I just learned that the FEI has changed its rules so that the cross-country phase must come last, after the show-jumping phase, in eventing. Besides the fact that this will make it harder for me to see *** cross-country (on Sundays rather than Saturdays), doesn’t this alter the sport at its most fundamental level? Horses are supposed to be able to do the fine work of show jumping after going all out for cross-country.
What??? Or rather WTH?
where did you read this?
[QUOTE=ChristinaVA;7164979]
I just learned that the FEI has changed its rules so that the cross-country phase must come last, after the show-jumping phase, in eventing. Besides the fact that this will make it harder for me to see *** cross-country (on Sundays rather than Saturdays), doesn’t this alter the sport at its most fundamental level? Horses are supposed to be able to do the fine work of show jumping after going all out for cross-country.[/QUOTE]
Fwiw … noticing you just registered yesterday, this is the 1st-2nd-or-3rd post.
We’ll see what turns up in the press tomorrow. Quick search found this is an old internet discussion (elsewhere) going back to the beginning of the year at least.
This document http://www.horsesport.org/sites/default/files/FEI_Eventing_Rules_summary-of-changes_March2013.pdf is definitely unofficial as it has edit mark-ups … it does have the sentence at the bottom of the page 1 “The Cross-Country test will always take place after the Jumping Test.” It’s dated March 13, 2013.
I think it’s intended for CIC’s in 2014. It’s part of the change that distinguishes CCI’s & CIC’s. I have no idea if this was ever made official. ???
Saw it first on the Plantation Field Horse Trials online poster – hard to find – then googled FEI Eventing Rules Changes and it came right up. I have the docs but don’t know how to upload them in this system. The links are so long they don’t fully show up. The FEI doc says: NOTE: The Cross Country as last test is recommended for 2013 and will be compulsory from 1st January 2014. Only for specific reasons and after approval by the FEI, Jumping could be organised as last test.
This is only for the CICs–not for CCIs.
Thanks OverandOnward. The Plantation Field Horse trials website says: NEW: Cross Country is now SUNDAY due to FEI rule changes. PLEASE NOTE: Due to FEI rule changes, CIC Show Jumping will be held on SATURDAY and CIC Cross Country on SUNDAY.
my understanding is this is for CICs…and they have been doing it that way in Europe and prefer it.
I hope that they do not change it for CCIs.
Organizers may choose in 2013 to run CICs in the traditional order. Starting in 2014, all CICs must be run with XC as the last phase. FEI now refers to CICs as “short format”.
There has been no “word on the street” about changing the order of phases for CCIs (“long format”)
Yeah, I think this is a really dumb rule. Showjumping on Sunday at PF use to be a lot of fun. Now I’m sure there will be no one there on Saturday :(.
[QUOTE=ChristinaVA;7164979]
doesn’t this alter the sport at its most fundamental level? [/QUOTE]
The FEI changed the sport at its most fundamental level when they axed the classic format. Nothing they do now surprises me. 
Means that horses don’t have to pass a jog after XC/before they show jump in a CIC any more. And thus, may remove incentives to protect your horse XC and not go all out as opposed to when you know you have to get them sound for the next morning. Sigh. Remind me how this is about horse welfare again?
Phase 1 - Dressage, Phase 2 – Show Jumping, Phase 3 – Cross Country for One Day Events only. At an international or 3 Day Event it is reversed and SJ is the final phase.
From the British Eventing website “…the Dressage test is to demonstrate that the horse and rider have the correct training to perform individual movements in a graceful, controlled, relaxed and precise manner and are prepared for the of the exactness of the Show Jumping and rigours of the Cross Country test to follow.” So the test has not been changed. It still requires excellent and consistent horsemanship to ride all three phases.
The ‘short format’ means only one vet check, fewer volunteers to round up, easier to fit it all into one day - and onto one site - so cheaper to put on, keeping costs down for riders. So far, in Europe, the sky has not fallen in and the sport is prospering. Lots of exciting new talent was apparent at the Europeans last week.
[QUOTE=ChristinaVA;7164979]
…doesn’t this alter the sport at its most fundamental level? Horses are supposed to be able to do the fine work of show jumping after going all out for cross-country.[/QUOTE]
They did that (changed at the fundamental level)several years ago when they changed the “Objective” for show jumping.
The FEI rules USED to say (and the USEF rules were similar):
… the horses have retained the suppleness, energy and obedience necessary for them to continue, and are well trained in the specialist discipline of show jumping.
It changed, several years ago (USEF rules also changed), to:
This test is similar to an ordinary Jumping Competition, but without any attempt to find a winner of this test on its own. Its main objective is to prove that, the Horse and Athlete are well trained in the specialist discipline of Jumping.
[QUOTE=Willesdon;7165262]
… So far, in Europe, the sky has not fallen in and the sport is prospering. Lots of exciting new talent was apparent at the Europeans last week.[/QUOTE]
True, but Europe also has a more socially integrated horse culture in terms of olympic disciplines. Horses in the US are still useable commodities that are exploited for their monetary value to those who seek to make their fortunes (e.g. Tommy Burns, Dana Tripp, et al., the requirement from the US team selectors for riders to have a string, the US hunter business model and excessive drugging,…). The result in the US, as GotSpots alludes, is the governor is removed to maintain the welfare of the animal.
Funny how the order change also favors the WB. The former order helped out the TB. Not surprised that Europe likes it. Personally don’t care for it. IMHO it perpetuates little Suzie buying the dumb blood that will pack her a round and not actually requiring her to learn how to ride. I know too many kids in the YR that are being packed around while a few that started with the OTTB can ride anything thrown at them. Guess which ones are admired by the beginner adults who don’t know better.
I can certainly see that for some organizers and some events it’s nice to have the X-C last. I have no problem with that as an option. That’s not a reason to make it mandatory for every CIC run at every location for every organizer in the world.
[QUOTE=flashwhitelock;7165386]
Funny how the order change also favors the WB. The former order helped out the TB. Not surprised that Europe likes it. Personally don’t care for it. IMHO it perpetuates little Suzie buying the dumb blood that will pack her a round and not actually requiring her to learn how to ride. I know too many kids in the YR that are being packed around while a few that started with the OTTB can ride anything thrown at them. Guess which ones are admired by the beginner adults who don’t know better.[/QUOTE]
I guess I disagree. Many of my TBs are 10X harder to show jump after having gone xc (get flat, fight to leave out strides etc). They can be more competitive by show jumping first…whereas a lot of WBs need to get their engine going on xc to be more fwd thinking in show jumping.
Really…it doesn’t matter. At the HT level even here in the US…we have been running Show jumping before xc at many MANY venues (for all levels). In Area II–I’m not sure I’ve competed in an event in over 3-4 years where I show jumped after xc.
It doesn’t seem to really change things at all. And since all a CIC is–is an expensive HT (in other words a HT run under FEI rules)—I’m not sure I understand the up roar.
[QUOTE=flashwhitelock;7165386]
Funny how the order change also favors the WB. The former order helped out the TB. Not surprised that Europe likes it. Personally don’t care for it. IMHO it perpetuates little Suzie buying the dumb blood that will pack her a round and not actually requiring her to learn how to ride. I know too many kids in the YR that are being packed around while a few that started with the OTTB can ride anything thrown at them. Guess which ones are admired by the beginner adults who don’t know better.[/QUOTE]
I think you are mixing apples and oranges.
First, I do not think the “X-C Last” necessarily favors the WB. It still needs to make it though all 3 phases. I have not done a statistical analysis, but I doubt there is a significant difference in the WB vs TB distribution of the winners between the two formats.
But even if you are right, that is COMPLETELY orthogonal to the issue of young riders on packers (and there are TB packers as well as WB packers) vs young riders that started on more difficult horses (OTTB or otherwise).
And even if you are correct on both those points, I see NO reason to conclude (as you seem to) a correlation between “packers vs non-packers” and “XC last vs SJ last”.
What I see - it is easier to present this competition format to the public. An organizer can make a better entertainment show for those who come who are not already there as a competitor connection.
The Saturday viewing package of dressage and show jumping offers more to see of your favorite competitors. A reason to come and make a full day of it, wandering the vendor stalls in between watching horses.
The cost savings is significant. The savings on expenses for officials alone is tremendous - fewer nights in the hotel, fewer meals. As has been mentioned, the volunteers and coordination of vols, the office help, the grounds maintenance, the stewards … everything is easier, less costly and more do-able.
A better spectator show at lower cost - friends, this is the future.
Here’s what’s good about it -
- Preserving horses and riding, and especially eventing, is about moving this sport into the population centers and attracting their attention.
- The traditional 1950’s format doesn’t fit the way society lives now. A LOT of potential horse owners, eventers and supporters are in the higher-end 'burbs … but the sport has to go to them.
- The more accessible the sport is to the public, the more future it has.
- It IS about the horse. The future interest, care and purpose for horses.
If this sport does not become more accessible and easier to enter … folks, it’s going away. Eventually. That means fewer horses as well, less interest in horsemanship. Everyone in eventing can be part of a sustainable future, or part of a dying past. It’s a choice.
The level of horsemanship required by eventing is demanding in the new format, just as it was in the old format. This is a very good thing for encouraging and sustaining horse-centered principals and skills that spread to other horses as well. It is good for horses for eventing to survive.
Eventing is in a fight for its life, even if many participants are so fixated on bellybuttons that they don’t get that. If this sport is going to become a public-viewing, advertiser-attracting sport, as it must to survive … these decisions have to be made. There is no time machine back to the 1950’s. Life doesn’t stay in one place.
Is it the end of the world? NO. It’s the beginning of a great new future. For horses. And riding and eventing. This is truth. 
