Would one encounter drops in water at the Novice level?
I tried to find it in the rule book so I could quote it, but it took too long and I gave up. I’ve never seen a drop into water at the novice level, those are typically introduced at training level. I have seen a small log (maybe a foot high) at the edge of the water - which I’m not sure was allowed. Typically you’ll see a fence 5-6 strides away from the water or 2-3 strides out of the water at novice level (sometimes both).
If anyone could find it in the rule book I d really appreciate it!
This is the closest you’re going to get
#36 discussing water you’ll see the “maximum height drop into water” is n/a for novice.
hope the link works!!
I was recently at a HT at Novice. We had a jump 2-3 strides before the water, but it was not at the edge of a bank dropping down into water. I have NEVER seen that at Novice.
The rulebook says (Appendix 1.2) for Novice “Waters may incorporate a simple jump out of water”. For Training it says “Water may include a jump into water or a jump out of water”. This means Novice may NOT incorporate a jump INTO water.
The Cross Country Obstacle Design Guidelines say that a drop into water is “N/A” at Beginner Novice and Novice.
So, no, you should not see a drop into water at Novice.
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I am at a recognized show right now that has a drop in the water for Novice. What is the proper way to proceed?
Speak to TD?
How long before division starts do I have?
I would speak to the TD.
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Yes, speak to the TD, who will probably consult with the PoGJ.
Officially, you have until 6 PM the day before the start of the competition (EV118.3.C).
But in practice, as soon as possible (even if it is after that time).
Is the drop flagged with a run through entrance? That’s the only time I’ve seen a drop into the water on a novice course: wide flags that allowed either the drop or the run through m
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Yes talk to the TD. Are you sure there’s not a way through the flags that does not involve a drop?
If it is a stream with a small bank, it is not considered a drop. I suspect even a low revetment would be permissible.
I have seen small drops into Novice before. It is not common but does show up. It was about 18" maybe 2’, not a jump just off a tiny bank.
The time on your post is 3:43 pm, so it looks as if the course has already been ridden, with the drop landing in water.
Did anyone speak to the TD ahead of time? How many riders were concerned about this? No trainers spoke up?
If there were a lot of faults at the drop you could get a group of riders to address it with the TD. Possibly the scoring would be adjusted to not include the faults at that obstacle. It needs to be done asap today - time is not the friend of anyone who wants to dispute the scoring. However, anyone that was eliminated there is out of luck, almost certainly.
The next step is to send that photo to the USEA on Monday. With whatever event report and feedback. Include the information on any discussions that were had with officials. It won’t change the scoring, but there are other corrections that can be made quietly behind the scenes to help be certain it doesn’t happen again.
It isn’t unusual for Novice to have a drop landing, or a log landing, on dry ground and just a stride or two from the water entrance. And, it can happen that the water is unintentionally over-filled and creeps up to the landing spot, and that has to be addressed in some way before the course is ridden. But your photo looks as if the obstacle is designed with the landing directly in the water. There does not seem to be a slope from the drop down to the water. Unless the water was intended to be not much more than a splash puddle in the middle.
Will be very interesting to learn how this worked out. 
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Yes, that is what I’ve seen before. Most people just brought their horses in through the water first, then off the little bank…and time was very easy to make so most just schooled the water first then trotted off the bank. It didn’t cause too many issues.
I actually like that little water in the OP’s picture. Not full of upper levels jumps…very open and clear. Easy to school first without presenting to the bank. Not a bad question for the level to me. But we all have different opinions. At Training (the next level) you will see much bigger bank drops into water.
Regardless of how one can negotiate this drop, or what others have done, THIS drop is strictly speaking, NOT legal as the XC Guidelines indicate - there can be no drop into water at Novice. Not only is this in the guidelines but at my course design seminar it was emphasized. It should have been re-flagged and the drop in optional or removed. Or reversed.
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I’m so sick of course creep.
Hope you got through it okay, it really should not have been there.
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Technically speaking, you also can not step Novice out of water.
Where was this Event?
You should not be seeing a drop-in into water at Novice. You should not see drop ins until Training level.
Like @retreadeventer I also was told emphatically and quite firmly by a TD who was also a course-designer that drop ins at any level below T are incredibly unfair and unkind to competitors.
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Well the small drop at novice that I first saw was over 6 years ago. So this isn’t new. I think it depends on the event…and while I do think a tiny drop is a lot to ask, I didn’t find it that outrageous.
