What is Eventing?
Eventing is comprised of 3 elements, dressage, show jumping and cross country. All three disciplines are usually completed on the same day. Rider/horse combinations can compete individually and as part of a team.
An Area qualifying competition will be held each year usually in July and if the horse/rider combination are successful they will be eligible to compete and represent NWPC at the Pony Club Championships in August.
To be selected as part of a team or to ride as an individual at the qualifying competition riders must attend at least two rallies during the year (camp will count as a rally). You must also provide recent competition results at the level you wish to compete at. If you have any queries, please get in touch with Jayne or Liz.
The Pony Club Championships for competitions from 90-100+ are held at Offchurch and the Regional Championship competitions for 70cm-80cm are held at Kelsall Hill Equestrian. The format for the Championship competitions are the same format as for the qualifying competitions though for 90cm and upwards the disciplines may not all run on the same day.
During the winter months Eventing moves into the arena. Arena eventing consists of a show jumping section followed by cross country fences set up in the arena. It is judged on faults and closest to the optimum time. There is an Area team and individual competition at PC70, PC80, PC90 and PC100 levels during the winter which qualifies for the Pony Club Spring Festival Championship.
What to wear for Dressage phase:
- Current standard hat – hats and hat covers must be predominately black, navy blue or a conservative dark colour that matches the rider’s jacket
- Jodphurs/Breeches – white, cream or beige (with or without dark-coloured contrast seats)
- Riding jacket – a traditional style worn with a Pony Club Tie or hunting stock.
- Standard riding or jodhpur boots with a well defined square cut heel may be worn. Plain black or brown half chaps may be worn with jodhpur boots of the same colour. Tassels and fringes are not allowed.
- White NWPC numnah
- Snaffle Bit (See rules)
- No Martingale
- Gloves
- Hair should be tied back securely, in a safe manner to reduce the risk of hair being caught and to prevent scalp injuries
- No button holes
- At prize-giving, mounted or dismounted, competitors must be correctly dressed in their competition riding clothes
Please refer to the current Eventing rule book if you are unsure whether your bit or tack is ‘legal’. The rule book also includes forbidden jumping boots, whip and spur lengths, eligibility and the rules of the competitions and heights of fences for the various classes.
What to wear Show Jumping phase:
- Jodhpurs/Breeches – white, cream, beige, dark or muted colours may be worn. Dark-coloured contrast seats are permitted.
- Riding jacket – a traditional style worn with a Pony Club Tie or hunting stock.
- Pony Club badge with felt, if applicable, worn on left lapel.
- Current standard Hat – if a hat cover is worn, they should be dark blue, black or brown only.
- Standard riding or jodhpur boots with a well-defined square cut heel may be worn. Plain black or brown half chaps may be worn with jodhpur boots of the same colour.
- Hair should be tied back securely, in a safe manner to reduce the risk of hair being caught and to prevent scalp injuries.
- Navy NWPC numnah
- Whip, if carried should be padded.
- Stirrups should be the correct size for your foot.
- Pony/Horse should be plaited and clean with well-fitting tack, which should be in sound order with all the stitching checked and safe.
- At prize-giving, mounted or dismounted, competitors must be correctly dressed in their competition riding clothes.
Please refer to the rule book or ask if you are unsure if your bit or tack is ‘legal’ the current rule book also includes forbidden jumping boots, whip and spur lengths, eligibility and the rules of the competitions and heights of fences for the various classes.
What to wear Cross Country phase:
- Jodhpurs/Breeches – white, cream, beige, dark or muted colours may be worn. Dark-coloured contrast seats are permitted.
- Navy NWPC skin.
- Current standard Skull Cap with NWPC Red hat silk, plain or with navy pompom.
- Current standard Body protector compulsory.
- Air Jacket is optional.
- Navy NWPC numnah.
- Hair: Must be tied back securely, in a safe manner to reduce the risk of hair being caught and to prevent scalp injuries.
- Footwear – Only standard riding or jodhpur boots with a well-defined square cut heel may be worn. Plain black or brown half chaps may be worn with jodhpur boots of the same colour. Tassels and fringes are not allowed.
- Whip, if carried, should be padded.
Training:
We will run training in all three disciplines separately. There will be dressage and show jumping training throughout the year (see separate sports pages). During the winter we will run arena eventing and xc technical training and we will run xc training on grass from Spring as soon as the ground improves.
Please check the rally programme for dates of rallies and training.
If you have any suggestions about training you would like or any other comments please get in touch.
