The British Dressage Rules 2009 will have arrived on everyone’s doorstep by now. It’s the earliest it’s ever been circulated to allow time for all the changes to be absorbed. As in the past, the new rules come into effect on 1 December 2008 and any alterations are shown in bold text.

 

Below are some of the most important changes:

 

 

Novice to Medium competitors will be able to qualify with either two wins in two qualifiers or one win in one qualifier and two wins in two non-qualifiers.

Advanced medium qualification requirement remains as one win in one qualifier.

To qualify at prelim level two wins in two qualifiers are required.

Scottish riders will need two wins to qualify, one of which must be a qualifier, and qualification passing down to second place will remain. Riders from the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight and the Channel Isles will continue to require one qualifier. These concessions only apply to those who are both resident and competing in the specified location.

 

Reason: in response to concerns from riders and organisers regarding the status of non-qualifiers, while retaining the requirement for riders to complete qualification over at least two outings. This should increase entries in non-qualifiers, as there is a point to winning from a rider’s perspective.

 

 

The minimum percentages needed to qualify for the winter music regional finals have increased as follows:

 

Novice restricted: top two non-qualified combinations with 65% or more

Novice open: top two non-qualified combinations with 66% or more

Elementary restricted: top two non-qualified combinations with 64% or more

Elementary open: top two non-qualified combinations with 66% or more

Medium: top three non-qualified combinations with 63% or more

Advanced medium: top three non-qualified combinations with 63% or more

Prix st georges: top three non-qualified combinations with 63% or more

 

 

 

A fall of a horse or rider during a test will result in compulsory retirement from that class. Riders may compete on a different horse in the same class and in subsequent tests if the rider declares he/she is fit to carry on.

 

Reason: judges have been unhappy having the responsibility to decide whether a rider is fit to carry on after a fall in the absence of medical support, which is not routinely available as falls are relatively rare in dressage competitions. Also, it is highly likely there were considerable issues with the presentation of the test that would have been likely to lead the rider to retire or be eliminated.

 

 

If the decision is taken to allow riders to compete without jackets, riders are permitted to wear a plain, conservative-coloured waistcoat.

 

 

 

Horses competing in grand prix must be at least eight years old.

 

 

 

Prize money will be mandatory. First prize must exceed the entry fee and if entry fees are discounted for groups, such as club members, must exceed the highest entry fee charged.

 

Prize money should be given to third place in relation to the minimum scale for rosettes in the rulebook, but are not mandatory beyond third, even if class entries exceed 12. Prize money may continue to be given per class based on overall percentage, rather than per section. Vouchers and prizes in kind can only be given in addition to prize money.