28.1 Every rider is deemed to be of novice rider status unless the rider has satisfied the requirements to progress to endurance rider status pursuant to Clause 29.3.

28.2 A rider may compete indefinitely at novice rider status until they apply to upgrade pursuant to Clause 29.

29.3 To progress from novice rider status to endurance rider status, the rider must:

29. a) Successfully ‘complete’ two (2) intermediate rides as required in Clause 29.1 (rides between 40km -60km)
30. b) Successfully ‘complete’ three (3) endurance rides in any riding division, and then
31. c) Apply to their respective DA to have their rider status upgraded from novice to endurance status.

(You must be a full financial member of VERA to have your rider status upgraded)

All memberships and rider status upgrades can be done by contacting the VERA membership Registrar   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The FEI publishes an 'Equine Prohibited Substances List' (EPSL). This enables Persons Responsible (PRs) to ensure that they are not treating or feeding horses with substances that are prohibited for use during competition and substances that are not permitted for use in the horse at any time. Prohibited Substances are categorised as follows:

35. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE 

35.1 Riders and horses must not receive any assistance 

a) a responsible adult(s) may (as a pedestrian) accompany a horse and rider in an introductory or micro- marathon ride.                        

b) assistance provided by the ROC at designated checkpoints for both riders and horses such as water, carrots or sweets.

59.1 Horses may compete with or without hoof protection. The head veterinarian must consider whether the shoes, boots, pads or bare hooves are in a condition suitable for the distance and terrain of the ride being entered and may eliminate the horse if the condition or protection of hooves is considered inadequate.  

59.2 Lost or damaged hoof protection may be replaced on course pursuant to Clause 35. (We will discuss this next rule Outside Assistance, next time)

59.3 Lost or damaged hoof protection may be replaced at ride base prior to a veterinary inspection, however there is no allowance in relation to your maximum present time. Alternatively, the lost or damaged hoof protection may be replaced after the veterinary inspection and before beginning the next leg.  

59.4 Hoof protection cannot be changed during an individual veterinary inspection. Shoes or boots cannot be removed or added between repeat trot ups.

54.1 The person responsible for a horse has a duty of care to all other persons to ensure their horse(s) are contained at all times. A competent responsible person must supervise horse(s) at all times when horse(s) are in the horse yard.

54.2 The preferred method of horse containment are metal yards, substantially fixed to a solid object such as a horse float, truck or permanent fence or appropriately pegged into the ground. Alternatively, electric fencing is permitted, but shall as a minimum, have 2 strands of tape, preferably white and a minimum of 1cm wide, with the top tape to be 1.2 to 1.4 metres above the ground. The posts used should be of substantial material (for example, steel pickets) and installed so that the tape does not sag. The fence shall be energized at all times the horse is in the yard.

54.3 Only one horse is permitted per enclosure.

54.4 Ground tethering or the hobbling of horses is not permitted.

 
As many of you are probably aware Helmet Tagging has been mandatory for EA affiliated events in the sport of Eventing since July 2019, and it also came into effect for Show Jumping as of the 1st January 2022 but did you know that from the 1st July 2022 that it will also be compulsory for all EA affiliated events for the sports of Dressage, Driving and Endurance.
Tagging indicates that the helmet you are wearing complies with current EA standards.