So what has British Eventing done wrong?

[ihatework]

I think the vaccination rule is completely fair.

I think the allowing schoolmasters is possibly not as big a deal as some might think. They are generally horses that have gone up the levels under pros but IME that rarely translates as excessively competitive at grassroots under amateur riders.

The removal of Double Clears for qualification is for me the major error in rule change.

 

[Squeak]

I think the vaccination rule is completely fair.

I think the allowing schoolmasters is possibly not as big a deal as some might think. They are generally horses that have gone up the levels under pros but IME that rarely translates as excessively competitive at grassroots under amateur riders.

The removal of Double Clears for qualification is for me the major error in rule change.

If BD and BS were doing the same with vaccinations it would make more sense but it doesn't make sense that only BE have the 6 month rule.

Mine are actually within 6 months already due to being at FEI shows but I still disagree with it for all BE competitions.

 

[ihatework]

If BD and BS were doing the same with vaccinations it would make more sense but it doesn't make sense that only BE have the 6 month rule.

I actually have competed at FEI shows so have had to keep mine within 6 months but I still disagree with it for all BE competitions.

Personally, I think BD and BS should be in line with FEI (and now BE as well)

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

No Weston park now

Yes, had a friend bemoaning this a short while ago! All down to the 24% increase in abandonment insurance, which has been dropped completely by their usual insurance company.

 

[conniegirl]

Personally, I think BD and BS should be in line with FEI (and now BE as well)

I don’t. BD and BS have recognised that the vast majority of thier members will never reach the dizzying heights of FEI and there is only so far that you can push peoples purses in a cost of living crisis

 

[teapot]

In the grand scheme of things, having an early flu booster is no big deal to me- it's not much money Tbh, and mine will cover me for the whole event season as I don’t do March eventing and rarely make it to October!
I do, however, think I will feel the pinch of more expensive entry fees, the abandonment charge and the fact that double clears won’t qualify me for regionals anymore

I had not realised that. That's my RF chances dramatically reduced.
I do think Lottie could be competitive if she did not keep boiling over in dressage at events, but I really liked the fact that good jumping horses could get somewhere. So that's another nudge.

Yeah not convinced the removal of DCs as a qualification route is very clever. And also not totally sure about letting the downgraded horses back in - on one hand, quite nice for horses to have a more options for later on in their career when they're slowing down, but will definitely up the influence of dressage, even more.

Plus @Squeak and @ihatework

Check the post on Twittereventing - someone who actually knows what they're talking about said this:

'The two Double Clears route to Regional Championships is still there - I've just been updating www.eventingcheck.co.uk with the 2024 rules. You get a ticket to the Regionals with either a top 20% place or two Double Clears.' Doesn't stipulate what level that is for though, but def double check!

 

[TheMule]

Plus @Squeak and @ihatework

Check the post on Twittereventing - someone who actually knows what they're talking about said this:

'The two Double Clears route to Regional Championships is still there - I've just been updating www.eventingcheck.co.uk with the 2024 rules. You get a ticket to the Regionals with either a top 20% place or two Double Clears.' Doesn't stipulate what level that is for though, but def double check!

Yay!! Thank you

 

[humblepie]

Do they do passport checks for vaccinations at BE competitions as a general rule? Just wondered as when the last flu problem kicked off the number of people that I know who compete and didn't do flu vacs at all until that year when they started checking (that was people who complete BS, don't really have any eventing friends nowadays). It just surprised the people that didn't.

 

[Squeak]

Plus @Squeak and @ihatework

Check the post on Twittereventing - someone who actually knows what they're talking about said this:

'The two Double Clears route to Regional Championships is still there - I've just been updating www.eventingcheck.co.uk with the 2024 rules. You get a ticket to the Regionals with either a top 20% place or two Double Clears.' Doesn't stipulate what level that is for though, but def double check!

I thought that in the comments of that post on fb it was decided that the two double clears had been left on the website accidentally from 2023 when it was brought in due to so many cancelled events?

 

[teapot]

I thought that in the comments of that post on fb it was decided that the two double clears had been left on the website accidentally from 2023 when it was brought in due to so many cancelled events?

An incorrect comment corrected by what I posted above, and it's on the BE website:

Grassroots qualifications
In addition to two double clears, any combination finishing in the top 20% of any qualifying class at BE80 & BE100 will qualify for the regional championships and a minimum of the top 20% from the regional championships will qualify for the national championships.

At BE90 level, in additional to two double clears, the top 20% from the qualifying classes will qualify for the regional championships, but a minimum of the top 10% will qualify for the national championships. In addition, downgraded horses may now compete and qualify and riders must not have completed (i.e. finished) at Intermediate or higher for the current or preceding four (4) calendar years for the Grassroots Championships.

Taken from https://news.britisheventing.com/under-starters-orders-the-2024-season-is-almost-here/

 

[Squeak]

An incorrect comment corrected by what I posted above, and it's on the BE website:

Grassroots qualifications
In addition to two double clears, any combination finishing in the top 20% of any qualifying class at BE80 & BE100 will qualify for the regional championships and a minimum of the top 20% from the regional championships will qualify for the national championships.

At BE90 level, in additional to two double clears, the top 20% from the qualifying classes will qualify for the regional championships, but a minimum of the top 10% will qualify for the national championships. In addition, downgraded horses may now compete and qualify and riders must not have completed (i.e. finished) at Intermediate or higher for the current or preceding four (4) calendar years for the Grassroots Championships.

Taken from https://news.britisheventing.com/under-starters-orders-the-2024-season-is-almost-here/

Thanks for the link, that's good news

 

[RachelFerd]

Now, on the plus side, navy and black breeches will be allowed at all national events. Think I'm going to have an attempt at Vittoria Panizzon style navy legs - particularly for early season with all the mud and rain

 

[Ambers Echo]

Yes that is a very welcome change!

 

[teapot]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but 'Eventing not yet confirmed for 2028 Olympics' is the headline

Eventing not yet confirmed for 2028 Olympics – with just weeks to decide on new format

The discipline is not yet confirmed for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, although leading figures have “confidence” it will be

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[ycbm]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but 'Eventing not yet confirmed for 2028 Olympics' is the headline

Eventing not yet confirmed for 2028 Olympics – with just weeks to decide on new format

The discipline is not yet confirmed for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, although leading figures have “confidence” it will be

www.horseandhound.co.uk

I think it should be dropped. The idea, in a heating world, of flying horses (each accompanied by an entourage) half way across the planet to compete for a few medals against a very small proportion of the countries represented at the Olympics is surely past its time?
.

 

[teapot]

I think it should be dropped. The idea, in a heating world, of flying horses (each accompanied by an entourage) half way across the planet to compete for a few medals against a very small proportion of the countries represented at the Olympics is surely past its time?
.

I do have questions over the welfare involved for LA 2028 given how hot their summers can be... Brisabne 2032 raises the travel issue even more!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I wonder what people make of this statement from BE regarding BEDE events; it popped up on my FB as I follow BE.

BRITISH EVENTING DECISION - FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED ENTRIES AT BEDE EVENTS - British Eventing - News

Last year, Bede Events requested a first-come-first-served entry process for some of their events which were affiliated to British Eventing.

news.britisheventing.com

"I feel disappointed I am having to issue a statement on this matter but cannot let the negativity towards British Eventing as a result of a post that was issued on social media recently by Bede Events go unchallenged." Interesting choice of tone. They also turned off commenting for the FB post. They could have said something like "we are sorry to those who were hoping to see first come, first serve entries however this has not been possible this season because the IT infrastructure is still in development" (if I've understood it correctly).

I'm not sure of the rights/wrongs of what BEDE said or the pros and cons of ballot vs. first come first served entries, but I do wonder if BD and BS have the same interactions with their event organisers/venues/members.

 

[conniegirl]

So every other society (BS, BD, all the showing societies, riding clubs etc) can manage first come first served which in reality is a very simple system.
But BE have a complicated ballot system and say they can’t manage a FCFS system?

Madness!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Crikey, that’s a very snippy response from BE .

Unless Bede Events have since edited their initial post, this is what seems to have kicked off the BE backlash. Just a simple and factual explanation.

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠...

Despite our enthusiasm for change and to move areas of the sport forward, we will be moving back to a ballot system for entries as per the British Eventing rules. We had hoped that changes to the BE entries systems would be in place for the start of the 2024 season, however this has not been possible and as we saw last year the system could not cope with the surge in volume for first-come-first-served entries.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

There was a bit more on the BEDE Oasby page

This will undoubtedly come as a disappointment to many who felt that the first-come-first-served system offered confidence in their entry and allowed them to plan in advance without the risk of either not gaining their entry or having the day of competition changed.​

We will continue to work with British Eventing to support the development of a more robust system, in order for a first-come-first-served approach to be adopted​

Sorry not sure why it won't let me de-bold that bit of copied text!

 

[LEC]

BD and BS do not have the entries pressure and each showground runs their own entries which are on a 3rd party system like Horse Monkey. Oasby would expect between 750 and 1000 entries and all trying to do it on opening is insane.

A show like Wales and West will open stabling and will be busy but they open it for the whole season so again not the same pressure or numbers.

 

[RachelFerd]

For lots of reasons I much prefer balloting. So I for one am absolutely very very relieved that I don't have to participate in the race to get early season entries in to Oasby and Thoresby and can instead enter before the ballot date and go through the ballot system without any hassle, giving me an extra payday to help fund it all too.

I thought it was madness opening entries for Oasby in January on FCFS when its the same month you're also paying out for memberships.

[i realise i'm in the minority on here about ballots - but they are a much fairer system in my view than FCFS which heavily favours people with lots of spare money floating around to make prospective entries with]

 

[Squeak]

Crikey, that’s a very snippy response from BE .

Agreed - Regardless of whether balloting or FCFS is the best way forwards it does seem a very OTT response from British Eventing if that was all that was posted by BEDE. Considering we are losing so many venues and organisers you would have thought it would be worth them keeping the ones they have!

 

[conniegirl]

BD and BS do not have the entries pressure and each showground runs their own entries which are on a 3rd party system like Horse Monkey. Oasby would expect between 750 and 1000 entries and all trying to do it on opening is insane.

Actually many societies do have similar pressures.
Derbyshire festival had 1600 entries last year all managed online and believe me most of thise would have been done as soon as entries opened in order to book stabling as it goes fast!
Equifest had many many more entries, stabling for multiple dayss, hook ups etc and that was all done online.

 

[LEC]

Actually many societies do have similar pressures.
Derbyshire festival had 1600 entries last year all managed online and believe me most of thise would have been done as soon as entries opened in order to book stabling as it goes fast!
Equifest had many many more entries, stabling for multiple dayss, hook ups etc and that was all done online.

Yes but don’t need MERS checked for entry and qualification at entry point for safety reasons.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Waiting for the infrasructure to be in place is obviously the right thing to do, but no idea why BE are being so chippy about it.

As for complexity - the entries for National Amateur Champs at Aintree opened on a first come first served basis and only qualified pairings could enter. They seemed to manage fine. When you qualify for 2nd rounds or Champs or wherever, it appears on your record immediately. I assume MERS do too. So if you are not eligible for a class, the computer should just say no. As it does if you try and enter a Regional Final, (as I did for Katie when she got her DCs at Under 18 classes. They did not count towards RF qualifiication, so I was unable to enter her).

 

[ihatework]

Actually I don’t blame BE, I saw the full BEDE post and the passive aggressive undertone did not go unnoticed by me. He does sometimes need his neck wound in and good on the new CE for doing it.

 

[ester]

Last years events get own abandonment insurance doesn’t seem to have worked well given there still seems to be event(s?) waiting to be able to refund people.

 

[conniegirl]

Yes but don’t need MERS checked for entry and qualification at entry point for safety reasons.

Erm yes for things like BSPS champs and Equifest you do need your entry checked for registration (horse & rider) and qualification.
For other classes you will need your society registration and then the breeding checked with various other societies.
Whilst its not for safety reasons it is the same principle and much easier because you only have one database to cross reference rather than 10+

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Erm yes for things like BSPS champs and Equifest you do need your entry checked for registration (horse & rider) and qualification.
For other classes you will need your society registration and then the breeding checked with various other societies.
Whilst its not for safety reasons it is the same principle and much easier because you only have one database to cross reference rather than 10+

Exactly this.
Entries are by closing date, the likes of RWHS close at least 2 months before, some have even longer closing dates.
Sunshine Tour will often fill non qualifying classes before closing date, so definitely 1st come basis.
Plenty of checking to be done prior and at each show as CG says.