organizers. The only dumb question is the question not asked!