Novice Level Riders and Ride Rules

The minimum age for any horse to take part in a Competitive Ride (CR) is 5 years. The age of a horse is deemed to change on 1^st January of the current year irrespective of the actual birth date during that year.

 

A Novice horse aged 5 and in its first season may only compete at Novice Level. All Novice horses in their first season may not start in more than ten competitive rides and must only start rides to a maximum distance of 450km whether or not the rides are completed successfully. A horse presented to the pre-ride veterinary inspection is considered to have started the ride.  Rides available to Novice Horse/Rider combinations are from 30-50km and are to be completed at between 8-15kph.

A Novice Level horse aged 6 yrs or over in its first season may complete Open qualification ready to compete at Advanced level from the start of its second season.

Riders may progress to Advanced Level within one season.

Minimum Requirements for Novice Horse or Rider to Progress to Open Level

Minimum age of horse	Ride Types	Minimum No of Successful Completions	Distance km +/-5%	Conditions
5	CR	3	30-50	None (rides may be completed in any order of distance)

 

1. Horses may not compete in Open CRs until they are 6years old.
2. Only Novice horses in their first season are eligible for the Novice Championship (assessed on 8-10 successful CRs of 45km or less.  Distances as advertised in the handbook).Novice trophy points awarded for max 40km only.
3. Novice horses may only enter CRs on consecutive days if the total scheduled distance does not exceed 80km.
4. Riders require the same series of ride qualifications to upgrade but not necessarily as a combination.

 

Upgrading of horse or rider is not mandatory once qualification criteria have been fulfilled, but riders or horses may not enter rides above their registered level, regardless of the level of experience attained.

·        The Technical Steward may upgrade the horse or rider on the day of the ride if requested by the rider/registered owner.

·        A rider Log Card will be used to upgrade the rider.  The Mastercard will be used to upgrade the horse.

·         In circumstances where a horse and/or rider complete the necessary qualification in order to enable them to upgrade, but have not been formally upgraded by a TS, and they then compete in a class which distance necessitates that they have upgraded, the horse and/or rider shall be automatically upgraded by the Results Secretary.  The Results Secretary shall send notice to this effect.

·        If a horse or rider qualifies for the next level at a multi day event they may compete in one further class at that event at the next level.  Exceptions being Novice 1^st season horses who have already reached the maximum 450km distance allowed for the year.

 

Grading System

The grading system in CRs is designed to reward horse fitness and good horsemanship.

Horses passing the final vetting shall be awarded a Grade based on the horse’s finishing heart rate which shall be taken over a full 60 seconds.  Grading Parameters will apply.

 

Link to download Novice grading chart 30-50km (pdf)

Link to download Novice grading chart 30-50km (Excel Spreadsheet)