A little update for you on the National Championships - I know last year the National Championships were running at Eland Lodge and then I postponed them. This was due to a number of factors and restrictions imposed by Eland. I can assure you the decision wasn’t taken lightly.

We now have a wonderful new venue to qualify for in May, in Cumbria with Show Jumping and XC on a surface across two arenas! It’s not often Cumbria gets a National Championships to host, but we will make it well worth the while to travel to Greenlands' Arenas.

Stabling is available on site, but is limited. Please contact Mandy on 07522 670911. Alternatively please contact me for other stabling options locally.

The Prizes have altered slightly - in a good way - The Senior Class Champions will be receiving £1000 in prize money, with the total prize pot standing at a over £10,000! Prizes from Todds Saddlery of Kendal; FOMO Protection (a new Body Protector to a Senior and Junior Class winner!!); Horslyx; Short holiday breaks - and I’m negotiating with Sedbergh School Summer Course for Course places worth circa £550 each to our 5 Junior Champions (tbc - but I’m on the case!); huge rosettes, sashes and trophies too, all making it one heck of a Championships!

Good luck in Qualifying and we look forward to seeing you at the Championships!

Here are the Competitor Rules!

Competitor Rules 2023/2024

Eligibility & Membership

• All competitors must be a member of the Konsileo Insurance National Arena Eventing Series (KINAES) 2023/2024.
• Membership runs from 1^st August 2023 to 6^th May 2024.
• Competitors must have qualified as a combination at a participating venue and results must be verifiable (will be checked).
• RoR competitors may qualify at a participating venue or RoR league – Top 30.
• Competitors are excluded from the National championships if the horse, rider or combination have competed at BE intermediate level in the last 2 years.
• Members are excluded from the National Championships if they have had 5 double clears in any class at 1.20m or higher; not to have qualified for the Fox Hunter Final (at all) or contested a 1.20m or higher 2^nd round qualifier on more than one occasion (as a combination).
• Horse not to have competed in a class with a starting height of 1.25m or higher in the last two calendar years.
• Rider not to have competed in a class with a starting height of 1.30m or higher in the last two calendar years.
• Competitors may only compete in two consecutive height classes on the same horse.
• Riders must be aged 10 or over unless written approval of competence is provided by a BHS Instructor or Pony Club District Commissioner.

General

• Show organisers reserve the right to alter classes / times as appropriate if the light, weather or conditions determine it necessary. Notification will be given, where possible, via announcements and social media.
• The Judges and Show Organisers have the right to require any competitor to satisfactorily complete the following before they are permitted to compete:
  • An examination of the rider by a medic.
  • An examination of the horse by a vet.
  • An examination by an official of any item of equipment or tack.
• All horses & ponies competing must be vaccinated against equine influenza as follows:
  • 2 injections for the primary vaccination, not less than 21 days or more than 92 days apart. Both are required before a horse or a pony may compete.
  • A booster injection 150-215 days after the 2^nd injection of the primary vaccination.
  • Subsequent booster injections must be given within and not exceeding the 1yr period commencing after the 1^st booster injection.
  • No horse or pony may compete within 7 days of any equine influenza injection.
• Stallions must be declared when entering.
• Results
  • On completion of a class results are final after 20 minutes. Any objections must be raised before this time has elapsed.
• Photography
  • There is an official photographer onsite. Anyone may take photos of their own or friends horse but anyone seen to be taking more than this will be asked to leave the venue. Failure to comply with this will result in all associated competitors being removed from the competition.

Competitors Code of Conduct

• Once membership is bought it will be deemed that competitors arriving at the competition will have read, understood and accepted these rider rules.
• Competitors must be polite and considerate to all officials and fellow riders.
• The welfare of the horse is always of paramount importance. Any abusive rider or connection who uses excessive force will be Immediately eliminated from all classes and asked to leave the venue immediately.
• Competitors may be eliminated from dangerous riding if they pose a threat to themselves or others (mounted or on foot) and will be asked to leave the venue immediately.
• If a horse is deemed to be lame, distressed or there are concerns over health and fitness riders may be unable to compete.
• Competitors are expected to attend prize givings mounted at the specific time given and wearing full competition wear or they are deemed to have forfeited their prizes.
• Prize money must be claimed before leaving the venue.

Tack & Safety Equipment

• Hats must be non peaked skull caps be compliant with current British Standards.
• Body Protectors must be worn and be compliant with current British Standards. All body protectors need to comply with the BETA 2018 level 3 standard (Blue Label). Air Jackets may be worn only over a Body Protector.
• Hat cams must not be worn.
• Hair must be tied back in a hairnet for safety reasons.
• All tack should fit correctly, and all safety equipment should be of working standard and worn at all necessary times. BE rules for tack apply.
• Only the entered rider is permitted to ride the horse at the venue.
• Training aids are not permitted at any time.
• There will be a designated lunging area. Please seek permission from the Secretary before lunging.
• Whips minimum length is 45cm and maximum length is 75cm. Only one whip may be carried.
• Padded smooth baton whips only.
• Excessive use of the whip anywhere at the venue will result in elimination. Maximum of 3 contacts per round.
• Spurs must be smooth with no sharp or serrated edges and can be metal or plastic. The end of the shank must be blunt and point towards the rear of the horse or downwards. If blood is drawn as a result of the use of spurs the rider will be eliminated and asked to leave the venue.
• 2 falls in the warm up arena will result in automatic elimination for that class. All fallers must be seen by the onsite medic. Any fall during competition is instant elimination. Riders are not permitted to remount. However, if deemed fit by the medic, may ride in subsequent classes.

Penalties