[QUOTE=shea’smom;7814687]
Raise of hands… Who knew, beside maybe Janet, that numbers were not required. I’ve been competing since 1978 AND I read the rule books, but did not know this.[/QUOTE]
To be fair. I didn’t “know” it until I looked for it in the rules and coud not find it.
[QUOTE=fooler;7814615]
In my example the competitor asked for the penalty to be overturned using the same rule (EV 152.9.c) Janet noted above. Again using Janet’s post, there is no requirement for a number on each SJ fence.
Which means the fence in both situations was properly built, period. And as Janet stated, the competitor should be awarded with a technical refusal plus 6 seconds.
Competitors should also be aware of rule EV150.2.d:
d. If a competitor jumps an obstacle correctly which has been improperly rebuilt, he incurs no penalty; but if he knocks down this obstacle he will be penalized.
This rule gives the competitor the option to jump the fence as is. Whether the number is face down, has been turned over or is missing completely - with no penalty provided it is negotiated cleanly AND in proper sequence. The competitor can then notify the judge and/or steward of their concerns about the fence once their round is complete.[/QUOTE]
IMHO, it definitely does NOT count as “improperly built”.
But it COULD be considered “unforseen circumstances” (nobody PLANNED for the number to fall over), though that is usually reserved for things like a loose horse jumping into the ring. It is then up to the judge to decide if the “unforseen circumstances” warrant a time out.
Many years ago, I was stopped in the middle of SJ at a recognized event because a number flew off one of the standards on a jump. I can’t remember whether it was a fence I had already jumped or a fence I was yet to jump. I was kind of irritated at the time because I didn’t think they needed to take my horse and me out of our rhythm for such a minor issue; luckily, we went clean, but I still would have preferred that they just let me continue and put the number back at the end of my round. When I asked about it later, I was told it was a safety issue (didn’t want my horse stepping on, or being spooked by, the number); they did not say it was a question of needing to have the number on the fence.
[QUOTE=Janet;7814922]
IMHO, it definitely does NOT count as “improperly built”.
But it COULD be considered “unforseen circumstances” (nobody PLANNED for the number to fall over), though that is usually reserved for things like a loose horse jumping into the ring. It is then up to the judge to decide if the “unforseen circumstances” warrant a time out.[/QUOTE]
Totally agree an unnumbered fence is not “improperly built”. However, based on our respective experience and this thread, the average competitor would consider it so.
The rule I noted gives the competitor the confidence to jump the fence and then notify the officials. The officials should first address the condition of the jump, be it missing a number or actually not built correctly, and second take the opportunity to educate the competitor regarding these rules.
Is it possible the rider had noticed the missing number and was concerned that it was, well, missing? Like perhaps she was worried about stepping on it, or splinters, or whatever.
That, to me, seems a more plausible reason for pulling up then just wanting to inform the GJ that a fence was not numbered anymore.
I think she thought it was the wrong fence when she didn’t see the number.
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