I’m a bit of a rules freak.

Let’s face it. Bad Eventer has a hard enough time finishing with a number and not a letter……..

The last thing I need is to get eliminated for some completely avoidable rule infraction.

I still remember serious childhood trauma from watching other riders eliminated for entering the dressage ring with bellboots on their horse, entering the ring holding a whip, missing the finish flags on cross country, jumping the first jump before the whistle……………

One time in college I was “nearly eliminated” from a schooling show because my whip was too long.

They were very kind to me and said, “If this were a recognized show you would be eliminated, but today we’re going to give you a pass.” I think they saw my horse trailer and felt sorry for me.

Yes, that photo really is from that show! Look again! That lovely rig is my home made horse trailer.  And yes I was jumping in a dressage saddle because it’s the only one I had. Where there’s a will there’s a way! Oh the good ol’ days!

While I have more Es (Eliminated) and RFs (Rider Falls) on my record than most……I still don’t have a TE (Technical Elimination) and……….. I’d like to keep it that way.

I’m getting ready to drive MOST of the way across the country for a show….. and last night I realized that I hadn’t read the rule book this year.

I’ve been hanging out in Green Pony Prison.

Working on basics, basics, & basics………so there hasn’t been much reason to go to any recognized shows. Not when your days consist of “Please don’t do this”……..

So I settled in for the night with a glass of wine to read the new rule book cover to cover. This is normally a terrific sleep aid and it takes me 2 or 3 nights to actually finish it.

I was just getting to the dozing-off-time-to-put-the-book-down-point……..

when I read THIS,

“When a horse and/or rider obtains a qualifying result (QR) at a level, then they are

“established” (qualified to compete) at that level. This “establishment” does not expire;

however, it is important to remember that in all cases, when entering an Event, at least

one Qualifying Result must be obtained in the twelve month period prior to the competition.”

   
All I could think was whoa, whoa, whoa, Whoa!!!!!

Forget sleep! I was wide awake!!

The last time I remembered reading this part it had said once you’re established at the level it lasts for 2 years after the current year. That made sense to me.

This bit about “it doesn’t expire” but it does if you haven’t gotten a Qualifying Ride in 12 months…….absolutely made me crazy.

I immediately thought of a college course I took my freshman year called “LOGIC”……yes……really………

For the record, I got an A in LOGIC !  In my logical mind…..saying something doesn’t expire, but then saying it does if you haven’t competed in 12 months………..um…….. that kinda sorta……..most definitely sounds like an “expiration” to me.

I anxiously read on….. looking for the details on what on earth that meant and what happens if it HAS BEEN more than 12 months…………. and I found……….. nothing,

I read the rulebook cover to cover………..

and then I read it again.

I was going into full on meltdown………….

I haven’t gotten a QR in 12 months. The last time I had a QR was 14 months ago. I’m about to drive 1200 miles for a horse trial. There is NO WAY I’m driving that far and finding out I’m not qualified to compete. As I’m starting to wonder about cancelling my very long drive that I’m supposed to leave for TOMORROW……I thought surely, the show secretary would’ve caught a problem if there was one…………or maybe not………… It’s 2:00am on a weekend, it’s going to be a couple of days before I can call USEA and find anything out. O M G!!!!!

By this point my head was spinning, and I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to re-qualify for Prelim with a training level ride just because I hadn’t done one in 12 months.

I kept thinking, “No way, not possible, who thought that was a good idea?????”

Next I thought, SURELY I’m not the only person who has had this question. MAYBE someone on a discussion forum has already found out the answer???? A dozen internet searches turned up nothing about the current rule.

Then I started racking my brain…….who do I know – that would know the rules well enough – that I can email – on a Sunday morning and get an answer……….

I came up with someone who competes & coaches at the highest levels…… They are fully immersed in the sport, and have the most attention to detail of anyone I’ve ever met. I thought surely they’re a “Rules Guru”!!!  I zipped off an email asking if they knew what happens if it’s been more than 12 months since a QR.

The reply was something like, “Um, that’s interesting, I don’t even know what they mean by “established”. I’ll have to look into it.”

I guess I should’ve known better. I think I’ve had more heated discussions about what the current rules are with 3* & 4* riders than anyone else. After all, they’re all off doing gallops NOT reading the rule book.

Then I found it!!! USEA had actually posted a “Clarification” of this particular sentence on their website just a few weeks ago.

I must not have been the only person having issue with this rule. It still took me a dozen reads to convince myself that I understand the intent. Basically, if you’re established at a level and you haven’t had a QR in 12 months, you have to drop down ONE level and get another QR before you can compete at the level you are (or rather were) established at.

Believe it or not……. Bad Eventer is established at Intermediate. I know……. seems impossible doesn’t it??

With the change to the qualifications, since it’s been longer than 12 months, I have to get a QR at Prelim before I can compete again at Intermediate. BUT!! I don’t have to re-qualify for Prelim.

I volunteer to re-write and clarify the entire rulebook so that those who may not know what the intent was…….. can understand it.

Seriously.