DisciplineEQUwhatisEqu

WELCOME TO THE DISCIPLINE OF EQUITATION

YOU'VE HEARD THE NAME 'EQUITATION', BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
EQUITATION IS A COMBINATION OF CORRECT BASIC FLATWORK MOVEMENTS AND SHOWJUMPING. IN THIS DISCIPLINE THE ABILITY OF THE RIDER IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
PART ONE OF AN EQUITATION TEST DEALS WITH THE 'FLATWORK AND SCHOOLING'
IN THIS PART YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO DO SOME FLATWORK MOVEMENTS AND YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO DO A JUMPING EXERCISE. THE PURPOSE OF THE JUMPING IN THIS PART OF THE TEST IS TO ASCERTAIN THE CONTROL THE RIDER HAS OF THEIR MOUNT AND TO ASSESS THEIR SEAT AND HAND POSITION. IT IS NOT A TEST OF HOW BIG YOUR PONY OR HORSE CAN JUMP! IN THIS PART THE JUDGE WILL BE LOOKING FOR CORRECT BASIC AIDS, EFFECTIVENESS AND A GOOD HAND, SEAT AND LEG POSITION.
PART TWO OF AN EQUITATION TEST DEALS WITH THE JUMPING AND IS ESSENTIALLY A STRAIGHTFORWARD SHOWJUMPING ROUND - NOT AGAINST THE CLOCK. THE COURSE WILL CONSIST OF BETWEEN 6 AND 8 FENCES AND THESE MAY INCLUDE A COMBINATION. HERE THE JUDGE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A FLUID, RYTHMIC ROUND AS WELL AS THE POINTS MENTIONED ABOVE.
PART 1 AND PART 2 ARE RIDDEN CONSECUTIVELY AND EACH PART CARRIES A POSSIBLE SCORE OF TWENTY FROM EACH JUDGE. THE JUDGE/S ARE SITUATED IN THE ARENA AND THE MARKS ARE HELD UP AT THE END OF PART 2 FOR EACH COMPETITOR.

DID YOU KNOW:

MANY OF OUR TOP SHOWJUMPERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EQUITATION.

ANYONE CAN DO EQUITATION ON A REASONABLY WELL-SCHOOLED HORSE OR PONY.

EACH EQUITATION TEST IS LIKE HAVING A LESSON. COMMENTS ARE MADE BY THE JUDGES ON WHERE YOU WENT WRONG AND HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE BOTH YOU AND YOUR HORSE/PONY.

THE RESULTS AND COMMENTS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF EVERY CLASS, CAN BE COMPARED TO PREVIOUS TESTS TO MEASURE YOUR IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS, AND TO POINT OUT ANY RIDING WEAKNESSES OR BAD HABITS.

THERE IS NOTHING NEW OR DIFFFERENT IN THE MOVEMENTS OR THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE RIDDEN. ALL GOOD RIDING PRACTICES ARE BASED ON EQUITATION.

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
LITTLE LEAGUE INCLUDES EQUITATION AND WE ALSO INCLUDE 'WELCOME' CLASSES AT SOME OF THE MULTILEVEL SHOWS.
SPECIAL TESTS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN TO ACCOMMODATE RIDERS AT ENTRY LEVEL, THESE ARE REGIONAL TESTS A, B, C OR D. RECOMMENDED HEIGHTS OF JUMPS AND JUMPING EXERCISES ARE DETAILED ON THESE TESTS. THE JUMPING COURSE NEED NOT CONSIST OF MORE THAN 6 FENCES AND SHOULD BE INVITING AND UNCOMPLICATED. AFTER THESE THERE ARE NATIONAL TESTS CATERING FOR ALL LEVELS.

NOW THAT YOU'VE DECIDED TO ENTER, WHAT ARE THE RULES?
MOST EVENTUALITIES ARE COVERED IN THE OFFICIAL RULEBOOK WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THE G.H.S. OFFICES. NATIONAL EQUITATION TEST BOOKS AND THE REGIONAL TESTS CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED FROM THE OFFICES. HOWEVER, FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLICITY WE ATTEMPT TO SET OUT BELOW A BASIC SET OF 'GUIDELINES FOR COMPETITORS AND PARENTS'

DRESS CODE & TURNOUT
COMPETITORS SHOULD BE CORRECTLY DRESSED IN BEIGE, STONE OR CREAM JODPHURS, A WHITE OR PALE COLOURED SHIRT AND TIE OR AMERICAN SHIRT, A BLACK, NAVY OR TWEED JACKET, A BLACK, BROWN OR NAVY THREE POINT HARNESS CAP AND BLACK OR BROWN JODPHUR BOOTS. GLOVES ARE PREFERABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL.
JODPHURS SHOULD FIT WELL OVER THE BOOTS AND HAVE ELASTICS TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE. CORRECT LENGTH SPURS AND WHIPS ARE PERMITTED. COMPETITORS ARE IDENTIFIED BY NUMBERED VESTS AND ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR THEM AT ALL LEVELS OF COMPETITION. ALWAYS HAVE PINS HANDY FOR SMALL CHILDREN AS SOME OF THE VESTS REQUIRE ALTERING FOR NEATNESS.
HORSES AND PONIES SHOULD BE GROOMED, CLEAN, NEATLY TRIMMED AND PLAITED. TACK SHOULD FIT WELL, BE IN GOOD REPAIR AND CORRECTLY FITTED.
ANY TACK, BOOTS OR BITS ALLOWABLE IN TERMS OF THE SHOWJUMPING RULES ARE ALLOWABLE IN EQUITATION. IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF ANYTHING - ASK!!
IT IS ALWAYS AN ADVANTAGE TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.

GENERAL COMPETITION TIPS

ALWAYS ARRIVE WITH TIME TO SPARE.

COLLECT YOUR NUMBERED VEST AND FIT NEATLY OVER YOUR JACKET.

KNOW YOUR TEST! IT WILL BE READ BUT THE ONUS IS ON THE COMPETITOR TO KNOW IT.

TAKE YOUR TIME WHEN PLANNING YOUR TEST AND WALK YOUR COURSE EXACTLY AS YOU PLAN TO RIDE IT. IDEALLY THE TEST SHOULD FLOW FROM START TO FINISH. I.E. PLAN YOUR TEST TO PROCEED SMOOTHLY FROM PART 1 TO PART 2. IF YOU NEED ASISTANCE, PLEASE ASK AT THE JUDGES BOX THERE ARE USUALLY OFFICIALS ONLY TOO WILLING TO HELP NEW COMPETITORS.

BE WARMED UP AND READY AT THE GATE WHEN YOU ARE CALLED.

YOU NEED NOT START YOUR TEST AT THE GATE, FIND A SUITABLE PLACE IN THE ARENA TO START AND GO THERE SMARTLY AS THE PREVIOUS COMPETITOR IS FINISHING BUT DO NOT GET IN THE WAY.

ONLY THE FIRST COMPETITOR NEED SALUTE THE JUDGES, THIS IS NOT A SHOWING TEST.

THERE WILL BE A BELL TO START YOUR TEST BUT THERE WILL BE NO START OR FINISH FLAGS AND JUMPS WILL NOT BE FLAGGED, BUT WILL BE NUMBERED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THEY ARE TO BE JUMPED. UPRIGHT FENCES MAY BE JUMPED FROM EITHER DIRECTION IN PART ONE.

MINUS MARKS ARE DEDUCTED FROM SCORES SHOWN FOR ERRORS, DISLODGED POLES AND REFUSALS.

SHOWJUMPING RULES APPLY DURING THE JUMPING ROUND IN RESPECT OF ELIMINATIONS AND REFUSALS.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR COMPLAINTS, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE CLASS UNTIL YOU APPROACH THE JUDGES BOX UNLESS IT IS A DIRE EMERGENCY. THE OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THINGS MORE EFFECTIVELY WHEN THEY ARE NOT TRYING TO CONCENTRATE ON THE COMPETITION.

PLEASE COLLECT YOUR TESTS FROM THE JUDGES BOX. MOST JUDGES REMAIN BEHIND FOR A SHORT TIME AFTER THE CLASS TO DISCUSS COMMENTS AND TESTS WITH THE COMPETITORS.

RETURN YOUR NUMBERED VEST TO THE JUDGES BOX IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE END OF THE CLASS.

BE COURTEOUS TO FELLOW COMPETITORS, PARENTS, SPECTATORS AND OFFICIALS.

CRUELTY OF ANY TYPE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - RELAX, SMILE (THE JUDGES LOVE A NICE SMILE) AND ENJOY THE CLASS!!
WE HOPE THE ABOVE WILL BE OF ASSISTANCE AND SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, THEIR DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE THS WEBSITE OR FROM THE OFFICE.