What does everyone think of the new rules? Pros/Cons? How do you think the // level classes will affect the number of riders who qualify for the final (both East & West)?
Also, does anyone know how the format of both finals will change due to these new rules?
Thanks! 
I think they’re GREAT. Much better than the previous amendment requiring an open water everywhere.
^ +1.
I don’t know how that open water requirement got passed. Obviously that would really limit the number of places that could offer the class.
I wonder how the new rating system is going to affect the bronze/silver/gold medal achievement.
Agreed. Having the open water at every show and requiring it to be dug in is just ridiculous. The new rules allow kids to get their feet wet and work their way up to the 1.20+ finals type courses.
It seems like an effect in the right direction. I think it will make it easier to qualify on a jumper, as opposed to a straight big eq horse. It should make it easier to qualify at the shows that offer the *** classes, and to a lesser extent the ** classes, since those will get more points towards qualifying. Now those riders would probably be able to qualify anyway.
Based on my experience watching the finals (west only), it seems like riders on jumpers often do pretty well, even if the horses look a bit surprised and/or offended during the flat phase.
I’m withholding judgement until I see how it goes. My initial thought is that you really need 2 equitation horses or the right jumper plus an equitation horse, which may make the class out of reach for alot of riders. We try to be conservative how many classes our equitation horses do and how high they’re asked to jump. I don’t like the idea of asking them to jump 3’11 although they’re plenty scopey. I’m just very conservative when it comes to the wear and tear we put on them. We want them to last a long time. I understand the intent of the class but only a handful of BigEq kids want to continue on to the Grand Prix show jumping ranks, feels like this class is designed for those few.
The equitation isn’t supposed to be the end of the road - it’s supposed to prepare kids to do the jumpers successfully.
There are plenty of other big eq classes. The USET is supposed to be the most challenging and the best for identifying future team riders.
So then this raises the question of whether it’s on the class specs to determine who the true horsemen are. Should the class be easier so more people can qualify, or should the class be looking for truly the best of the best?
Are we going to further dumb down the equitation (I still think that the rule change prohibiting a plank from being the top rail of a fence was one of the worst ways so far to change the eq from being preparation for the jumpers to being its own thing) on the assumption that most people won’t properly care for their horses and will break them because the class is bigger?
I think it’s on the rider and trainer to ensure that their horse(s) is/are properly managed.
[QUOTE=Lexus;7632454]
I understand the intent of the class but only a handful of BigEq kids want to continue on to the Grand Prix show jumping ranks, feels like this class is designed for those few.[/QUOTE]
That is what its meant for, the very best who hope to go on to represent the US in international competition, it is not meant for everyone. There are plenty of other eq classes the others can compete in. And now there is the option of one, two and three star levels, I think its a change for the better.
[QUOTE=BAC;7632730]
That is what its meant for, the very best who hope to go on to represent the US in international competition, it is not meant for everyone. There are plenty of other eq classes the others can compete in. And now there is the option of one, two and three star levels, I think its a change for the better.[/QUOTE]
I get that, but realistically that only leaves a handful of riders…not a very exciting finals. In reality, most of the kids don’t know what they intend to do in the future. If you exclude the small portion of the population that know they’ll go on in the industry, the rest of the population will have to put more wear and tear on their one equitation horse if they compete in ** or *** or have access to a second. As it is now, the class tends to weed them out anyway without the new added difficulty (height) and often doesn’t fill except at the largest shows. The result will be fewer qualifying for finals and fewer bronze/silver/gold medals. Maybe that’s good, maybe not. I just feel it will limit participation and ask more of the horses.
[QUOTE=Lexus;7634038]
I get that, but realistically that only leaves a handful of riders…not a very exciting finals.[/QUOTE]
I think a final with a smaller number of the very best of the best will be more exciting than, say, Medal finals, where it’s 200+ rounds where only about 10% are actually competitive, 10% are disastrous, and the rest are varying degrees of mediocrity.
Should everyone get to play? Does that actually benefit the sport, or does it feed into the mentality today of “everyone gets a ribbon” in the sense of “everyone can qualify for all the finals!” It’s supposed to be an achievement to qualify - now, especially in the zone where I grew up (Zone 2), pretty much anyone can qualify for the big eq finals/regionals by going to a 1 day show every single day of the summer.
I think that changing this system to make it more difficult will separate out the truly good riders who deserve to be at the finals from those who can put together a decent trip at a 1 day horse show where the equitation isn’t even set at 3’6".
I get the whole weeding out the bad riders thing, but I think there are lots of good riders that maybe aren’t bnj’s that have those aspirations, but can’t afford a horse to do that height. And I can think of a lot of shows that’s simply aren’t able to fill a class at the current user standards, let alone with a bigger height. I think while the class does up the sort of difficulty wanted, if they want everyone at the *** level they’re going to have to start making showing less expensive or get used to seeing the same Tori and Lillie Jr pros in the ring every year. Not all the big eq riders are millionaires or working students with access to 6+ different top eq horses when they need them.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7634213]
I get the whole weeding out the bad riders thing, but I think there are lots of good riders that maybe aren’t bnj’s that have those aspirations, but can’t afford a horse to do that height. And I can think of a lot of shows that’s simply aren’t able to fill a class at the current user standards, let alone with a bigger height. I think while the class does up the sort of difficulty wanted, if they want everyone at the *** level they’re going to have to start making showing less expensive or get used to seeing the same Tori and Lillie Jr pros in the ring every year. Not all the big eq riders are millionaires or working students with access to 6+ different top eq horses when they need them.[/QUOTE]
I think overall the rule changes are good. I like the different levels idea. I can see where hunterrider23 is coming from though…perhaps they should have stopped at distinguishing the levels in regards to the different water elements and not also added the height factor? Like, 1* is a liver pool and at 1.10m-1.15m, 2* is at 1.15m and has the water with rail, and 3* is 1.15m with dug out water? And then maybe finals could be at 1.15m-1.20m? …I do think they are taking steps in the right direction though.
I think it is a bad idea. It makes it too expensive for most people to have the right horse. And I make up my I own horses, but I don’t believe its possible for most of these junior riders to do because they have a limited time to show in the USET. It takes alot of time to make up a horse especially if you are not experienced. I watch the finals in person and I do not believe there are too many horses showing in the class. I think it is going to make a very small class and that is not as fun to watch. I do not understand why they have to change it. The people that come unprepared take a chance and it is not so bad that they get excused. I do not recall seeing anyone carted out with a major injury
[QUOTE=supershorty628;7634051]
I think a final with a smaller number of the very best of the best will be more exciting than, say, Medal finals, where it’s 200+ rounds where only about 10% are actually competitive, 10% are disastrous, and the rest are varying degrees of mediocrity.
Should everyone get to play? Does that actually benefit the sport, or does it feed into the mentality today of “everyone gets a ribbon” in the sense of “everyone can qualify for all the finals!” It’s supposed to be an achievement to qualify - now, especially in the zone where I grew up (Zone 2), pretty much anyone can qualify for the big eq finals/regionals by going to a 1 day show every single day of the summer.
I think that changing this system to make it more difficult will separate out the truly good riders who deserve to be at the finals from those who can put together a decent trip at a 1 day horse show where the equitation isn’t even set at 3’6".[/QUOTE]
Generally, I agree with your posts. This one has many good points but makes an assumption … Its the assumption that the very best of the best will be included in the final. I think the accurate statement is that the very best of the best with the ability to secure adequate mounts will be included in the final.
I am NOT trying to start a discussion about the cost of or elitism in our sport. I do think that it is important that we recognize that the cost of our sport does not provide equal access to all those who are talented enough to be among the best of the best. It is a fact – sure there a a few exceptions of people who through hard work, talent and luck have managed it – that is worth recognizing. Because, in general, this sport is not able to pull from all those showing talent.
Also, one day horse shows can and should set the jumps at the appropriate height and can and should ask the appropriate questions. If these shows do not do so, it is the fault of the show manager and the steward and not of the riders who compete at them. It ought to be possible to go to one day shows (at significantly lower cost) and be just as prepared as those who travel the big circuits.
I never competed in BigEq and probably wouldn’t have even if I had the funds, since equitation classes are not my thing. However, I’m intrigued by the proposed changes. I think it will be nice to have a BigEq class that is very different from the others and even more focused on a transition to the big jumper classes.
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