First One Star Experiences Please

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=Divine Comedy;8444368]
So I’m the opposite opinion of you, bfne. You will find lots and lots of people who wear a shadbelly for a 1*, and in fact most of the 1* I did, the vast majority of riders did wear their tails. None of those 1* were in Area II though, which probably has a much lower percentage who wear the shad. That being said, you can absolutely do a 1* without buying a shad.

And I have been competing at the FEI levels since 2009, just finished my first CIC3* events this year, and I have always, always, always worn field boots with my shad. I have never gotten a comment or even a second look.

I honestly couldn’t justify the cost of a new set of boots just to not have laces. And the pain of breaking them in.

(For that matter, I still rubber band my braids. But my rubber band braids look pretty phenomenal if you ask me.)[/QUOTE]

Yes, DC’s bands are lovely!

I also got a shadbelly for my first 1* and love the way it looks. But I love “dressing up and looking fine,” when it comes to the horses. Heck, if I am spending all that time prepping, getting the passport worked out (yes, do it NOW), and paying all those fees, I sure as heck am going to put on the final polish!

So excited for you, aiming for your first FEI. You will love it!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I still would bring the polish and do look your best…but my personal opinion is that shadbellys look dumb. Why as an athlete I want to look like an old fashion waiter on my horse is beyond me. It is a personal opinion. But the rules DO discourage wearing one. So really people can do what they want. I will say that most will wear them so a lot will depend on your comfort level of being a bit different.

Many people borrow one rather than buy for their first 1*. It is a lot of money to spend on something you may only wear a couple of times.

[NeverTime]

Strangely, one of the things I remember most about my first CCI* (and it was a long format) was that I didn’t realize my horse needed to wear his number whenever he was out of the stall. Kim Morani (now Meier) was across the aisle from me and both told me how to use duct tape & a pen to put his number on his halter, and showed me a way to put the bridle tag on his bridle to ensure it would stay put through all of endurance day. Very fond memories of that event

On the shadbelly thing, do whatever you want. I side with BFNE and never wore a shad at the one-star level. Both because it was a big and unnecessary expense and because, frankly, our dressage was pretty poor and I felt a bit like a poser wearing one. (** Then, when I got to the two-star level and borrowed a shadbelly from a friend, I remember trying it on at home, thrilled with the dressed-up girl looking back at me in the mirror, only to have my housemate from NYC walk in, take one look and tell me I looked like a doorman in Manhattan! Talk about bursting a bubble!:lol:)

[FrittSkritt]

I’m not an expert, but I’d say shads are OK for a one star at a CCI, but not a CIC. IMO if you’ve put in the extra effort and money for a CCI vs a CIC, you have the right to wear a shad! :winkgrin:

[advmom]

So much more about tradition than rules, if your 1* is a CCl and it is the highest level offered that weekend, and you own one then wear it.
If your 1* is at an event that hosts 2 and 3*'s then don’t. As for the boots, the only person who will notice is you so wear what is most comfortable and impeccably polished.

[WB_Mom]

Well, from the posts above, one big hurdle already covered. My trainer doesn’t have a shadbelly! :winkgrin:

[KayBee]

You may not use supplements, or liniments, or whatever, but one thing to make sure is that whatever you use regularly is FEI-legal. There are differences between USEA and FEI; as this will never be relevant to me, I have no idea what those differences are.

One person I know buys adhesive “dots” and puts them on anything that is NOT FEI legal. And the FEI legal stuff is always packed in its own bin so that there can be no mixups. I googled and found this old thread about liniments.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-187718.html

(Also, the above thread touches on things that are not legal to use AT a show but you can use legally BEFORE a show. Get advice from someone not me on at what point, prior to the competition, you should stop using any such item.)

[pegasusmom]

Wanted to add that a very useful publication on the FEI website is “FAQ Use of Tack in Eventing”. Goes a little further in explaining what you can and can’t use in each phase. The FEI website also has all the rulebooks, make sure you look at the 2016 version and double check just prior to your event. The rules change frequently and the rule books are constantly updated. If you have any questions about rules PLEASE track down an FEI Steward and ask BEFORE you do. The current crop of FEI Stewards (myself included) are very user friendly and we want to help you. Don’t rely on your friend, your trainer or even a BNR or what happened at an event last month or last year.

The complete list of legal bits for dressage can be found in the FEI Dressage Rules. If it ain’t in the pictures it ain’t legal!! And just because it is legal USEF doesn’t mean it’s FEI legal. And just because you used it at three events earlier in the year and didn’t get caught doesn’t mean it’s FEI legal. Ultimately it’s your responsibility to know your rules. Ask Ask Ask the FEI Stewards.

Also, effective 1/1/2016 it is once again legal to use short boots and matching full leather chaps for dressage.

[pegasusmom]

[QUOTE=gardenie;8444469]
Is it just me but my understanding is all you need at one star is a national passport. Much cheaper, but vaccination requirements the same.[/QUOTE]

Correct. Rules have changed recently (I used to be able to do a CAI* with the coggins and vaccination records alone)

Horses are now required to be microchipped as well. Get this done prior to applying for the passport. You must also pay an annual rider fee of $15, an annual horse fee of $15.

Entries are done directly to the event, but you must also go throught your portal at USEF and enter through the FEI system as well. No additional fees, but an additional step.

Also wanted to add the size of logos is regulated. Article 135 in the General Regs and Article 541 in the eventing regs pretty much spells it out. New for this year is that you can have logos on ear bonnets for dressage (provided they meet the size specifications)

[corgigirl14]

Just completed my first CCI* at Hagyard Midsouth in October. I am a nobody adult amateur from Missouri, not exactly the Mecca of three day eventing on a horse I’ve brought up myself through beginner novice. We completed very respectably by only adding a rail to our dressage score. It’s an experience I’ll never forget and every time I look at my mare now my heart swells with what she offered me at that show.
She was so brave for me.

Great advice so far here is what I’ll add.

*National passport and get it going now. The National passport is all you need as long as you’re not going out of the country to compete. The process is very confusing and don’t be afraid to call the USEF office and ask questions. They were great to me and I asked a lot of questions. Lol.

*I wore a shadbelly. This was my Rolex I wanted to look the part. Pretty much everyone that I saw wore a shad for dressage too.

*Take jogs seriously. They are nerve wracking. The mood in the bathroom amongst the riders getting primped is much different from the pre dressage jog to the pre stadium jog.

*Take your horse down that jog lane in front of the ground jury like you own the world.

*It is FEI that means pretty much everything medicinal is banned. After XC I got the show Vets to give my mare fluids and I iced and walked and iced and walked and poulticed her legs and hooves. And I prayed. A lot.

*Wear your show riding boots for all practice rides. No half chaps in warm ups at an FEI show. It’s an unwritten rule.

*Stadium warmup is TERRYIFYING. My coach warned me but I was still taken back by the madness of it all. Big name riders commanding certain warm up jumps all to themselves and jacking them up from super tall airy verticals to dropping canter poles in the front and behind. It’s nothing like the warm up at a regular horse trial.

*Show up early before your last jog and ride your horse to loosen them up. My mare is half thoroughbred and was a fit as ever and came thru XC great but she was stiff when we pulled her out of the stall the day after. An hour long hack loosened her up and she flew thru the final jog but I was surprised how stiff she was standing in her stall all night. The added length on XC makes a big difference.

*Bring help! I had two girlfriends there helping me and we were all busy busy busy.

Buy the video and pictures. Spend the money to get them professionally framed. My proof that I completed a CCI hangs proudly over my couch in my living room.

*No risk = No reward. Have a blast!!!

[WB_Mom]

Thanks Corgi! I love these little gems of wisdom, especially from someone who just did their first one. Very helpful for the rest of us nobodies out there, and there are a lot of us! :winkgrin:

[Blugal]

That reminds me…

The “no medicine” rule is so strict, many riders simply adopt feeding their horse hay and straight oats or barley; it’s much harder to accidentally contaminate your horse.

I second corgigirl14’s recommendation to pay for pics and video. I couldn’t afford video at one of my horse’s FEI competitions and now I really wish I had it. Lucky for me, a wonderful COTH’er gave me some photos they’d taken, not knowing it was me.