There are six core eventing ranges obtainable to riders who compete in nationwide affiliated eventing in Britain, which is run by British Eventing (BE).
These ranges supply a broad vary of competitors with cross-country fences from 80cm as much as 1.20m, accommodating everybody from affiliated eventing first-timers as much as severe professionals coaching for the Olympics.
British Eventing (BE) ranges
BE80
What it entails: the utmost peak of fences at this introductory eventing degree is 80cm on the cross-country and 85cm within the showjumping, with the advice that the primary three showjumps are under most peak to permit horses to realize confidence.
Throughout nation, combos have to journey at 435 metres per minute (mpm) to keep away from time-penalties and fences will ask fundamental questions of horse and rider. There aren’t any particular BE80 dressage checks – these courses use BE90 dressage checks, which contain easy actions reminiscent of 20m circles, three-loop serpentines and free-walk on an extended rein.
Greatest suited to: these attempting eventing for the primary time, seeking to construct confidence or begin out with a younger horse. That is your excellent alternative to present it a go, even when the considered throwing your self down the Burghley Leaf Pit or into the Badminton Lake provides you the shakes.
Extra skilled rivals can solely participate in these sections hors concours (HC) so they’re “exterior of the competitors” and might’t be positioned.
Katie Brickman and Greenkeld’s Moondance competing within the BE90 grassroots championship at Badminton. Credit score: Peter Nixon
BE90
What it entails: the second eventing degree, with fences as much as 90cm on the cross-country and 95cm within the showjumping, once more with the advice that the beginning of the course is smaller. The required pace throughout nation is slightly sooner – 450mpm. The identical dressage checks are used as at BE80, with comparatively fundamental actions.
Greatest suited to: once more, that is an introductory degree, appropriate for many who wish to check out eventing or give a younger horse expertise. As at BE80, skilled rivals can solely participate in BE90 courses HC and might’t be positioned.
BE100
What it entails: you’ve received the dangle of this now – the fences are as much as 100cm on the cross-country and 1.05m within the showjumping, and the primary three colored fences ought to be under this peak. The pace wanted on the cross-country ramps up once more, so it’s now 475mpm to keep away from time-faults.
Within the dressage, the circles and half circles may be as small as 10m, you could be required to present and re-take the within rein in canter and transitions will come up extra rapidly.
Greatest suited to: that is the final true grassroots eventing degree and the very best degree of competitors at which these within the 12 months of their 14th birthday or older can begin their BE journey with none prior {qualifications} (these within the 12 months of their twelfth or thirteenth birthday need to qualify at BE90 to trip at BE100).
Novice
What it entails: at novice, the showjumps are as much as 1.15m and the cross-country fences max out at 1.10m. That is the primary degree the place a treble and a water tray are allowed within the showjumping and there might be at the very least one four- or five-stride associated distance. The cross-country combos might be extra technical, with narrower fences and extra testing strains and the pace required picks up once more, to 520mpm.
Within the dressage, necessities throughout the checks embody displaying some medium trot and medium canter strides, a brief part of counter-canter, rein-back, prolonged stroll, leg-yield and a easy change of leg via trot.
Greatest suited to: novice is maybe a little bit of a deceptive title – this eventing degree is sort of a step up from BE100 and a reasonably severe check, so is greatest suited to these with a strong basis on the grassroots ranges.
Riders need to qualify at BE100 to participate. Horses can begin eventing at novice if their rider is suitably certified, however most will start on the decrease ranges, even when they’re ridden by a prime skilled.
Meghan Healy and Suppose It Over on the intermediate cross-country course at Thoresby. Credit score: Peter Nixon
Intermediate
What it entails: most fence heights are 1.25m within the showjumping and 1.15m throughout nation and once more, the issue steps up in each phases. The required pace within the showjumping is 350mpm (325mpm in any respect ranges under this) and throughout nation it’s as much as 550mpm.
The showjumping will embody each a double and a treble and at the very least one three- or four-stride associated distance and the margin for error will lower within the cross-country because the fences grow to be extra demanding. Actions reminiscent of shoulder-in, transitions from stroll to canter, medium and picked up trot and picked up canter function within the dressage.
Greatest suited to: most riders at this ranges are professionals, though the odd courageous, expert novice will make it to intermediate. Riders and horses want {qualifications} at novice to maneuver as much as intermediate and each will have to be assured tackling massive fences in fast succession on technical strains.
Superior
What it entails: that is the highest degree of BE competitors. Showjumps are as much as 1.30m (and the pace has elevated once more to 375mpm) and cross-country fences may be as huge as 1.20m, with a required pace of 570mpm. The technicality in each might be appropriately robust for this excessive degree.
Within the dressage, horses and riders are requested for prolonged variations of all paces, half-pirouettes in stroll, half-passes in trot and canter and flying modifications.
Greatest suited to: the bravest of all of them – each horse and rider! Clearly horses and riders need to qualify at intermediate to maneuver as much as this prime degree and can have to be expert, assured and effectively educated to succeed.
Open courses and age-restricted sections
Open courses run with the identical dressage checks and programs as common sections, however those that are “over-qualified” for the extent when it comes to their earlier expertise or factors gained can participate and gather placings. There may be one particular open intermediate (OI) dressage check, however OI courses can be run utilizing an ordinary intermediate check.
Age-restricted sections are particular courses for riders underneath a sure age, for instance under-18 courses are widespread as much as novice degree, under-21 courses at intermediate degree and under-25 courses at superior.
Interim ranges
To accommodate these wishing to get a style of a degree above the one they’re competing at, BE provides interim eventing ranges of competitors by which the dressage is the usual of problem of the category above, the showjumping is between the 2 heights or on the increased degree and the cross-country is on the decrease degree.
Interim competitions embody:
BE100plus – novice dressage, showjumps as much as 1.10m, BE100 cross-country
intermediate novice – intermediate dressage, showjumps as much as 1.15m however with larger width, pace and technical necessities than at novice, and novice cross-country
superior intermediate – superior or superior intermediate dressage (there’s one particular superior intermediate check) superior showjumping, and intermediate cross-country
BE105 – novice dressage, showjumps as much as 1.10m, however it’s an uncommon interim degree in that it has its personal cross-country course (with fences as much as 1.05m) whereas the opposite interim ranges all use one of many six commonplace cross-country programs
Helpful hyperlinks
FEI eventing ranges
These wishing to compete in eventing at worldwide ranges are provided 5 tiers of competitors. There are two kinds of FEI competitors – one- (-S) and three-day (-L) – with each varieties provided at two-, three- and four-star. {Qualifications} at three- and four-star require pairs to compete on the brief format of a degree earlier than stepping as much as the lengthy. At one-star and five-star, there is only one competitors format.
One-star
What it entails: with showjumping fences as much as 1.10m and cross-country most peak of 1.05m, that is the introductory degree of worldwide competitors. The dressage checks contain actions reminiscent of 10m circles in trot, 15m circles in canter, lengthened strides and leg-yield.
Greatest suited to: first-timers at worldwide degree, who’re competing efficiently at BE100 and both BE105 or novice.
Two-star
What it entails: that is primarily worldwide novice degree with showjumps as much as 1.15m and cross-country obstacles maxing out at 1.10m and the identical pace required throughout nation as BE novice (520mpm). Medium trot and canter, rein-back, brief sections of counter-canter and provides and retake the reins are typical within the dressage checks.
Greatest suited to: these competing efficiently at novice.
Three-star
What it entails: the worldwide equal of nationwide intermediate – showjumps are as much as 1.20m and cross-country fences as much as 1.15m, with a cross-country pace of 550mpm. The dressage checks function the likes of prolonged stroll and trot, collected trot and canter, shoulder-in and half-pass.
Greatest suited to: pairs with a strong file at BE intermediate degree and the suitable worldwide {qualifications}.
Emily King and Jackpot competing within the CCI4*-S at Bramham. Credit score: Peter Nixon
4-star
What it entails: four-star is roughly equal to BE superior, with showjumps as much as 1.25m and cross-country fences measuring a most of 1.20m. The required nation pace is 570mpm. Flying modifications come into the dressage checks at this degree, in addition to collected and prolonged variations of all paces and half-pirouettes.
Greatest suited to: very skilled riders and horses with constant outcomes at BE superior and the decrease worldwide ranges.
5-star
What it entails: the very prime degree of eventing. Showjumping is as much as 1.30m and whereas the cross-country most peak (1.20m) and pace required (570mpm) is identical as four-star, the comb can go greater, the spreads are wider and the technicality of the check is elevated, with the hardest of angles, the skinniest of skinnies and essentially the most difficult strains.
The dressage actions are a lot the identical as at four-star, however they’re positioned via the routine in such a approach that they’re tougher to execute effectively, with all the pieces arising extra rapidly and the sequence of actions designed to be extra testing.
Greatest suited to: the crème de la crème of the eventing world – that is an elite degree that almost all can solely dream about. Suppose the Wimbledon of the tennis world or the Champions League in soccer.
Helpful hyperlinks
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H&H journal editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the business on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest degree, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.
