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Grading
Firstly it is important to understand the various levels of competition. The lowest level is known as “Welcome”. All newcomers have to start here. The various levels do not award points, but rather offer qualifying rounds. You need to qualify to move to the higher grade. Welcome leads to Pre-novice, Novice, Intermediate and then Open.
A nice thing about eventing is that, unlike other disciplines, if you go up a level and it’s a bit much, you can always go back down to the lower level and still ride competitively without having to once again re-qualify for the higher grade.
As you can imagine simply by their names, the differences between levels are fairly obvious. The dressage test becomes slightly more complicated and the jumps in both cross-country and show jumping becoming higher, the courses more complicated and the time tighter as you move up levels.
Over the last three years in South Africa the Open level has introduced FEI classes which allow riders to qualify at home to compete overseas. They start with one-star competitions that can go up to four stars in the open division. Open eventing is much more complex with a one-star event offering four phases on cross-country day. Phase A and C are roads and tracks, Phase B is a steeplechase and Phase D the actual cross-country.
There are vet checks after each phase. Unfit horses don’t qualify for the next phase and are scratched. The steeplechase tends to be dropped when the stars increase, as the cross-country is so testing. It sounds extremely complicated, but is necessary to understand as one can then see how imperative it is to start at the lowest level possible so as not to injure your horse.
The Welcome level has a very simple dressage test and the cross-country is designed to be inviting with very small ditches, banks and no jumps into the water – rather a water crossing. The speed is a strong canter and not a gallop. Sometimes an ideal time is introduced, which means that if you are too slow or too fast, you will incur penalties. This will then teach you how to pace your horse correctly.
If you have been to a few dressage and jumping shows, you can compete at Welcome level. Training cross-country shows are also offered whereby you can do a course, but miss out jumps that you are not comfortable with and take leads from other horses.
Another great way to introduce your horse to cross-country is to attend the eventing classics. These shows occur during the winter months when the ground is too hard for cross-country. Basically these shows offer derby type fences in a show jumping arena. This means you can test your hand at ditches, banks, dykes, bounces and many other cross-country obstacles, but in the comfort of a fenced arena.
The horse
Any horse that is sound, obedient and relatively fit will be able to compete at the lower levels. Thoroughbreds currently dominate at higher levels due to their stamina and athletic breeding. However, as proof that any horse can compete – at this year’s Rolex Kentucky 3-day (a four-star competition) third place went to a 14,1hh pony that was a cross of Thoroughbred, Arabian and Shetland breeding!
Equipment
A general purpose saddle will suffice for the lower grades. In the dressage phase, jackets are compulsory and horses must be platted and wear snaffle bridles. Standard dressage rules apply. In show jumping one must wear a jacket and a hard hat (skull caps or a GPA-type helmet are recommended). Boots and martingales are allowed, as is your choice of legal show jumping bit.
Cross-country has the same equipment as the show jumping phase, except that a surcingle is strongly recommended in case your girth breaks on the course. For the rider it is compulsory to have a body protector, numbered vest and medical armband. As with any discipline, the higher the level you compete at, the more equipment you are probably going to need. But starting off in eventing is not as expensive as one might think.
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