British Dressage would like to thank all the members who contributed to the rules consultation which ran between April and June. As usual the members provided quality feedback and came up with wide ranging bright ideas which have led to a widening of the discussions around the current competition structure with BD.
The Rules and Fixtures Committee met in July and found that the input from members took the initial proposed changes off in many different directions. Because of this, the Committee has made the decision to defer making any changes to the competition structure to allow for further consultation with members and organisers. This will enable them to fully explore all the ideas that have arisen and allow time to deliver well thought out changes. This will incorporate the likes of competing at two restricted levels, open sections and Area Festivals which were in the recent rules consultation, however they may take a different shape than first anticipated.
We hope members will fully understand and appreciate how important for the sport it is to not rush through any major changes without thorough consideration. It is anticipated that the new changes to the competition structure will be announced early in 2014 for implementation on 01 December 2014.
In the interim, the Rules and Fixtures committee have made some minor rule changes which come into effect on 01 December 2013 as detailed below:
Rule 3 & 6 – Membership and Horses Registration
All horses and riders competing in BD competitions will need to be either fully registered or (where appropriate) associate registered to compete. For example where a non-member can currently compete in Prelim non-qualifiers without being registered, they will be required to have an associate registration for themselves and the horse. This facility will remain free of charge and will offer the ability for associate members to do associate registrations for their horse on line. For clarity, riders wishing to enter qualifiers for the Prelim Regionals must be full members of BD.
The above is to enable BD to record results, have a complete set of data for all levels and to communicate with members more effectively.
Rule 11 – Grading of Riders
The date at which a rider group is calculated will be moved from 1994 to 2000. This is to enable rider groups to be accurately calculated using full result data which didn’t come about until the year 2000. This should not impact riders too much as members had the option to down group in 2007 when the 14 point buffer zone was introduced. Rider Group eligibility will therefore be calculated from the 01 January 2000. Any rider who hasn’t competed since 2000, or who believes this change means that their Rider Group should be altered should write into the office stating the rationale for their request.
For clarity, a Young Rider may compete in FEI YR Tests without claiming their group 3 status. To ride in PSG classes they must however claim their group 3.
Rule 13 – Restricted and Open Sections
Since introducing Prelim Points in 2012, we now feel that we should go back to having Open and Restricted sections at Prelim to create consistency across all levels. The Restricted class will be the current qualifiers and the non-qualifier will be the open. The same restrictions as at present will apply so this is merely a name change. There will be no championship at Open Prelim.
Rule 16 – Training Sections
The rule has been formally amended so that training sections may be used to qualify for Area Festivals.
Rule 18 – Grade of horses
The cut off points level for Advanced Medium has been extended to 425.
The cut off points level for all PSG classes including qualifiers and Area Festivals has been removed completely. The restriction on GP points for the horse remains.
Rule 21 – Downgrading of horses
The points level for downgraded horse at prelim has been reduced to 45 points. This is to allow group 8 and 7 riders to downgrade and ride competitively in Prelim Open sections but not to qualify for Prelim Regionals/Area Festivals.
Rule 29 – Tests
There will be a new Prelim 17 2014 (20 X 60)
Novice 35 will be deleted
There will be a revised BD Inter II 2014. BD Inter II 2012 will be deleted.
Advanced 108 will be renamed to its FEI name ‘YR Individual’ and will sit with the FEI Tests as it is of PSG level.
Rule 31 – Freestyle to Music
There is a revised definition of what happens when the music fails during a test.
In the case of a technical failure that will interfere with the competition, the judge at C shall ring the bell. During Extreme weather conditions or other extreme situations the judge at C may ring the bell for interruption of the test. The rider should return to complete their test when conditions permit. In the case of the riders music failing, skipping or jumping during a test the rider may make one request to restart or the judge can suggest that they restart. When possible the restart should be immediate but if not the rider should return to complete or restart their test during a scheduled break or at the end of the competition. It is up to the rider whether to restart the test from the beginning or to commence from the point the music failed. In either case the marks already given to the point at which the music failed will not be changed. If the music continues to fail after restart the rider will be eliminated.
Rule 53 – Whips
Whips will not be permitted in FEI level classes (PSG - GP and all U21 classes) at Premier League competitions.
Rule 61 – Other Tack/Decoration
Items such as diamante plaiting bands may be used, but not the existing items listed as prohibited in the rule book.
Neck straps are now permitted at all levels both for working in and for tests.
Rule 82 – Commanders
Commanders will not be permitted for any classes at Premier Leagues
Rule 88 – Dispensation
Some additional wording has been added
If a rider’s impairment is not considered sufficiently severe under the Para Equestrian rules to warrant classification to Grades I - IV, the dispensation panel will review the full classification card submitted by the classifier. The level of impairment in the relevant affected part of the body will be considered (e.g. a rider requesting dispensation for looped reins would have the scores for wrist, fingers and thumb taken into account, but not those for any other part of the body). Only riders demonstrating 10% or higher levels of impairment (based on the classification results) in the relevant body part will be considered.
Rule 90 – Sitting and Rising
Rising trot is permitted in the medium and extended trot movements at Medium level. Sitting or rising is now permitted in all Young Horses Classes unless explicitly specified in the test.
Rule 101 – Scoring Method
The use of half marks is now permitted in tests at all levels.
Rule 110 e) – Judging Restrictions
There is a new definition of regular training for conflict of interest.
Regular training is defined as having trained a horse or rider more than three times in the preceding 12 months and not within four weeks of a competition.
Rule 115 –Cut off dates for the Summer Qualifying period
The current cut of date for the Summer regional period is the 30th June. As members are aware it is logistically very difficult to grade the results from June and notify riders of their qualification before the first close of entries in early July.
Therefore, to try and alleviate some of the pressures, to provide a better service to members by giving adequate notification for qualification and time to enter the Summer Regionals, the end of the Summer qualification period will move to the 31 May. This will give two equal six month qualifying periods with the winter period being extended by a month.
New Summer period – 01 December – 31 May
New Winter period – 01 June – 30 November
The only exception to the above periods is those earning qualification for Young Horse classes or direct qualification from Premier Leagues/UK based CDI which will remain the same.
Rule 123 bi) – PSG qualification
New wording has been added
If all the direct places are not filled from the Premier Leagues a first allocation of wild cards will be issued prior to the Summer Regional Championships taking place.
Rule 127 – Grand Prix Qualification
The qualification for the Grand Prix Championships has been changed in order to ensure those competing nationally and internationally have the fairest chance of qualifying for the National Championships.
Places for the Grand Prix Championships will be allocated as follows;
• Automatic qualification for the selected combinations for that year’s senior European or World Championships or Olympic Games.
• Automatic qualification for the winners of each of Premier League GP class (excluding GP Special or Freestyle) scoring 65% or above.
• Qualification to the 4 horses who have achieved the highest scores above 65% in UK based or overseas CDI Grand Prix classes (excluding GP Special or Freestyle).
• Qualification to the 4 horses who achieve the highest average score above 65% from 3 Premier League or High Profile Show Grand Prix classes (excluding GP Special or Freestyle). At least one score must come from a Premier League.
If the places are not filled by the above method, additional places will be filled by taking the next highest score from either the CDI list or the list of the highest average scores from 3 Premier League/ High Profile Show Grand Prix classes. (So individual high scores from one or two PLs will not count?)
The top 10 combinations will go through to the Grand Prix Freestyle. Riders who enter the Grand Prix class at the National Championships automatically declare their intention to compete in the Grand Prix Freestyle if qualified. In cases of legitimate withdrawal due to illness or veterinary/welfare reasons the next qualified combination will move up.
Rule 128 – Offshore Islands
New wording added
Riders who gain points at competitions held on the mainland may only use them towards the full qualification total. On island points may also be used towards the full total, but off island points may not be used towards the reduced on island total.
Rule 137 b & d) – Potential International Classes
This has been changed to say the top 6 horses will be brought in for final marking and that a commander will be used in the qualifying competitions to direct the horses in the arena.
Annex 2
There is a new Annex two which is a quick reference guide to the penalties awarded for a breach of rules.
All the rule changes will be highlighted in bold in your 2014 rule book which will be with you in the October magazine mailing. We do advise that you take time to read through it and familiarise youself with the changes.