Eventers - what would you change?

...Agree with many of the above but for me it really is entry fees. I would love to event more but just find the fees extortionate. I dont understand why they dont have some sort of RC/BD/BS/PC discount- even if it just 10% discount on membership or tickets. I also dont know how they can justify the entry fees when most, (well some) of the venues around us also run unaffiliated events for pretty much half the price it costs you to compete affiliated and also provide better prizes!
 
Day tickets - they should be allowed at every level not just BE90 and BE100. If you live in Scotland there are far fewer events to enter than in the South. If you have an Intermediate horse in Scotland there are only 4 venues that have Intermediate classes yet you pay a higher fee to register the horse. It's £75 to register a BE90/100 horse and you can take it out almost every week. Yet £110 for an intermediate horse and £150 for an Advanced one that you can run twice in Scotland in the whole season.
 
I know this will be unpopular, and I agree the entry fees are expensive....but.....eventing is expensive and there are people who can afford to do it. Why should BE subsidise it for people who cannot afford it? I can't afford to fly business class, doesn't mean the airlines should make it cheaper for me to do so because I would prefer to travel business class than economy! Just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean it should be cheaper, it means it is out of your reach. Life is unfair. Having seen the breakdown of costs for events, the organisers are not walking away with huge profits.

What I would like to see is some kind of rationale for BE being a profit-making organisation which is a monopoly. After all it exists only for its members - therefore realistically should it be making profit, or should it be looking at a situation where it breaks even and (for example) reduces the levy on organisers in order to then allow the entry fees to come down. I don't have the answer to this, it is just the area which makes me a bit uncomfortable - after all the cash sits in an account and does what exactly? It doesn't feel like it is being used to improve the sport for me, the amateur rider.....
 
I would love it to be cheaper, but I do understand that the events cost so much to run that it is likely to be unviable for them to get any cheaper. So many are struggling to break even/keep going. :( The BE levy they pay is apparently a huge cost factor to organisers so maybe this needs challenged to see if the organisers are getting value for money for this fee?

Volunteers- I really think this needs to be more structured, organised and rewarding. Events are really struggling to get enough volunteers and the less there are, the more overworked those who do help and and so they are less likely to return and help again. If more folk helped, people would only have to do half days and could enjoy spectating rather then being stuck doing one thing all day.

Some events really look after their volunteers and others don't. Some sort of incentive (as others have mentioned, ballot stickers for riders or a decent goody bag for non-riders) would maybe help encourage more folk to help.

Sadly, it's the same people who help more than once per year and the same folk who never help. I've always thought a rule which states you have to help a minimum of 1 day per year as a riding member (or nominate someone in your place if you're a pro who can't possibly bear the 1 competing day off per year) would mean the load is shared much more fairly?

Some other really good ideas on this thread. :) Enjoy the meeting kerilli and please report back?
 
To further the Elimination and getting to jump anothe fence - I am also in Scotland and there isnt that many unaff. ODEs around and its not easy to get exposure to the same kinda of fences as at BE. I dont know of any ODEs held over BE courses in my area but I might not be looking in the right places?? At unaff. the fences arent as dressed and there isnt half the number of trade stands and bogly things! And to jump the first fence once before leaving the ring wouldnt take long at all since the horse would have already jumped it and highly unlikely to act up! and in a training class I dont see why this would be a mega ask?!

I also agree with the inter/advance courses - brings to mind kirton and how she is now left with very little classes for her horse to do now he has jumped out of novice level, this is another disadvantage of being a scottish member :(
 
Make downgrading more open, put the two records together and show that a horse is downgraded on entries, scoreboards and in programmes.

Sort out the refund system and Junior BE90 would be a good way to go too.

Volunteers should get a ballot sticker rather than guaranteed entry to that event as my local events I could and have helped at never ballot but those further away do.

I also like the idea of reduced Northern membership, our season started in May this year once again as the only April event was cancelled and I have yet to event in the autumn since I registered 2 seasons ago!

Also spread out the Northern calendar, lots of North West England events clash with the Scottish ones then there are blank weekends between.
 
RomanyMayday said:
I live in Scotland and I personally don't think its fair that I have to pay the same amount in membership fees for BE when my event season is 2 months shorter and there are no JAS/ arena events up here for me to compete in compared to those in the south.
I don't have a solution but maybe it's a point that needs raised if others feel the same.
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I agree with this!!

I also think that refund/waiting list rules should be revised - but I think BE has already promised to look at this, so not tub-thumping!!

I also think the Scottish /Northern Calander need so to be looked at ...
check out this link - http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-...ear=2010&section=200&itemTitle=Event+Calendar - which shows the map of events for the rest of the season ....... Look how few there are in the North/Scotland .......and it is still only July!!! And even then, several of them clash with each other datewise, cutting our options even further!!!:confused::eek:
edited to add - click on 'switch to map view' after opening the link - for some reason it didn't open with the map view!
 
Umm my main points would be the W/D and wait lists, I think all events should keep one! Also start fees. To being paying £15 sf for a PN and the there be no prize money I think is a rip off and I see now at Novice + they have taken out the rule that if they change the upper SF they don't have to give upper limit prize money. Also I think if they do give prize money it should be at least more than the entry+SF to make it all worth while.

Also agree about helping should = more ballot stickers even if the helper is a relative or could even be a representative. Mum does over 20 days a year and we see nothing from it ie I still get balloted from events. I have even been told my a organiser that if I put that mum is a regular voluntear I could be more likely to get balloted out!!
 
REDUCE ENTRY FEES - They are extortionate! I can afford to train, keep, and care for my horses but what's the point in all that effort if I can't scrape together the pennies to enter an event?.... They really have got to a prohibitive level for the amateur rider, hence why I started looking for sponsors, and will be doing more dressage and (heaven forbid) showing next month!!!!

REDUCE THE BALLOT DATE - I think many more people would event if the entry fee was say (rather than £60 - £70) more like £40-£50 and you could enter up until 2 weeks before the event. That way people wouldn't be put off by the risk of loosing their entry in case of W/D and they wouldn't have to balance cash on credit cards when entries impact on the budget of the previous month

LESS FUSS - just give me a plain dressage arena, undressed sjs, and a plain solid xc course and keep the £ you have saved to lower the entry fees
 
Would it be fair to say the underlying issue in many suggestions is transparency, mostly about where the money is going? Many people seem to think the costs are "too high" (which is interesting to me as eventing here is CONSIDERABLY cheaper than in North America and I know for a fact organisers aren't making massive profits there, either) but surely if they knew where the money is going that would help? You can't just say "make it cheaper" without knowing what you stand to lose if they do. And SC's point is very valid - it's an expensive sport and things cost what they cost. People can't say they want better facilities, more work on ground, better prizes, more staffing etc. but they want it to cost less. ;)

Same with the volunteering. Obviously more volunteers mean better running and potentially lower costs. So surely, if people want that, they see the need to volunteer . . .
 
Sort out the event calander for those at the extremes of the country (i.e north/Scotland and the south west).

As has already been said events that I can physically travel to within a day (from Darkest Devon so not as bad as some people but I also have an intermediate horse) always clash with another event I can travel to then he gets a month of competeing! This wasn't so bad with novice ponies but it is really peeing me off now to the point where I may just give up and just show jump him and hunt him (ie much much cheaper - not saying event fees are expensive but membership costs for me and him for 7 events if I'm lucky a year and diesel and stabling REALLY add up - and much much more chance of some reward back!).

Also the FEI calander also needs sorting out. In the spring their are 2 early CIC** (Somerley and Burnham I think) and in the autumn their are 2 (Gatcombe and SoE I think) but they are within a week or 2 of each other! Can they not be spread a little for those needing qualifications?

Also I have noted that some events have decreased start fees whilst others have really hiked them up (for example Stockland Lovell was only £10 for the Int and this put a smile on my face first thing in the day as I was expecting £15 but there is no way I can afford £25 start fee for an Int and would not ever enter an event with this).

A "proper" amateur owner/rider class/es or series would also be amazing (i.e those that work full time - not producing/working with horses [that really bugs me])

Ta K
 
Just a wee note for comparison re volunteers- and sorry if thisb has already been mentioned, I didn't have time to read everything!
When you register as a rider or an owner with Eventing Ireland, your membership is not valid until you have specified 3 events at which you will help (or arrange for help) across the season.
If your helping isn't done then you can be stopped from competing until you fulfill the responsibility.
 
The refund system needs looked at. They can't complain about us all entering late when we know that once we're entered we've got almost zero chance of getting our money back! You should get a full refund if they fill you with someone from the waiting list or if you have a doctors or vet note, in my opinion.

Another idea I had was going reports, like in racing. They can post it on the BE website and then you can decide whether you want to run your horse or not. I understand it might be difficult as the ground across an XC course is liable to change more than around a racetrack, but it's an idea?! Using a proper going stick and posting the readings :) e.g: http://britishhorseracing.com/resources/goingstick/
 
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Ems207 said:
I agree with this - I think esp for the 80T class. As long as you are not deemed to be a danger then you should be allowed to continue provided your not in the way of other riders. So three stops SJ u get to jump a SJ before you leave. If deemed safe by the trainer who helps with the class then u can ride the XC and like normally XC move out the way of other on comming riders. I think that would be a do-able thing for the T class as you have a pro trainer there to deem who is safe and who isnt.
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Maybe allow someone who's had 3 stops to jump the first SJ fence again but to go cross country absolutely NO WAY! I posted on here last night about some of the riding I witnessed at the BE80 at Stafford and these were people who managed (god knows how) to get around the SJ and on to the XC.

In that note I would like to see more being done with regards to dangerous riding at the lower levels.
 
TarrSteps said:
You can't just say "make it cheaper" without knowing what you stand to lose if they do. And SC's point is very valid - it's an expensive sport and things cost what they cost. People can't say they want better facilities, more work on ground, better prizes, more staffing etc. but they want it to cost less. ;)

Same with the volunteering. Obviously more volunteers mean better running and potentially lower costs. So surely, if people want that, they see the need to volunteer . . .
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i agree with this.. whilst the cost of an entry is high, i personally think it is good value for money for a days competing across 3 disciplines (provided you complete all 3 of course ;) ) the standard of courses/ground etc are so much better than you will get unaff, the money for this has to come from somewhere.
but having said that, i think BE need to be a lot more transparent with where all the money goes.

for me the main concerns would be the the same others have mentioned about withdrawals, refunds and waitlists.
the system needs to be sorted out by BE, it should not be up to the individual event do decide if and when they will issue a refund. it doesn't have to be the same for every event but there could be 2 or 3 options for each event to chose from?
what is the point in saying 100% refund if you withdraw before the ballot date when the ballot date is very often 3 weeks before the event?! this does not help if your horse goes lame 5 days before or you as a rider are unable to compete (and now i hear you get charged for a change of rider too - shocking!!)

i also agree with the person who mentioned about there being a requirement of membership to help at one or more events per season. i help out at my local events and they really do struggle to get people to volunteer, which is a real shame as i enjoy putting back into the sport i love!
 
Def agree to more transparency as to where all the money goes....and transparency with waitlists.

Def agree to reducing the ballot period...it makes it very difficult to enter events when you have to do it weeks in advance and maybe have a qualification pending in order to move up, or you dont know how a recent step up will go so may need to drop back down, by having such a long ballot BE are effectively forcing the riders hand and potentially then making a quick buck if all does not go according to plan & a w/d is then required.

I have an issue with start Fees - these should be a set amount at every event and ideally at every level. If some events can put a huge amount of work into the ground etc and still charge £10/£12 whilst only running over 2 days and others can charge £20/£25, do less to the ground/fences and run over say 4 days, i dont see that as being fair to anyone except those that obv benefit from the increased fee's....but who does benefit?

Also, as far as I see it I don't see the fairness in hiking up the start fees as you climb up the grades - the entry fees double and so do the start fees but again, where does all this extra money go? As far as I see, it certainly isnt going into building more courses at int & adv seeing as we keep losing these levels...

If events are running a variety of classes anyway, surely the initial outlay of setting up the event/course/ground etc is already there, so where is the justification?? For example...As much as I love Aston, have no issue with the level of work that goes into the ground or the course design, I was left wandering this w/e that with at least 7 adv sections, plus countless novice & intro, so all in all near on 1000 competitors how £25 for the adv & £15 for the novice can be justified? surely more entries should in theory lead to reduced start fees? If we can see we are getting a reduced rate or a 'discount' once in a while we may not all feel so mugged off!

Prize money - ok so we all know we cant have decreased entry fees & expect better prize money but come on...prize money at Nov and above is laughable - a win (for those lucky enough!) doesnt even cover the cost of the entry fee & start fee. Case in point - a recent Int cost me £102 to enter plus start fee (& obv diesel) 9th place got me a brown rossette......nothing else! Personally when I am paying that sort of money I find it pretty insulting.
 
FinkleyGladiator said:
The only reason I dont do BE is the entry fees. I'm not expecting BE to drop the fees that much but maybe have reduced fees for under 18s or pony club/riding club members. IMO they would get alot more entries and young riders going through the ranks. :)
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Completley agree here
 
I have given up on BE I'm afraid after 10 years and having got to 2* level. No real place for a true amateur with 1 horse, not living in middle/South of England, and shallow pockets! Agree with so much of what has been said already. I would love to know how some of the balloting works! I have seen people with 1 horse balloted and others with multiple HC entries accepted. Tried to understand how the points system worked for entries to the likes of Badminton.........just did not make sense at all. Had been a gripe for years about those who help and those that didn't, much more important who you are than how much you help I'm afraid. Hope BE changes for those who wish to continue, too many are scared to speak out fearing they will be "black balled".I've done my share of fence judging/scribing/stewarding over the years, let someone else be on their feet for over 12 hours!
 
Right, well seeing as I don't actually do BE myself (yet!) I'm not sure how valid my opinions will be as only seeing it from a grooms/friends perspective...

However, after having to pay £25 (:eek:) as a start fee at ALW this weekend I was a bit shocked - I've just entered my young'un to an unaff ODE for that? Surely it doesn't cost £25 per rider for first aid, especially when you add in the higher entry fees?
Also, due to having to change sections/days we only got the new times about 2 hours before we needed to set off - it was very kind of the organisers to swap us, but not giving us times until that morning was a bit stressful!
Finally, another horse had to withdraw due to an injury sustained at a previous BE event - despite the note from the vet onsite that day the owner won't get a refund. I thought that it was their policy to refund with vets notes (especially seeing as injury was sustained at an event and not the horses fault) but sadly it appears not?
 
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glamourpuss said:
Maybe allow someone who's had 3 stops to jump the first SJ fence again but to go cross country absolutely NO WAY! I posted on here last night about some of the riding I witnessed at the BE80 at Stafford and these were people who managed (god knows how) to get around the SJ and on to the XC.

In that note I would like to see more being done with regards to dangerous riding at the lower levels.
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I agree, def should not be allowed to go xc, but should be allowed the opportunity to jump a SJ after elimination, just to end on a productive note :)
 
emmyc said:
I agree, def should not be allowed to go xc, but should be allowed the opportunity to jump a SJ after elimination, just to end on a productive note :)
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So if you were to just canter along & jump a fence on the way out, what would happen as you are already elim & can't go xc anyway?? Sorry if this is a dumb question, just intrigued.
 
START FEES!! if im right ( which i may not be!!) wernt they brought in during foot and mouth? and then stayed from then on!? get rid of them! x
 
kizzywiz said:
So if you were to just canter along & jump a fence on the way out, what would happen as you are already elim & can't go xc anyway?? Sorry if this is a dumb question, just intrigued.
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Nothing would happen because you are allowed to do exactly that under the rules!!!

I really don't understand why people have a problem with this? :confused: Rule 4.29 clearly states that after elimination for refusals or run-outs a competitor may make two attempts to jump any single obstacle in the proper direction.

Are people being told at events that they can't do this? I can't believe that is the case as at almost every event I've been to they actually announce over the tannoy that you can do it when someone is eliminated.

Please explain what the issue actually is, do you want more than two attempts at jumping another fence? :confused:
 
Organisers should be made to hold a wait list and replace any withdrawals from that list - with a full refund with a vets/doctors certificate. Or a refund if you personally find someone to replace you. Do away with programmes if necessary - there are always changes anyway.

Refund of riders membership if their horse goes lame and as a one horse owner they will not be competing again (you get a refund for the horse).

Arrange schedules so there aren't two events close to each other on the same weekend.

Prize money - first place should at least cover your entry.
 
smac said:
Refunds with vet/doc note. I withdrew before date with vet note and didn't get a penny. thats not on- I can understand holding an admin fee and have no problem with that but consiering I helped at the event as well I was pretty annoyed.
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This^^^ happened to my friend - first and last BE entry. Vet note, she even got replaced. No refund. We still got roped in to fence judge and they got her dad to aswell on the day as he came to visit us !!! Could they not give you a voucher / money off a day ticket?
 
Matafleur said:
Please explain what the issue actually is, do you want more than two attempts at jumping another fence? :confused:
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I cant really remember whats happened to me... you never get told this over the tannoy, and I wouldnt be suprised if you get told to leave the arena...
 
sportsmansB said:
Just a wee note for comparison re volunteers- and sorry if thisb has already been mentioned, I didn't have time to read everything!
When you register as a rider or an owner with Eventing Ireland, your membership is not valid until you have specified 3 events at which you will help (or arrange for help) across the season.
If your helping isn't done then you can be stopped from competing until you fulfill the responsibility.
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BE should introduce something like this!

me and mum have just volunteerd for two events at which we will go and help
 
brushingboots said:
Originally Posted by sportsmansB
Just a wee note for comparison re volunteers- and sorry if thisb has already been mentioned, I didn't have time to read everything!
When you register as a rider or an owner with Eventing Ireland, your membership is not valid until you have specified 3 events at which you will help (or arrange for help) across the season.
If your helping isn't done then you can be stopped from competing until you fulfill the responsibility.

BE should introduce something like this!

me and mum have just volunteerd for two events at which we will go and help
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I don't agree with that actually. Pretty much the only time i get off work is to compete, and any other days are a luxury that are still no doubt spent doing something important with my own horses or point-to-pointing/hunting someone's horse for money. I wouldn't have time to volunteer at several events on top of this and I don't think I should have to for the money I pay into BE! That said, I HAVE fence judged several times before and been a steward, and my Mum regularly volunteers...I just don't want to forced to do it ;)
 
sportsmansB said:
Just a wee note for comparison re volunteers- and sorry if thisb has already been mentioned, I didn't have time to read everything!
When you register as a rider or an owner with Eventing Ireland, your membership is not valid until you have specified 3 events at which you will help (or arrange for help) across the season.
If your helping isn't done then you can be stopped from competing until you fulfill the responsibility.
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I think this is a good idea. You have to do duty days as a riding cub member so why not for BE? There are plenty of people who expect to go out week after week and that the events run smoothly and bitch about it if they don't but fail to contribute in any way.

I'm not winning any prizes so this isn't sour grapes but I do think it's a joke that you don't even get your entry fee back. TBH I don't think prizes in kind are up to scratch when you consider the cost of entering.

At one event I've been to they run a clear round SJ ring along side the event. I think this is a bloody brilliant idea, it has a separate warm up so it doesn't get in the way, is next to the proper SJ and lets you get a practice in under event atmosphere and generates another income source for the event. I think more events should do this and advertise it. If I'd have know I'd have taken bipolar pony. In the same vein it would be great if more events were available to school round the day after.
 
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