Here are the offical rules ( I copied them from the PDF on the FEI website). It makes for interesting reading! particularly the part about the organizing committee needing to know the insurance amount of the final four horses! :eek:
Article 309 FIRST COMPETITION (TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS)
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Conduct, Table, Speed
This first competition is conducted over a big Table A course judged under Table C (Articles 239 and 263) at a speed of 400 m per minute without a jump-off in the event of equality for first place.
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Obstacles, Length of the course
12 to 14 obstacles, including one double and one treble or three doubles. Height 1,50 m maximum, a spread in proportion not exceeding 2 m (2,20 m for the triple bar). Water jump 4 m maximum including the take-off element. Length: 500 m minimum, 600 m maximum.
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Participation
The athletes and horses declared as starters for the Team and Individual Championships are qualified to take part in this first competition.
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Starting order
The starting order in the first competition is drawn in the presence of the Ground Jury, the Foreign Technical Delegate and the Chefs d’Equipe at a time fixed by the President of the Ground Jury in agreement with the Organising Committee after the training session. The draw for the starting order for individuals and teams will be conducted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 252. The Chefs d’Equipe of the teams with only three athletes may choose in which of the three places out of four they will start their athletes.
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Penalties
The scores obtained by each competitor will be converted into points by multiplying the time of each competitor by the coefficient 0.5; the score must be rounded up or down to the second decimal place. The second decimal place will be rounded up from .005 and rounded down from .004. The competitor with the lowest number of points after this conversion will be given zero penalties, the other athletes being credited with the number of penalties representing the difference in points between each of them and the leading competitor. If an athlete is eliminated or does not complete his round for any reason, he will be awarded the same number of penalties as that incurred by the competitor who has been the most severely penalised, plus 20 penalties. If the competitor concerned has himself received the highest number of penalties before being eliminated or retiring, 20 penalties will be added to his score. Adding the 20 penalties is done after the time difference has been converted into penalties.
Article 310 SECOND COMPETITION (TEAM FINAL COMPETITION, SECOND INDIVIDUAL)
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Conduct, Table, Speed
This second competition is conducted over two equal rounds run over one or two days under Table A not against the clock and without a jump-off at a speed of 400 m per minute.
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Obstacles, Length of the course
12 to 14 obstacles, including one double and one treble or three doubles. Height 1.60 m maximum with a spread in proportion not exceeding 2 m (2.20 m for the triple bar). At least two vertical obstacles, which must be 1.60 m in height. (Sloping walls do not count as compulsory vertical obstacles). At least six other obstacles of at least 1.40 m in height. Water Jump: 4 m (not including the take-off element giving a total of 4.50 m maximum). Length: 500 m minimum, 700 m maximum. After Consultation with the Course Designer, the Ground Jury may decide to move the obstacles sideways following the first round depending on the condition of the footing. The course must be re-measured if there is a change in the length. If the position of any of the obstacles is altered, the athletes will be permitted to inspect the course before the second round.
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Participation
Only the athletes and horses, which have taken part in the first competition, may start in this second competition. The second round is open only to the ten best teams after the first round and those teams with equality of penalties for tenth place. Before the ten best placed teams and those with equality of penalties for the tenth place begin their second round, all individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round may take part in a second round qualifier for the third competition. There must be a break of at least 30 minutes between the second round qualifier and the second round of the team competition.
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Starting order
The starting order in this second competition will be determined by a new draw in accordance with the same procedure as provided for the first competition. The starting order of the ten best placed teams and those teams with equality of penalties for tenth place in the second round is according to the reverse order of the total penalties of the best three athletes per team incurred in the first competition and of the best three athletes per team in the first round of the team competition. In case of equality of total penalties teams retain the same starting order as in the first round. The starting order for the individuals and team athletes taking part in a second round qualifier for the third competition is according to the reverse order of total penalties incurred in the first competition and the first round of the team competition. In case of athletes with equality of penalties, the score of the first competition will decide their starting order
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Team Placing
Teams which participate in the second round receive their placing by adding the penalties incurred by the three best athletes in each team in the first competition and penalties incurred by the three best athletes in each of the two rounds of the second competition. The team, which has obtained the least number of penalties will be placed first and declared World Team Champion.
In the event of equality between teams for first, second and/or third place, there will be a jump-off against the clock in which all team athletes may take part, at a speed of 400 m per minute over six obstacles, which may be increased in height and/or spread. The score in this jump-off is obtained by adding the penalties incurred by the three best athletes in each team, but in the event of further equality of penalties, the times of these three athletes in this jump-off added together will decide the winning team as well as those placed second or third. The score of this jump-off is only to determine the placing of the teams and will not count towards the final scores of the individual athletes. If two jump-offs are required, the jump-off for the third place shall precede the jump-off for the first and the second place. If after the jump-off there is equality of penalties and time for one of the first three places, the teams concerned will be placed equal.
Teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition receive their placing by adding the penalties incurred by the three best athletes in each team in the first competition and the penalties incurred by the three best athletes in the first round of the team competition
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Rest Day
A rest day must be scheduled between the second and third competitions.
Article 311 THIRD COMPETITION (INDIVIDUAL)
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Conduct, Table, Speed
This third competition is conducted under Table A not against the clock (Article 238.1.1) over two different successive courses at a speed of 400 m per minute, without a jump-off in the event of equality of penalties for first place.
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Obstacles, Length of the courses
2.1. Round A
10 to 12 obstacles, including one double and one treble or three doubles. Height 1.60 m maximum with a spread in proportion, not exceeding 2 m (2.20 m for the triple bar). At least two vertical obstacles which must be 1.60 m in height. (Sloping walls do not count as compulsory vertical obstacles). Water jump: 4 m (not including the take-off element giving a total of 4.50 m maximum). Length: 500 m minimum, 600 m maximum.
2.2. Round B
A different course from Round A comprising 8 to10 obstacles including only one combination (one double or one treble). Height 1.60 m maximum with a spread in proportion not exceeding 2 m (2.20 m for the triple bar). At least two vertical obstacles, which must be 1.60 m in height. Sloping walls do not count as compulsory vertical obstacles. A water jump may not be included, but an obstacle with water beneath, in front or behind (a so-called “Liverpool’) may be included in the course. Length: 400 m minimum, 500 m maximum.
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Participation
This third competition is compulsory for the 30 best placed athletes and horses (including those placed equal for 30th place) according to the cumulative penalties over the first and second competitions or according to the cumulative penalties over the first competition and first round of the second competition as well as the round replacing the second round of the team competition for individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition. Athletes must have taken part in the first competition (completed or not) and have completed the second competition (without having been eliminated or having retired) or have taken part in the first competition (completed or not) and have completed the first round of the second competition as well as the round replacing the second round of the team competition for individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition (without having been eliminated or having retired). If, for any reason, one or more of these 30 best placed athletes are unable to start, they may be replaced by participants from the reserve list of five athletes.
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Inspecting the Course B
Athletes will be invited to inspect the course for Round B at the conclusion of Round A.
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Starting order
5.1 The starting order for Round A will follow the reverse order of penalties incurred in the first and second competitions. For those individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition the starting order will follow the reverse order of total penalties incurred in the first competition and the first round of the second competition as well as the round replacing the second round of the team competition. In case of athletes with equality of penalties, the score of the first competition will decide their starting order. The 30th qualifier will, therefore, start as number one.
5.2 The starting order for Round B will follow the reverse order of total penalties incurred in Round A of the third competition, as well as in the first and second competitions. For those individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition the starting order will follow the reverse order of total penalties incurred in Round A of the third competition, the first competition and the first round of the second competition as well as the round replacing the second round of the team competition. The competitor with the most penalties will start first, the competitor with the least penalties will start last. In case of athletes with equality of penalties, the score of the first competition will decide their starting order.
Article 312 FINAL
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Participation
The four best placed athletes for the Final are selected by adding the penalties incurred by each competitor in the first and third competitions to the penalties incurred in the two rounds of the second competition, and for those individuals and members of teams not qualified for the second round of the team competition the penalties incurred in the first and third competitions are added to the penalties incurred in the first round of the second competition and the round replacing the second round of the team competition.
In the event of equality of penalties for the fourth place, the best score obtained in the third competition will decide which competitor qualifies. In the event of further equality the best score in the second competition and in turn that of the first competition will decide. If the scores are still equal, there will be a jump-off against the clock over six obstacles of Rounds A and B of the third competition.
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The conduct and starting order of the Final competition
Each competitor must jump the course with each of the four horses qualified for this Final, starting with his own and following the order shown in the table below. A special draw will decide the starting order of the finalists with their own horses. The leading athlete going into the Final competition will start last in the first round
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Rotation of the athletes
Horse A D
Horse B C
Horse C B
Horse D A
Competitor a d b c c b d a 1st round
Competitor b c c b d a a d 2nd round
Competitor c b d a a d b c 3rd round
Competitor d a a d b c c b 4th round
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Schooling the horses for the Final
Each competitor in the Final will use the exercise or the schooling area to school his own horse. The athletes may school the other horses to be ridden in subsequent rounds, for 3 minutes in a special enclosure built in the main arena in which there will be a vertical and a spread practice obstacle. These obstacles will not exceed 1.30 m in height or 1.40 in spread. After the first round, each finalist remains in the enclosure with his horse. Except for Officials, the only people allowed inside the enclosure are the athletes, the Chef d’Equipe, the trainer and the groom for each horse taking part. After each competitor has finished the course with his own horse, he may school the horse he is to ride in the next round. The three-minute period will start when the competitor mounts the horse. The time used of the three minute period must be shown on the scoreboard or other display beside the arena, clearly visible for the competitor. The end of this time will be announced to the competitor by ringing the bell. The competitor may only jump the vertical obstacle once and the spread obstacle once or the same obstacle twice.
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Saddlery for the Final
Athletes are allowed to change the saddle, but the horses must always be ridden in the same bridle, bit and boots as in the last qualifying competition (3rd Individual Competition) before the Final.
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Obstacles, Table, Speed, Length of the course for the Final
The competition takes place under Table A not against the clock at a speed of 400 m per minute. The course must comprise eight obstacles including a combination (one double or one triple). The height must not exceed 1.55 m without however, being less than 1.30 1.45 m with a spread in proportion not exceeding 1.80 m. Neither a water jump, nor a “Liverpool” may be included. Length: 400 m minimum, 500 m maximum.
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Accidents, Elimination or Retirement
7.1. If one of the four athletes or horses qualified is unable to participate for reasons of health, he will automatically be replaced by the competitor placed 5th and so on. (In the event of equality for 5th place the procedure laid down in paragraph 1 of the present Article 312 will be followed).
7.2. The competitor on the 5th place must keep himself and his horse ready until a time to be determined by the Ground Jury in case he has to replace one of the four competitor/horse qualified.
7.3 If an athlete has an accident during the Final preventing him from continuing, but the horse with which he has the accident is able to continue, the horse must compete in all the rounds with the other finalists.
7.4. If an athlete is eliminated or retires and does not complete one of his rounds for any reason, he will be awarded the same number of penalties as that incurred by the competitor who has been the most severely penalised during the same round, plus 20 penalties. If the competitor eliminated or who has retired had himself received the highest number of penalties before being eliminated or retiring, 20 penalties will be added to his score for that round.
7.5. If a horse is not fit to participate in the second, third or fourth round, the results it has obtained so far, except its result in the first round, are cancelled. The competitor of the horse that is unable to continue will not participate in the fourth round. In this case the total result of each competitor is determined over three rounds, one on his own horse and two on other horses.
Article 313 INDIVIDUAL PLACING IN THE FINAL
The competitor who has the lowest total penalties over all the rounds of the Final will be declared World Champion. In the event of equality of penalties for first, second and/or third place there not be a jump-off; against the clock over the same course, each competitor riding his own horse.classification will be established using Athletes’ standings prior to the Final competion.
If two jump-offs are required, the jump-off for the third place shall precede the jump-off for the first and the second place. If after the jump-off there is equality of penalties and time for one of the first three places, the competitors concerned will be placed equal. If the horse of a competitor, who must take part in a jump-off, has an accident, preventing it from participating in the jump-off, the competitor concerned will be placed after the competitor(s) against whom he would have had to participate in the jump-off.
Article 314 PRIZES
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Prizes must be awarded for individual placing in each competition. The allocation of prizes must follow the provisions of the General Regulations.
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FEI gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to each member of the three best placed teams and to the individuals placed first, second and third.
Article 315 INSURING THE HORSES FOR THE FINAL
The Organising Committee must insure the horses competing in the Final and must state in the schedule the amount for which the horses are insured.
