BD Points "Buffer Zone"

[Ferdinase514]

Has anyone else seen the new rule BD are intorducing - from Dec 2007

You will be able to gain 14 points at the level above, before becoming an open rider.

Applies Novice to Medium.

You can apply to move down a rider group level before Dec if you are within the 14 point buffer.

e.g. I can now gain 14 points at elementary, before i have to move up to Group 6 (Novice Open).

P_G - am guessing this helps you with doing medium on Bloss and riding Archie in restricted section?

Also, the point bands are being increased by 50 points (except prelim which will be increased by 12, to 49 i think)

 

[Tangaroo]

Yes i saw it and think its a great idea. I was reluctant to do elementary for exactly that reason, but maybe i will give it a go at some point. It also means my boy can carry on with prelim at the mo without worrying about running out of points!

 

[DressageChick]

Fantastic rule changes- means my boy can go back to ele in December and if I play my cards right I can go back to Restricted Ele.

 

[Folara]

Yeah great for us as well. Gen can go back to Restricted Novice. Do you have to write to BD and ask to be moved back to your previous group or do you think you just do it yourself and they will realise?

 

[Jemayni]

Im confused. What is the need to do the restricted novice? If your horse is at elementary standard, then surely its capable of doing an open novice?

Or is it just to tempt people to have a try at elementary with the knowledge that they can still go back to novice, if elementary, (for some bizaar reason,) is further beyond your ability than you first thought?

 

[Judie]

FM does that mean then, they are increasing the elementary ceiling to 199, so if you're still within that but previously over the 149 ceiling and have less than 14 medium points you can go back to elementary restricted?

Oh lets hope so, we're really not ready for all this medium stuff

 

[DressageChick]

yes thats right ele points limit will be 199 and is you have less than 14 medium points as a rider than you can be restricted ele.

 

[Halfstep]

I think this is a brilliant initiative and should be applauded. The problem with the restricted/open regime has been, in the past, that it provides a disincentive to upgrade if you have two horses. If you have a horse winning at Novice restricted, it should start doing elementary. But in the past as soon as you got a point at elementary, then you would have to ride your other horse (who might be a green as grass 4 yr old) in novice open. Fine, but not if you are an amateur who works full time and doesn't have a hope on a baby horse against a bunch of professional riders.

The new regime will give people an incentive to move up a level and will allow them to gain confidence at the lower levels by allowing them to stay at restricted for longer. A very good thing all round.

Absolutely fantastic to have a restricted AM section! This will open a lot of doors and help people make the big jump from medium to advanced.

 

[nelliefinellie]

Where has this info come from? Can't find it on BD web site

 

[Halfstep]

It was in the BD magazine this month.

 

[Tempi]

hi hun

I guess it would help with doing Medium on Bloss - however shes retired now!! So it dosent matter anymore

I do think it sounds like a good idea tho - as i think the jump from elementary restricted to EO is quite a large one. At Novice level its not quite so bad, but some of the horses in the EO section are amazing!!

 

[DressageChick]

Not really, The open section at Nov and ele especially are full of Pro's with uber horses and the restricted contains more amatures, so just because your horse is starting to compete elementary doesn't mean necessary that you should automatically be lumped in with the pro's. Novice/Ele open is very 'hot' and it is nice and encouraging for people 'trying' a new level to have this buffer.

 

[eventingdiva]

Sounds fab, we can go back and do some more novices! x

 

[SaraG]

To answer Folara's question, the article said that riders have to apply to be dropped back a group - it won't happen automatically.

 

[Folara]

Thanks Troi - have to get Mike to write off and ask then.

 

[SaraG]

You'll need to wait until December before you can apply as the rule doesn't kick in until then. Obviously you could accumumate more points in the intervening months so applications won't be valid until after 1 December.