I heard there was a rule change that we no longer have to wear stock ties or jackets when showing. We can wear nice show shirts like EIS, short sleeve show shirts, etc. Is the rule active now? Or does it start next year?
Currently active for one day events.
[QUOTE=RideASelle;8145958]
I heard there was a rule change that we no longer have to wear stock ties or jackets when showing. We can wear nice show shirts like EIS, short sleeve show shirts, etc. Is the rule active now? Or does it start next year?[/QUOTE]
The CURRENT rule says
- At Eventing Tests or when all three phases of a Horse Trials are contested over one
day - Protective headgear and protective vests as above. Clothing as appropriate for the
test in progress (see below), or at the competitor’s option - boots, britches, spurs and
gloves - as applicable for the test being performed. Long or short sleeved shirt with collar
and without neckwear, of a conservative color, neatly tucked into riding breeches.
In 2016 it expands that to lower level HT, even if over multiple days. But for 2015 it is still only for one-day events, or when excused due to heat.
- EXTREME WEATHER. At temperatures above 85°F, a heat index above 85°, or
at the discretion of the Ground Jury or the Organizer, competitors will be permitted
to compete without jackets, in the dressage and/or jumping tests. In such cases, competitors
must wear either a long or short sleeved shirt of conservative color without
neckwear; members of the armed forces and police units may ride in their summer
uniforms. In inclement weather competitors may wear a windbreaker jacket or rain
coat over their clothing; their number must be visible.
Active now and has been for quite some time. You have to have sleeves on your shirt but they can be short or long and it must have a collar - no T shirts. If you do not wear your jacket, you do not wear a stock tie or choker. It has to be "of a conservative color’ and tucked in
If you have belt loops, please wear a belt (that’s not in the rules, it just looks nicer!)
The rule will change for 2016 to allow this dress for lower levels at multi day events.
At multi-day events now, if it is over 85, the ground jury can waive jackets.
I have not judged an event in a few years and ran up against this rule this weekend. It is not clearly worded - I skimmed the rules before judging and did not note this rule as pertaining to the dressage section. It does not mention that jackets are not required. Really should be more clear.
I was told the rule was initiated to make eventing more user friendly for people coming into the sport (they wouldn’t need to buy dressage coats). Seems like if you are paying $200 to enter an event, a coat amortized over a couple of years worth of shows is small change.
(Then again, your dressage tests are not logically ordered for me either - why not just have ‘eventing tests A, B, C, D, E’ etc instead of Beginner Novice Division B riding Beginner Novice Test A.)
Janet is correct, the current rule is no coats required for a show where all three phases are done in one day.
I see no reason to wear a long sleeve coat when it is 90 degrees just so we can be happy about “tradition” for me it doesn’t have anything to do with the cost of the coat.
[QUOTE=dotneko;8191276]
I have not judged an event in a few years and ran up against this rule this weekend. It is not clearly worded - I skimmed the rules before judging and did not note this rule as pertaining to the dressage section. It does not mention that jackets are not required. Really should be more clear.
I was told the rule was initiated to make eventing more user friendly for people coming into the sport (they wouldn’t need to buy dressage coats). Seems like if you are paying $200 to enter an event, a coat amortized over a couple of years worth of shows is small change.
(Then again, your dressage tests are not logically ordered for me either - why not just have ‘eventing tests A, B, C, D, E’ etc instead of Beginner Novice Division B riding Beginner Novice Test A.)[/QUOTE]
It’s not just the cost, it’s also the confusion over when it is appropriate or necessary to waive coats because of heat/ humidity, and the fact that sometimes there is just not much time between dressage and the jumping phases and not having to change clothing can really help when you are by yourself/ have multiple horses.
And my informal observation is that those new to the sport are more likely to wear a coat than those who are riding multiple horses. It is really tough to get go from one horse and phase to another back and forth all day, donning coat and stock tie, then removing them, then putting them back on.
And typically all competitors in a division are riding the same test - all beginner novice riding test B, for example. Doesn’t matter if you have horse, rider, a, b, 1, 2, whatever.
The rule itself is perfectly clear (as I quoted below/above), but it is placed where it is easy to miss. I think it would be better to put it at the BEGINNING of the dress section instead of the end.
I was told the rule was initiated to make eventing more user friendly for people coming into the sport (they wouldn’t need to buy dressage coats). Seems like if you are paying $200 to enter an event, a coat amortized over a couple of years worth of shows is small change.
I do not know who told you that, but they did not know what they were talking about.
I participated in the rule change discussions at the USEA annual meeting, and the “cost of a dressage coat” was never mentioned. Nor was making it “more user friendly for people coming into the sport”.
The primary motivation was that many Ht (especially in Area II) were scheduling cross country 20 - 30 minutes after your show jumping time, and TELLING people to ride show jumping in their cross country attire. This was then technically illegal.
The PRIMARY motivation of the rule change was to legalize a practice that was already widespreas in the Area with the largest number of HT and Event riders. The rulemakers then decided that, as a matter of consistncy, if jackets were not required for Show Jumping, they should not be required for Dressage either.
Not needing to buy a “dressage coat”, and “being inviting to newcomers” may be side effects of the rule, but they were NOT what led to the rule in the first place.
(Then again, your dressage tests are not logically ordered for me either - why not just have ‘eventing tests A, B, C, D, E’ etc instead of Beginner Novice Division B riding Beginner Novice Test A.)
It is perfectly logical if you read the Omnibus.
Each HT gets to decide which test it will use for each LEVEL (BN, N, T, etc.) EVERY rider at that level rides the same test.
Once the entries come in, the secreatry divides the entries at one level into reasonably sized groups, and labels them Open Novice A, Open Novice B, Open Novice C, Open Novice D, Junior Novice, Novice Horse, Novice Rider, etc. But they are ALL riding the SAME Novice test, regardless of the name of their section…
Sorry, Janet, I disagree about the clarity of the rule.
The first time I read I thought ‘whoa, they are making boots and breeches optional’ (and aren’t they breeches not britches?)
For added clarity, the phrase ‘coats not required’ should have been added after the sentence about tucking shirts in.
[QUOTE=dotneko;8193139]
Sorry, Janet, I disagree about the clarity of the rule.
The first time I read I thought ‘whoa, they are making boots and breeches optional’ .[/QUOTE]
Well, that’s also true:
“Boots—black, brown,
field, jodhpur or a black or brown full grain smooth leather leg piece and matching leather
boots. Chaps and/or half-chaps are not allowed.”
Goodmorning just quoted the rule that drives me insane–technically dress boots are not allowed in some phases. Janet, if you are still involved in rule changes, can you get that fixed? I brought it up to Malcolm at the USEA convention at least 5 years ago, and it still persists.
This makes so much sense! I try to only do 1 Day HT’s, and we are ALWAYS told, even a few years ago, to ride the SJ round in our XC attire. AND … I would always ride STRAIGHT OUT of the jumper ring, out onto the XC field! So I’d do the SJ in my XC attire 
You are so right. I had no idea it was illegal. We literally were told that, and it makes sense, given the tight schedule.
Love that jackets are not required in dressage, too. (although it makes such a pretty picture
“In 2016 it expands that to lower level HT, even if over multiple days.”
If I weren’t on COTH to see this, how would I find this out? I can’t find it on the USEA website. Does “lower level” mean Training and below?
All the rule changes are published in the Eventing magazine, and they do usually publish a press release on the website and send an email to members when the rule goes into effect as well (so 12/1).
[QUOTE=OTTBs;8275150]
“In 2016 it expands that to lower level HT, even if over multiple days.”
If I weren’t on COTH to see this, how would I find this out? I can’t find it on the USEA website. Does “lower level” mean Training and below?[/QUOTE]
For RULES, you need to go to the USEF web site.
The rule changes approved at the USEF annual meeting are listed here
https://www.usef.org/documents/ruleChanges/2015/RulesApproved11615BODMeetingbyrulenumber.pdf
You need to scroll down to the Eventing rule changes.
Janet, if you look at the intent for the original proposal to change
EV 114, here is what you’d find. “Modernize the sport. Ease the cost of participation for the grass roots level.” Perhaps this is what dotnetco is referring to.
The no coat required at 1 day events has been in the rules for about 10 years, folks. This is not new.
[QUOTE=tle;8279352]
The no coat required at 1 day events has been in the rules for about 10 years, folks. This is not new.[/QUOTE]
Agree.
For 2016 it has been extended to multi-day events at the lowe levels.
