Competition Rules

BRC have now checked hats at four championships and are still finding substantial numbers that are not complying with our rules. 

 David Bacon

EQUINE INFLUENZA-PLEASE READ-IMPORTANT

Each horse must have a valid vaccination certificate, which undeniably relates to that horse, completed, signed and stamped on each line by a veterinary surgeon, who is not the owner of the animal. It must state that the horse has received two injections for primary vaccination against Equine Influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart. (Only these first two injections need to have been given before the horse may compete). In addition a first booster injection must be given no less than 150 days and no more than 215 days after the second injection of the primary vaccination. Subsequently, booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than 1 year apart, commencing after the first booster injection. None of these injections must have been given within the preceding 7 days, including the day of the competition or entry into the competition stables. Annual vaccinations may be given on the same date each year, but this is not recommended.

Checking of Certificates
All flu vaccination certificates will be checked at Area Qualifiers and at the Championships before the horse is allowed to compete, and anyone with an invalid certificate may not be permitted to compete. It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure that their horse has been correctly vaccinated, that the certificate clearly shows this and that it complies with the rules in all respects. In particular, the horse must be entered under the name shown on the certificate. If this is a stable name, it must be clearly shown on the certificate and endorsed by a veterinary surgeon. At the Championships, riders whose horses have to be placed into isolation stables as a result of a defective vaccination certificate are liable to be invoiced for the extra cost of the stable. Every effort will be made to ensure that checking at Area Qualifiers is carried out correctly. BRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any losses suffered, whether directly or indirectly, due to incorrect checking of
vaccination certificates at any BRC Area Qualifier or Championship. It is the sole responsibility of the member to ensure that their certificate is valid and it should not be assumed that because a vaccination certificate has been accepted at one competition in good faith, that it will also be accepted at another competition or championship.

Team & Individual Competitions

Here at SWRC we compete at most of the disciplines offered by British Riding Clubs.  SWRC is located in Area 5 and regular competitions are held throughout the year by various clubs, some are qualifiers for the national championships and others are points competitions.  Competitions held within Area 5 are Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing and Hunter Trials.  To compete your horse/pony will need a current flu vac certificate.  Riding in teams is good fun and introduces you to people within the club, we aim to maintain our friendly atmosphere and try to all park together at these events.  If you do wish to ride in any teams you will need to let the team managers know, but please ensure that you do turn up.

Dressage

 Preliminary Tests are for horses with no BD points and at rc competitions these are called ‘novice dressage’.  These can be ridden individually or as a team member in which case you may received two rosettes one for an individual placing and one for a team placing (this applies to all the disciplines)  Dressage to music for individual & pairs, & pairs dressage is also at this level.

 Novice & Elementary Tests are for horses with up to 145 BD points.  At rc competitions these are called ‘open dressage’.  An open team consists of 3 horses performing a novice test and one horse performing an elementary test.

 Riders’ Tests are basically as they sound, they are judged on your riding ability & influence on the horse, not the horse’s way of going.  A reasonably well schooled horse is a big bonus though.   We do struggle to fill teams for riders’ tests, you receive a sheet as per a dressage test but the comments are only on you as the rider, we find people either love them or hate them!  Why not give it a go and see what you think?

Show Jumping

 Our Show Jumping Team Manager for this season is Rita Bagshaw her contact numbers are: 01926 259787 mob: 07749-508347 or  email:  ritab8@hotmail.co.uk

Again the competitions are for individuals and teams in all four categories.

Novice is open to horses and ponies who have no BSJA or Irish SJ points.  Jumped over two rounds, everyone jumps both rounds even if you are unfortunate enough to be eliminated in the first! Those who jump double clear then go through to a final jump off.  The course heights for this class are 1^st round 80cm and 2^nd round 85cm.

Intermediate is open to horses and ponies who have BSJA winnings of under £175.00, the Irish SJ points are converted by multiplying the points by 2.5 for ponies and 9 for horses.  Same format as novice 1^st round height 95cm and 2^nd round height 100cm.

Open is open to horses and ponies who have BSJA winnings of no more than £400.  Format as before 1^st round height 110cm and 2^nd round height 115cm.

Style Jumping – formerly know as Equitation jumping.  Is open to horses and ponies, must be ridden in a snaffle and penalties awarded if martingale is used.  Full rules in the BRC rule book.  In this class you only jump one round, it can be a good warm up round, and is again for teams and individuals.  Horses or ponies to have no more than £175 BSJA or 10 BE points.

Horse Trials/Eventing

this is again run in three separate height competitions.  Again with team and individual competitions. 

 Novice is 85cm SJ & XC criteria horses not to have points or have been place 1^st – 6^th pre novice or to have completed a pre novice course in the current season.

 Intermediate is 100cm SJ & XC horses to have no BE points.

 Open is 110cm SJ & XC horses allowed 1 to 20 BE points.

Hunter Trials/Cross Country

 In this discipline there are two classes novice at 85cm with the same ruling as the novice horse trials and open at 100cm with the horses allowed upto 21 BE points.  There are team and individual competitions in both the novice and the open and new last year, is the pairs hunter trials run over the novice course,  the hunter trials qualifier is run in March so please let Harri know early what you would like to do.

General Information

All the above disciplines have one qualifier for the national championships, obviously we aim to put our strongest team in for the qualifiers, however there are always points team competitions run alongside, so every one can have a go. The qualifying teams are selected by Team Managers in discussion with trainers and previous performance, recent competition results are taken into account, so please keep your team managers up-to-date with your achievements.

 The points competitions run through the season, your team managers will send out schedules but it is advisable you make a note of the event calendar for the year from the website.

 Please try to attend our team meeting early on in the year as this is where we get an idea of what competitions you would like to do.  We have to send preliminary entries to BRC head office and need help as our crystal balls do not always function.  SWRC is only one of two clubs within Area 5 who pay members preliminary entries and championship entries, so it is vital we get it right and do not waste club funds.

Above all please remember we are here to have fun and that all your committee members are unpaid volunteers who put a lot of work in to the club, please do not take any disappointments you may have out on them.

 Rule books are available from BHS bookshop and can be ordered online,  it is worth while having one as all the dressage tests for horse trials, riders’ tests, rural riders, open dressage team test, pairs dressage, pairs dressage to music & novice freestyle to music.  The rules regarding dress and tack for each discipline are listed.  It is the responsibility of all riders to ensure that they are fully conversant with these rules.