Judging Details

PAll too often the horse with the most potential may not be the one which is presented In the best manner. We are looking for the athletic, loose moving horse with a promising jumping technique who with the correct training will develop physically and mentally into a strong three day event horse.

FORMAT FOR 2027

CHILDERIC  4 & 5 YR OLD CLASS  

THE FIRST 2 QUAIFIERS WILL NOT BE GIVEN JUDGES COMMENTS OR MARKS FOR SHOW JUMPING OR XC PHASE – ONLY JUDGED ON PENALITES IN EITHER PHASE

THE FLATWORK PHASE WILL BE JUDGED AS USUAL

WEEK 3/4 ( viewing day )  & FINAL WILL BE JUDGED AND ALLOCATED LEAGUE POINTS ALSO

SECTION A – DRESSAGE PHASE

DRESSAGE JUDGE TO MARK

In the dressage phase, unlike a normal dressage test, marks are not given for individual movements. The judge will look for true suppleness, natural ability to engage the hind legs and acceptance of the bit. Three correct, elastic and regular gaits through a swinging back are what we are seeking. The Judge will have to weigh up the influence of the rider; a good rider may present a well balanced, smooth test from perhaps a more moderate horse while a novice rider may even hinder a better horse from showing its true worth. It is the horse’s, and not the rider’s real potential we are looking for. Trainability should also be taken into account. Elimination will occur from the entire event should a rider fall during this Phase.
See dressage test outlining the scoring system in Test/Score Sheets section of website

DOAGH EQUESTRIAN EVENT PONY CLASS

THE FIRST 2 QUAIFIERS WILL NOT BE GIVEN JUDGES COMMENTS OR MARKS FOR SHOW JUMPING OR XC PHASE – ONLY JUDGED ON PENALITES IN EITHER PHASE

THE FLATWORK PHASE WILL BE JUDGED AS USUAL

WEEK 3/4 ( viewing day )  & FINAL WILL BE JUDGED AND ALLOCATED LEAGUE POINTS ALSO

SECTION A – DRESSAGE PHASE

DRESSAGE JUDGE TO MARK

In the dressage phase, unlike a normal dressage test, marks are not given for individual movements. The judge will look for true suppleness, natural ability to engage the hind legs and acceptance of the bit. Three correct, elastic and regular gaits through a swinging back are what we are seeking. The Judge will have to weigh up the influence of the rider; a good rider may present a well balanced, smooth test from perhaps a more moderate horse while a novice rider may even hinder a better horse from showing its true worth. It is the horse’s, and not the rider’s real potential we are looking for. Trainability should also be taken into account. Elimination will occur from the entire event should a rider fall during this Phase.
See dressage test outlining the scoring system in Test/Score Sheets section of website

– Dressage will be the 4 yr old test for all ponies

SECTION B – JUMPING PHASE

JUMPING JUDGE TO MARK PENALTIES AND REFUSALS TO BE DEDUCTED FROM OVERALL SCORING

SECTION C – JUMPING PHASE – JUDGED

JUDGING THE OVERALL ROUND
CONFIRMATION & TYPE 

SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL
1 JUDGING THE OVERALL ROUND

In the jumping phase we are looking for a bold athletic PONIES with good technique and a pony  with these qualities, should not necessarily be penalised for knocking down one fence , providing he learns from his mistake. Standard marks will be deducted for knocks and refusals as in standard competition, however overall judges scoring may not be affected. Four year olds may find it easier to jump out of trot and this will not be penalised but canter needs to be assessed so adequate amount will need to be demonstrated during the round for required judging. 3 cumulative refusals or a fall of horse or rider will result in elimination. The course will be built in an all weather sand arena that will incorporate the following
Banks, water complex, coffins, natural fences with some colour but all inviting to encourage the horse to jump . The course will have approx 6 show jumps firstly with a double to include an oxer to a vertical and then be immediately followed by a course of solid XC fences of approx 12 fences (that include upwards and down wards banks) heights of fences will be no higher than 90cm for 4 yr olds in the final and 1.05m for 5 yr olds in the final. They will not be up to height until the final to allow the young horses to develop and gain confidence over the league. The idea is to encourage the young horse to jump a clear round as they are being judged on their jump and technique and we want to encourage this! Our Course builder throughout the league will be Derek Hamilton who has vast experience in building courses both nationally and internationally.

EVENT PONY CLASSES HEIGHTS WILL BE THE 4 YR OLD TRACK SJUMPING & 4 YR OLD XC TRACK

2 CONFIRMATION AND TYPE/ TROT UP at the final only 

The horse’s conformation and type should enable him/her to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina. Lack of quality and other defects which may prevent him/her being fast enough, should be penalised against him/her, even though the horse may make a nice dressage or show jumping horse. However, a lack of size should not be held against him/her. Equally one should not allow a possible prejudice against mares to affect any judgement. It is essential to encourage producers to give mares more of a chance if we are to establish a better breeding policy using proven mares. The conformation should be marked out of 18 and the type marked out of 12 to achieve a published total score out of 30. This will be judged in a trot up during the ridden round before the jumping phase. As young horses often do not trot up as well being led . In the final however the horse will be required to trot up in a straight line by you or your groom for the judge without a saddle. They will not judge the handler and assistance can be given to encourage the horse to trot up for this judging phase.

3 SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL

The Judged section of the Jumping Phase will have a Suitability & Potential section also on the score sheets. This will allow the judge to give their marks for the horses performance.

Use of Marks: Careful thought must be given as to how the marks are used. In order to have enough of a gap between the, moderate and very good horses, it is necessary to use the full range of marks (see below).

In conclusion we could sum up by asking the question “which horse / pony would I buy to make the best top class three day eventer?” We are not buying the rider …. only the horse. Score sheets are available to view for Jumping including the confirmation and type and suitability & potential sections on Tests/score sheets section of the website.

PLUSVITAL UNDER 25 YOUNG EVENT HORSE CLASS  

Aim

To identify high class Event  horses  with the potential to become top class junior or young rider event horses; to encourage producers and trainers to present quality horses that are rideable and competitive for youths coming from ponies or for lightweight adults.

Horses must be over 148 cm

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Eligibility

This class is restricted to  horses  with Breeding registered to any DAFM studbook .

Open to horses aged 4 to 7 years old.

To be ridden by riders who have attained their 14th birthday but have not attained their 25th birthday by 1 January 2027.- ( under 16 riders require a letter of competency from registered coach or attained bar 2 sji.

Riders who have competed in a CCI4*L, CCI4*S or CSI4* competition or higher in the past five years are ineligible to compete in this class.

A change of rider will not be permitted under any circumstances at the final.  Only the horse / rider combination that qualify will be allowed to compete at the Final

Tack

Same as the 4/5 yr old Event Horse class

Qualification

Attend  any 2 qualifier dates to be eligible to compete at the final – (however must attend the viewing day )

Format

Stepping stones to success league – Dressage test – Movement test – As per 5 yr old class

Show Jumping 90/1m – same track as 5 yr old Event horse class

XC track – 90/1m – same track as 5 yr old Event horse class

The Dressage Flatwork test is judged , followed by jumping tracks that will have penalties deducted from Dressage to give an overall final score

Qualifiers week 1 – 4 are not judged for scores in Sj/Xc during these weeks but will go towards qualification for a stand alone Final class

Final is judged flatwork / show jumping and XC phase with penalties deducted for the overall winners 1-6^th place There will be results published for 1-3^rd place during qualifiers

This class will run after the pony class during the day to accommodate those attending college / school