Allison Springer and Fairvoya S competing in the Modified division at The Fork at TIEC, one of seven event venues in the U.S. and Canada offering the CCI1* level in 2020. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

The CCI1*-Intro level is a great introduction to FEI competition at the Modified height, an excellent stepping stone to Prelim, and a worthwhile goal to aim for in and of itself. It made its debut last year, when all the FEI levels got bumped up by a notch to accommodate the new five-star system.

Foshay International in New Brunswick, Canada was the first North American event to offer what we now call the CCI1* level (then called CCI-Intro) in 2018 — that year, there were only 12 CCI-Intro events in the world. In 2019, Virginia Horse Trials and the Maryland Horse Trials offered CCI1*s, and for 2020 several more U.S. events have climbed on board. A total of eight U.S. and one Canadian event will host CCI1*s in 2020. Seventy-five CCI1*s will be held worldwide. 

For many riders, the CCI1* will be their first international competition. But with various rulebooks to juggle (rulebook links: FEI, USEF) and qualification/registration hoops to jump through before you even trot up the centerline, making the leap can be intimidating. We don’t want anyone to feel put off from circling a CCI1* on their 2020 calendar just because of paperwork, so we’ll try to answer some of your most commonly asked questions. Be sure to also thoroughly familiarize yourself with the rulebooks, which outline the topics below in greater detail.

Where will CCI1* events be held in the U.S. and Canada in 2020? 

• Designer Builders Stable View Spring CCI-S (Aiken, SC) – CCI1*-S – March 27-28, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• The Fork at TIEC (Tryon, NC) – CCI1*-S – April 2-5, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• Ocala International 3-Day Festival of Eventing (Ocala, FL) – CCI1*-L -April 9-12, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• VHT International & H.T. (Lexington, VA) – CCI1*-L – May 21-24, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• The Maryland International & H.T. (Adamstown, MD) – CCI1*-S – July 3-5, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• Foshay International (Jemseg, New Brunswick, Canada) – Sept. 3-6, 2020 [Website] [FEI]
• Stable View Oktoberfest 1/2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) – CCI1-S* – Sept. 24-27, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• The Virginia International & H.T. (Lexington, VA) –  CCI1*-L – Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]
• Grand Oaks Horse Trials (Weirsdale, FL) – CCI1*-S – Nov. 21-22, 2020 [Website] [USEA] [FEI]

The FEI Schedule is your official resource for all information regarding FEI eventing competitions. FEI Schedules can be found by utilizing the FEI Calendar Search. The USEF also recently launched a 2020 U.S. FEI Competition Quick Links page.

How do I qualify? 

Qualification requirements for the CCI1* level are determined by each country’s national federations. The USEF qualification is as follows: Both the competitor and the horse, though not necessarily as a combination, must have achieved 1 MER at the Modified level or higher. Note that this is a change from the 2019 requirement, which required a MER at Preliminary. The new rule goes into effect Feb. 1, 2020, at which time the USEF rulebook will be updated to reflect the new qualification requirements. 

The MER must be obtained in the 12-month period prior to the competition. Qualifications must be fulfilled at least 10 days before the cross country test of the competition for which it is needed.

For Canadian competitors the qualification is 3 MERs at Training level, though not necessarily as a combination.

What is a MER?

For the Modified level and above, an MER is achieved by completing the entire horse trial and scoring:

• Not more than 50 penalty points in dressage; and
• No jumping penalties on cross country, and not more than 90 seconds (36 penalty points) exceeding the optimum time; and
• Not more than 16 penalties at obstacles in show jumping
• 25 penalty points received for Dangerous Riding will not achieve a National Qualifying result.

Can qualification be lost? 

As with any FEI level, loss of qualification may occur when a certain number of cumulative cross country penalties have been assessed. This, and the protocol for requalification, is explained in “EV105: Loss of Qualifications” of the 2020 USEF Rulebook. 

Are there age restrictions? 

With permission of his National Federation, a rider may compete in a CCI1* competition from the beginning of the calendar year in which he or she turns 12. A horse may compete in CCI1* competition from the beginning of their 5-year-old year.

What color are my cross country numbers? 

Orange on a blue background. If an event is running a Modified horse trials and a CCI1* simultaneously, they must be differentiated.

What is the format?

CCI1* may take place as a Short or Long format as to the order of tests and inspection requirements.

What’s my dressage test?

The 2020 1* Test, which takes place in a standard size arena and includes 10 meter trot circles, leg yield, lengthening of stride at trot/canter, and a stretchy circle at the trot. All trot work must be done sitting unless specified. Only a snaffle bridle is allowed for the CCI1* level (no double bridle). Check the rulebook for saddlery/attire specs for CCI1* and all FEI levels.

What are the jumping specs? 

Cross Country
Maximum jump dimensions are …
Fixed: 1.05 m
Brush: 1.25m
Top spread: 1.20m
Base spread: 1.80m
Without height: 2.40m
Drop: 1.40m
Distance: minimum of 2,000, maximum of 3,000
Jumping efforts: minimum of 20, maximum of 25
Speed: 500 mpm
Time: Minimum of 4’00’,’ maximum of 6’00’’

Show Jumping
Maximum jump dimensions are …
Height: 1.10
Oxer spread: 1.25
Triple bar spread: 1.45
Distance: 600m
Speed: 350m
Number of obstacles: 10-11
Max Efforts: 12

How do I enter a CCI1*?

U.S. competitors should start by going to your Athlete dashboard at USEF.org. There, you will find information on FEI registration and the USEF FEI Entry System portal. Be sure to start tackling registration well in advance, as getting all your ducks in a row can be a time-consuming progress especially with regard to your horse’s FEI passport. We highly recommend reviewing the helpful document Horse Passports 101 before applying. A number of additional resources are available via the U.S. FEI Competitions page. 

Pay extra attention to the “Closing Date for Definite Entries,” which can be found under section VII on the FEI Schedule. This Definite Entry Date may be as early as four weeks prior to the competition. For 2020, the USEF FEI Entry Portal will close and no new entries will be accepted after 3 p.m. EST on the Definite Entry Date.

Attentional eventers of all levels! A memo, “Important Update – USEF FEI Entry Process,” was issued earlier this week — be sure to read it here.

Go Eventing.

Image via US Equestrian.

The US Equestrian website has been under under construction lately, with lots of new resources for eventers that can be accessed via the eventing page.

In particular, U.S. eventers planning to enter FEI competitions this year will want to familiarize themselves with updates to the USEF FEI Entry System. These updates, outlined below along with Entry Portal best practices, will help you get your entries submitted correctly, completely and on-time. The FEI Competitions page offers important information on horse and rider registration requirements as well as 2020 U.S. FEI competition quick links and U.S. FEI Schedules.

Earlier this week, Managing Director of Eventing Jenni Autry issued this memo to U.S. eventing athletes:

Dear Eventing Athletes,

It seems like only yesterday the USEF FEI Entry System was implemented; however, 2020 marks the fifth FEI competition season utilizing the system. With our first FEI competition of the 2020 season fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with important updates and procedural changes with the USEF FEI Entry Process, as well as several resources to help you navigate the process.

FEI Schedule – It ALL Starts Here

The FEI Schedule is your official resource for all information regarding U.S. FEI eventing competitions and supersedes any other information found on the internet. FEI Schedules can be found by utilizing the FEI Calendar Search. Click on the event (listed by city and state) and look for the link to the schedule on the far right-hand side of the page.

Work is in progress on a new FEI Competitions page on the USEF website, which will include quick links to these FEI Schedules, as well as resources and information for entering FEI competitions. This page will officially launch at the end of January, so be sure to bookmark it and refer back to it when preparing to enter an FEI competition.

FEI Definite Entry Date – USEF FEI Entry Portal Closes

The “Closing Date for Definite Entries” is the most important date to mark on your calendar and can be found under section VII on the FEI Schedule. This Definite Entry Date may be as early as four weeks prior to the competition but no later than Friday of the week prior to the competition. For 2020, the USEF FEI Entry Portal will close and no new entries will be accepted after 3 p.m. EST on the Definite Entry Date.

Changes to existing entries may be accepted after the Definite Entry Date with the approval of the competition’s Organizing Committee no later than 3 p.m. EST on the “Last date for substitutions” as stated on the FEI Schedule. These changes are limited to substitution of a qualified horse or athlete or a change of division, i.e. switching from CCI4*-S to CCI3*-S.

USEF FEI Entry Portal Best Practices

Enter early: Remember – you can enter through the USEF FEI Entry Portal before the opening date of the competition you wish to enter. Please enter through the USEF FEI Entry Portal FIRST. There are no fees involved when entering through the USEF FEI Entry Portal, and having your entry in the system is a critical piece of a complete entry. You can make changes to or withdraw your entry at any time up until the Definite Entry Date.

It is equally important to remember that if a competition is over-subscribed, only COMPLETE entries – which means all fees are paid and the athlete/horse membership, registration and passports are up to date – will be considered for balloting purposes. Remember that the date of entry in the USEF FEI Entry Portal supersedes the date of entry with the Organizing Committee.

Register first: You will not be able to begin the entry process without a current FEI rider registration. Once you have completed your FEI registration, follow these easy steps to complete your entry:
• Go to www.usef.org and log into your user account.
• Click on My USEF.
• Scroll down and click on the “Athlete Dashboard” (blue) tile.
• You will find two important (blue) tiles: one titled “Commonly Ridden Horses” and another titled “FEI Entry.”
• If you have not already populated information under Commonly Ridden Horses, you must do so before proceeding to the FEI Entry. Once added, information about your horses will always be there for you to select for entries, add/delete information or update as needed.
• Click on FEI Entry, choose U.S. FEI Competitions or Foreign FEI Competition, select discipline, month, and then pick the show you wish to enter.

Should you have any issues during the entry process, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

Check your existing passport(s): Make a habit of checking all existing passports every year prior to the spring competition season. Make sure vaccinations are up to date and recorded as necessary. Check the expiration date on FEI passports, and remember the expiration date format on FEI passports is listed as day/month/year.

New passports and upgrades for breed passports: Review the helpful document Horse Passports 101 before applying for a passport. Once you are ready to apply for a new passport or upgrade for a breed passport, the following scenarios may cause a delay:
• Incomplete vaccination records or insufficient vaccinations.
• Incomplete or incorrect horse description (i.e. whorls, snips, etc. not recorded as required).
• For breed passport upgrades, ensure all information required for a national or FEI passport is complete and up to date or your passport may be delayed.

We hope you find this information helpful in navigating the USEF FEI Entry Portal. Please feel free to contact Shealagh Costello at 859-225-6923 or [email protected] with questions regarding the FEI entry process. We wish you all the best for a successful 2020 eventing season.

Sincerely,

Jenni Autry
Managing Director, Eventing

[Athlete Memo – Important Update on 2020 USEF FEI Entry Portal Process]

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

If you watch enough horses jump enough jumps, it’s possible to get quite adept at seeing what’s coming down the pike from a few strides out. Possible outcomes: a clear jump, a refusal, a runout, a rider fall, or a horse fall … what do you think happens next?

A new study involving Nottingham Trent University and co-funded by An Eventful Life asks that question of survey participants. The survey involves a random series of videos of riders approaching cross country jumps, with the ending cut off. The survey-taker is asked to predict the outcome, after which they are shown the full video clip. At the end, the survey-taker is given a score according to how many outcomes they correctly predicted. I’m not sure that all the riders in the videos would agree, but for the survey-takers, it’s a pretty fascinating experiment!

Even better, the study is aimed at improving eventing safety. It utilizes An Eventful Life’s vast video footage of international and grass roots eventing competitions in the UK, Australia and New Zealand as background data for their research. The researchers hope to evaluate the factors that contribute to successful jump clearance and apply their findings in coaching scenarios and to influence improved jump design.

Can you help? Whether you’re an amateur or professional rider, coach, enthusiast, supporter or never even ridden at all, your feedback could be valuable. You do need to be over 18, have reasonable internet connection and 20-25 minutes to spare. You will also be asked to answer some questions regarding your age, gender, eventing experience and occupation.

The survey can be accessed HERE.

More info:

An Eventful Life Co-funds Eventing Safety Study

PhD Study Eventing Video Survey

Kirsten Schuitema with Shanon Baker and One Sly Fox at Ocala Jockey Club International. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Before he was One Sly Fox, Kirsten Schuitema’s winning event horse, he was Double No, a not-so-winning racehorse. The Pennsylvania-bred Thoroughbred gelding (Discreetly Mine x Tale Of The Fox, by Tale Of The Cat) was unplaced in nine maiden claiming starts, and race notes describe him as looking “tired” in almost every one.

But there was a competitive flame inside him, waiting to get ignited. Eventer Niamh O’Connell got “Tango” off the track as a 4-year-old off and let him down in a field for a few months before lightly restarting him. He found a new home with Kirsten Schuitema of Medford, New Jersey, and now, as a coming 7-year-old, his life looks much different — new career, new start, even a new name: “His Jockey Club name was Double No, which I promptly changed because it felt like a bad omen for an event horse,” Kirsten says.

Kirsten Schuitema and One Sly Fox with Shanon Baker at Ocala Jockey Club International. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Whatever apathy Tango showed at the track evaporated in his new life. “Tango stands 15.3 hands and is a little spit fire,” Kirsten says. “Since the day I brought him home, he proved to be a bit of a challenge — a little hot and quite opinionated. Training him to be a successful, level-headed event horse has been a process, but one that I wouldn’t change for the world.”

Their first ever event together was in 2017 at Fair Hill in the Elementary division, and his most recent was the CCI2*-L at Ocala Jockey Club International in November. Along the way they’ve accumulated an impressive collection of top ribbons, including a win at their Prelim debut at GMHA June H.T. and another win at Paradise Farm H.T. in October. Their 15th place finish at the 2019 American Eventing Championships at the Modified level earned them the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championship 2019 Reserve Championship.

Kirsten Schuitema and One Sly Fox at the 2019 American Eventing Championships. Photo courtesy of Kirsten Schuitema.

“He’s taught me so much in the 2 1/2 years I’ve had him and he continues to push me to be a better rider and horseman,” Kirsten says. “The challenges he’s presented along the way have only made the victories sweeter. My goal has always been to be a successful, professional rider at the top level of the sport. My hopes when I bought Tango were that he could take me there, and he doesn’t disappoint.”

To top off their successful year, Tango was honored at the Horse of the Year Awards during the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, FL, earlier this month as a Rood & Riddle Sport Horse Award winner. The Sport Horse Awards are given each year to Thoroughbreds participating in their second careers as performance horses in jumper, hunter, eventing and dressage competitions.

“Rood and Riddle is pleased to join with TOBA and the USEF to sponsor awards that highlight the usefulness of Thoroughbreds as sport horses in the hunter, jumper, dressage and three-day event disciplines,” said Dr. Tom Riddle, co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. “We congratulate all the winners and thank them for choosing a Thoroughbred to ride.”

Chase Darcie accepting on behalf of Chase & Darcie Shipka for Palm Crescent. Photo courtesy of Rood & Riddle, by Pictures by Ab.

Two awards are given for each of the four disciplines: an Open Award, which goes to the highest point earner, and a Rookie Award, to ensure that newcomers are recognized as well.  The Eventing Open Award went to Palm Crescent, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Quiet American x Edey’s Village, by Silver Deputy) owned by Chase and Darcie Shipka, who earned several top finishes at the four-star level this year with Meghan O’Donoghue.

The Eventing Rookie Award went to Tango, whose spark has clearly been lit by the sport.

“He’s a fantastic jumper with a wicked hind end that can capriole about five feet in the air from a standstill (self-taught and his way of saying ‘no’), so the height of the jumps is a total non-issue for him,” Kirsten says. “He’s got a great gallop and is incredibly bold across the country. One of my favorite things about him is that his competitive nature matches mine. He’s gotten to the point that he knows his job and is all business when it comes to performing.”

Their 2020 season is already off and running; the pair finished 6th in a division of Prelim at Rocking Horse H.T. over the weekend. Here they are making the level look awfully easy.

“The dressage was always our weakest phase, but in the past six months or so, he’s figured out that it’s a part of the game and really gets in the zone for the test. He has faced every challenge I throw at him balls on and I think he has a really bright future as an upper level event horse. We’re ready to take on 2020 and will be shooting for the CCI3-L* for 7-year-olds at Morven Park in the fall!”

Best of luck to this talented pair. Go OTTBs. Go Eventing!

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

More than 16 million acres of southeastern Australia have gone up in flames this season, causing devastation on an epic scale. Canadian Olympian Selena O’Hanlon felt moved to organize an effort within the eventing community to help.

“The images out of Australia were horrifying,” Selena says. “I was in tears thinking about the loss of life. Those poor people, those poor animals. With the idea of a fundraiser and clinic, I approached others and the event snowballed.”

With that, “Kick on for Koalas” was set into motion. Florida landowner Derek Strine stepped up right away and offered the use of his outstanding equestrian facility, Barnstaple South, to hold the clinic. An “A” list of top riders followed forming a dream team of international riders and trainers who are eager to donate their time.

The list includes:

• Buck Davidson, who has represented the USA in the WEG and international events around the world
• Lauren Kieffer, Olympian and member of the gold medal-winning team at the 2015 Pan Ams
• Scott Keach, two-time Olympian for Australia — 1988 in eventing and 2016 in show jumping.
• Dom Schramm, a former member of Australia’s Young Rider Squad and now five-star rider
• Lesley Grant-Law, a Canadian top-level eventer, named alternate for the Canadian Olympic Eventing team in the 2008 Beijing Games
• Selena O’Hanlon, who made her international riding debut riding for Canada in the 2008 Olympics

“Kick On For Koalas” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Barnstaple South (10800 NW 145th Ave. / Morriston, FL, 32668). Participants will have their choice of top-level instruction in dressage, show jumping and cross country.

All of the funds raised at the clinic will be split between Equestrian Fire Relief Australia and the World Wildlife Federation’s Australian Bushfire Emergency Fund.

Selena hopes this fundraiser will raise significant funds to help Australia recover from the devastating fires. “My mother and I raised over $14,000 for Japanese relief after the 2011 earthquake and $24,000 for the tsunami,” she says. “I know the eventing community can dig deep and make a difference for Australia now.”

The O’Hanlons are reaching out to Corporations like Tallman Group, who are stepping up and sponsoring individual cross-country jumps

Riders wishing to participate in the clinic can ride in a session with one of the dream-team trainers for $200 per show jumping or cross country session, $150 per dressage session — click here for a link to the entry form. For more information, visit the Facebook event page here.

In order to raise additional funds, riders are encouraged to have friends, family, and others pledge an amount on behalf of the rider taking the clinic. People wishing to sponsor riders can do so by completing the sponsorship form found in discussions.

Go Eventing.

Wendy Bebie and Calero, “Roo.” Photo by GRC Photography.

How do you keep from going crazy in the indoor during the long, dark, cold winter months? Kim Keppick, an Advanced level event rider who has competed internationally as a member of the Irish three-day team and is the developer of Rein-Aid Productions, sent us this reminder that cavaletti can be a valuable tool.

“Former eventer Wendy Bebie who does dressage now is making her Calero much stronger by using raised poles at trot and canter,” Kim says. “It keeps him happy with his work as it adds variety to his routine. He has become a solid Fourth Level dressage horse.”

Calero, a 15-year-old German-bred Holsteiner gelding (Calato x Rancune, by Baloubet du Rouet), was a fierce competitor in eventing. He competed through Prelim with Wendy, and through the two-star level with previous owner Kelli Temple. We’re glad to see that he’s thriving in his dressage career, and we’re sure he loves the challenge that cavaletti presents.

“Cantering raised poles is just another way to help Roo stay mentally alert and physically engaged during the winter,” Wendy says.

Feeling inspired? Here are three posts from the EN archives to get you started.

Sunday Video: Cavaletti Exercises with Evention

What’s in Your Arena? Presented by Attwood: Cavaletti Chaos

5 Ground Pole Exercises to Add to Your Winter Routine

What are YOUR favorite exercises to help get you through the winter, EN?

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

At the 2019 FEI General Assembly, which took place in Moscow, Russia, in November, all proposed eventing rule changes for 2020 were passed including a revision to the FEI’s much debated rule regarding missing a flag on cross country.

The revision to Article 549.2, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2020, is as follows:

• a) Clear (0 penalties): A horse is considered to have cleared the fence when the head, neck and both shoulders of the horse (to the point of the front of the saddle) pass between the extremities of the element or obstacle as originally flagged and the hindquarters of the horse jump the dimensions of the fence. 
• b) Missing a flag (15 penalties): A horse is considered to have missed a flag if part of the horse’s head, neck or shoulder (to the point of the front of the saddle) jump outside the extremities of the element or obstacle as originally flagged. The hindquarters must jump the dimensions of the fence.
• c) Run-Out (20 penalties): A horse is considered to have run out if, having been presented at an element or obstacle on the course, it avoids it in such a way that the head, neck and both shoulders (to the point of the front of the saddle) fail to pass between the extremities of the element or obstacle as originally flagged or the hindquarters have not jumped dimensions of the fence. Continuing on course will incur elimination.

Additionally:

Faults: In the event of an appeal, only official video recording can to be used as evidence.it was in the event of an appeal, only official video recording can to be used as evidence.

In October, the Event Riders Association of North America came out in support of the proposed changes to Article 549.2 following the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, when the 15 Penalty Rule came into play and had a profound effect on the competition results, as well as prize money and FEI Ranking point allocations. However, ERA of NA noted, “the implementation and transparency of the rule going forward needs to be amended.”

While the ERA of NA believes this update is an improvement on the current rule, we also believe the following points should be considered and implemented.

•  Assessment and adjudication of Article 549.2 should be handled uniformly at every FEI competition regardless of level or location.
•  Should there be a question as to whether a horse-and-rider combination has cleared a fence, the issue should be reviewed immediately by the Technical Delegate and/or a member of the Ground Jury as opposed to waiting until the end of the competition day.
• The Official Video that is reviewed by the Ground Jury should be made public in a timely fashion to aid in transparency and serve as an educational resource for riders, officials and the eventing constituency.
• Video or photographs other than the Official Video should be allowed to be submitted and reviewed when an appeal is made.
• At fences where Official Video will be used for review, a clear marker of where the camera will be placed should be present at the time the course officially becomes open. In addition, there should be clear guidelines for officials as to the positioning of cameras to ensure the fair and consistent application of the rule.
• When setting the flags on a narrow fence or corner, Course Designers could further consider the positioning of flags in a way that increases the likelihood horses are not penalized when a good faith effort has been made to jump the fence correctly.”

On Jan. 10 ERA of NA president Shannon Lilley issued the following memo to members:

The ERA of NA and the Eligible Athletes Group are working in conjunction with Event Owners Task Force to prepare for the FEI Eventing Risk Management Seminar and Forum at Aintree Racecourse, Jan. 24-26, 2020. At this Forum guidelines for the newly revised 15 Penalty Flag rule will be discussed. We would like your stories and/or videos if you were affected by the flag rule last year. The more video footage we have, the better we can make a case for implementing the rule consistently and transparently.

Can you help, EN? Please submit videos to [email protected].

Click here to read the full document of proposed, and now approved, rule changes for 2020. The complete 2020 FEI Eventing Rules can be viewed here.