New Modified Level

[Winding_Down]

Count me in as one who thinks this new division is an excellent idea. I have seen way too many riders move up to prelim and get hurt, and it is not the size, it is the increase in technicality and sharp rise in unforgiven errors.

Training is such that one can make mistakes, or not be correct, and most often the horse can just make up for it. At prelim, there is a sharp rise in need for correctness, and if you just there like a lump, or go all harry narry kicking and pumping your butt, you may just land on the latter.

I would guess that some of the smaller events may add the modified division as their highest level. It may attract more entries.

Also, if an event already has training and prelim, they can get by with shared fences for awhile, until they can build a largely independent modified course.

Heck, it’s not like events are required to offer the new division. But it is a nice option, both for large-draw events and for smaller events that currently go up through training and may not have the number of entries to justify building a prelim course.

I like it and I will use it!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Of course an wrinkle…to qualify for the new “modified” division…I just checked the rules and only two runs at training level are needed.

So I for one am curious what the new level will really look like. Will people move up horses faster? Will it become the new really scary level to watch?

Will it then allow prelim’s to up the difficulty so that prelims become more like a 1*? Or will it stop the creep of technical courses at training level?

[purplnurpl]

I think its odd that USEA did this.
Well, not odd…but odd.

Idk. Thats why you go to schooling days and schooling shows. So that you prepare yourself for the next level.

But it wont affect me…as long as fees dont increase. So if you are happy with the addition of the division then, yay!

However, it does just seem like a diaper for those who don’t want to put on their big girl panties. I suppose gone are the days when the rule of thumb is to be schooling one level higher than you compete…?

[purplnurpl]

Oh, and i truly dislike the name.

Modified.

Geez. Makes it sounds like…“here is a modified level for you. Since you can’t handle the levels which have been satsfactory for years.”

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=purplnurpl;8884401]
Oh, and i truly dislike the name.

Modified.

Geez. Makes it sounds like…“here is a modified level for you. Since you can’t handle the levels which have been satsfactory for years.”[/QUOTE]

haha, yes, it sounds odd.

But what about “Training” and “Preliminary?” Or “Beginner” Novice and “Novice?”

Even “Intermediate” sounds like you are an intermediate level rider, which in other circles means that you can jump 3’ in a ring.

[faybe]

I did the T to P move up this spring and had a great season. I ended last fall on the T3D (after a full year of successful T runs- 9 in total) and was adamant that I wouldn’t move up until I was “bored” (not that xc is ever boring, but more that I walked the T course and spent more time looking at the P questions going, “oh I could do that”). My move up went well, but I’m definitely in the amateur camp that would have probably taken advantage of a stepping stone in between, especially if I had been on a less experienced/reliable xc horse.

***If you are someone who would like to take advantage of the Modified level, I encourage you to make this known to your organizers. A simple email asking, “are you planning to offer the new modified level at some point? I would definitely take advantage of it” or asking the same question in passing when you see them at a show, keeps it on the radar for people who may be on the fence about offering it.

[Eilsel]

Curious about this considering I have seen several events run a P-T division (Prelim Dressage and Stadium with Training XC including a few Prelim options).

Personally I think the jump from Novice to Training (at the events I have attended) is way bigger than that from T to P. Granted, the highest level I have shown is Training, but I never really feel like there’s a huge difference between BN and N. I think this is true for Dressage and XC!

However, as someone who owned a horse that was fully capable of going Training but I wasn’t sure if we would make it to Prelim, I would have been interested in Modified then.

[Rachael5517]

That sounds perfect for me I am hoping to move up to prelim next show season but was a little wary of the huge jump. I’m glad they are putting that level in I will definitely do it if they put up any courses in area VI.

[purplnurpl]

It’s not a huge jump.
The biggest difference is the speed on XC.

[FrittSkritt]

[QUOTE=purplnurpl;8887675]
It’s not a huge jump.
The biggest difference is the speed on XC.[/QUOTE]

I’m going to disagree. Not sure what it’s like in other areas, but up here there’s a significant difference in the height of the fences and the technicality. Sure, you see “corners” on Training, but their faces are so wide and the depth is so narrow that you could jump the wide side with no issue.

[Highflyer]

I thought it was a pretty big jump, too, and I did a lot of Trainings including the T3D. The change in speed was pretty much the only thing I didn’t worry about, I didn’t even wear a watch.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=FrittSkritt;8887990]
I’m going to disagree. Not sure what it’s like in other areas, but up here there’s a significant difference in the height of the fences and the technicality. Sure, you see “corners” on Training, but their faces are so wide and the depth is so narrow that you could jump the wide side with no issue.[/QUOTE]

@Highflyer;8888019

I thought it was a pretty big jump, too, and I did a lot of Trainings including the T3D. The change in speed was pretty much the only thing I didn’t worry about, I didn’t even wear a watch.

Agreed. The technicality is what killed my move-up to Prelim with my last TB. We could jump any of those fences standing still but in my area (Area I) the complexity of the questions and technicality was staggering. If you don’t think there’s a big jump, take a walk thru the Stuart HT’s T and then their P, and do the same at GMHA or even Stoneleigh. Yikes.

[lucegoose]

It’s hard to make blanket statements about how much of a “jump” there is in the levels when they vary so much depending on the Area. Plus, there’s a lot of perception/opinion.

Thought it was very interesting to hear people from Canada saying that their Training isn’t enough prep for Prelim; I remember walking around Bromont’s Training several years ago and thinking it was a mini-Prelim (actually, I think it would be a perfect example of what the Modified division could be).

I think the fact that people are using “soft” prelims as FEI qualifiers and that there isn’t much consistency year-to-year or across the Areas does signal a need for a stepping stone level.

[Jealoushe]

Bromont is notoriously “strong”…I find a lot of people in Ontario/Que go to the “soft” Prelims because they want to say they ride Prelim…then try the harder ones or a CCI* and crash and burn.

[FLeventer]

Ehh I dont see a need for this level. Ive moved three horses up from T to P and Ive ridden a few more who had already competed above P and taken me to P. It wasnt a big deal for me. The height, speed, and combinations were not a problem. I was ready and my horses were as well.

My mare had three trainings, her only events, before jumping up to prelim. My gelding had quite a few more before bumping up confidently. It depends on the horse, but they have to be ready.

[purplnurpl]

The height difference can’t be that much. There are rules. Lol.
Unless these places are making soft trainings.

Also, you should be schooling the technicality well before making the move.

[kcmel]

@FLeventer;8890623

Ehh I dont see a need for this level. Ive moved three horses up from T to P and Ive ridden a few more who had already competed above P and taken me to P. It wasnt a big deal for me. The height, speed, and combinations were not a problem. I was ready and my horses were as well.

Well, yes, I don’t think this division is necessarily designed for someone who has already ridden 6+ horses at Prelim. But someone bringing their first horse up through the levels might find it very helpful.

[lucegoose]

[QUOTE=purplnurpl;8892507]
The height difference can’t be that much. There are rules. Lol.
Unless these places are making soft trainings.

Also, you should be schooling the technicality well before making the move.[/QUOTE]

What about terrain and footing? That can make a huge difference in overall course difficulty.

[elizabeth_Callahan]

I’ve brought 4 up to prelim, and now that im pushing 60, it looks like a wonderful idea. What’s the saying " there are old riders and bold riders, but there are no old, bold riders)??

[Winding_Down]

I also think that this division is not just for those moving up to prelim for the first time. I can see pros using this division as a way to gradually move up the levels. My experience is that many pros take their time in training and and this level allows one to do so in competition venues.