I just heard that you can show your horse the first fence while the timer is counting down while in the startbox. Like when you have 1-2 min before the last 10 seconds, someone said you can show the horse the first jump?
Anyone know if this is allowed or not? Maybe different in different countries?
What does the rule say that allows or disallows it?
Not on XC. But I am heading out the door, and it will take me a bit to find the actual rule.
But you CAN show the Show Jumping jumps to your horse before you cross the start line.
Can you clarify the last sentence? I understood that you can “familiarize” your horse with the first jumps with a strategically ridden circle on your way to the start line. However, to me “showing” a jump means literally riding the horse up to a jump and stopping to take a good hard look at it. Which one rider did as we were reassembling a bogey fence #4 that was taking out riders right and left. The judge was not at all happy and it was not fair to the other contestants.
You have 45 seconds from the time the judge sounds the bell to go through that start timers, so in that time you can absolutely show your horse a fence.
If judge wants to gripe, they can ring the bell immediately upon entry. 
Thank you.
Don’t quote me on this because it was last year but I believe Lucinda Green said that on a webinar, which makes me think it might be a UK thing. I think I thought it was strange when I heard it and looked it up at the time.
USEF EV 111 Restrictions on Schooling includes:
“3. Riding close to Cross-Country Obstacles or riding in the Dressage or Show Jumping arenas prior to the actual Event is prohibited, under penalty of Disqualification, unless authorized by the Ground Jury.”
OP, perhaps what you heard was not about the first fence on XC but rather the start box itself? At least that’s what comes to my mind 
"EV121 Cross-Country Phase Rules
Never heard of that before. The Carolina Horse Park in NC offers schooling days the day before its War Horse series. Riders can school over the XC fences, do show jumping rounds and practice their dressage tests in the dressage arena.
Found it!
She says about 35 sec in, “You can walk up to the first fence, you can chat to the first fence judge if you need something to just keep yourself calm.”
I obviously don’t know UK rules myself so I’m just repeating what Lucinda said.
I had this happen to me, actually. I had two entries, both who I thought might peak at one particular stadium fence. First entry, I rode him up to it and let him get a look before the bell rang. Second entry, judge saw me start to walk towards the same fence and rang me immediately. 45 second is still enough time ride by and let the horse take a peak, but my impression is judge wasn’t thrilled.
I haven’t studied the rules recently. But I used to be a rule fanatic. Plenty of ways to have your day go wrong besides breaking one of the thousands of rules! It used to be forbidden to show your horse a fence even if he had already stopped at it. Probably 20 years ago I saw someone eliminated for letting the horse look at a fence after a stop. I suspect mostly judges are being lenient. The first fence of cross country is far enough away that I don’t know there would be time to safely wait for the previous competitor to clear fence 1, get there and back quietly and have a good look, and be back for the count down. I would definitely recomend checking with the TD before trying it. Timber races have all the horses walk over to the first fence en masse to have a look. Always seemed like a good idea to me!
The “strategically ridden circle” is a hunter thing. In Eventing show jumping you can walk your horse right up to any jump to look at it before crossing the start line.
With regard to what the rider can do while the fence is being rebuilt (after a refusal / knockdown), the CURRENT rule clearly say
EV126.6.b
Disobediences are not penalized during interrupted time, except if a second refusal occurs after an obstacle has been rebuilt. In that case, the refusal upon reapproach must be penalized, even if the clock has not yet restarted.
So, the judge may not be happy, but it isn’t against the rules.
But note that the wording of EV126.6.b in in red text, with “Effective 5/1/23”.
The former text said
Disobediences are not penalized during interrupted time, except for the second refusal following a refusal with a knock down.
Just a clarification of my experience as a volunteer reassembling fence four repeatedly. They were moving riders quickly, so bell was being rung practically as previous rider exited at a trot and next rider came in the ring. In this case, the bell had not yet rung because we were still re-assembling fences (plural) and the next rider entered the ring, trotted right up to the bogey fence of the day and stood there as we were reassembling it, which took a bit of time. So my take is that she made good use of the time, and it is something I will remember for the future.
Two points. First, the “showing your horse the fence rule” disappeared at least a decade ago. So before you start a round, you may in fact show your horse the a fence. That is ride right up to it and stop in front of it. You may also “show your horse a fence” following a refusal, before you circle to represent. Obviously, you cannot pause in the middle of a round, show your horse a fence and then represent and jump it, that will get a penalty for a refusal. Second, this thread started, very early on, to conflate xc and sj rules, Don’t do that, it will only lead to tears.
Malcolm
Isn’t the original question about xc, per the title, though?
The cross country starting rules don’t really address this - how far you can wander from the start box while under starter control but prior to going through the box and starting your course. All the way to fence 1?
I’ve never personally seen anyone do what Lucinda suggests in the US, but I’m not sure which rule would address it.
EV111 Restrictions on Schooling
- Riding close to Cross-Country Obstacles or riding in the Dressage or Show Jumping arenas prior to the actual Event is prohibited, under penalty of Disqualification, unless authorized by the Ground Jury.
When I ran the Startbox it was explained to me that presenting your horse to the first obstacle during the 2 minute countdown was covered under the above quoted rule. Many riders would circle or have a little gallop but as long they didn’t “show” the fence to the horse, or ride past it, it was fine.
Until the rider’s time starts they are still “prior to the actual event.”
It happens. Riders know when they are due to start because they are given warning on the countdown. If the first fence is not too far away they could/do ride up close before returning to the start box but … In British Eventing it isn’t against the rules but it is against the spirit and the start box crew don’t like it. A “talking to” is one likely outcome. If the fence is too far away, then the rider just looks like an idiot for trying. I think it is a bit of a “professional foul” because lesser mortals are generally too focused on getting out of the start box to worry about any notional advantage of looking at the first fence on xc, which is generally an easy warm up one anyway.
My horse and I stared down the first fence at the last couple of events- because it was not far from the start box 
( I stared- he probably was just looking longingly at the lovely grass 
) . Didn’t leave the Startbox…… just looked snort
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