May 13, 2007

EVENT SCHEDULING..NOT AS EASY AS IT MIGHT APPEAR!

You may not have noticed how variable event scheduling has become unless you travel and compete out of your home area. But the topic is really quite interesting to consider. Each eventing area seems to have a culture of its own. Good event organizers find it important to ‘know’ their ‘customers. While the hallmark of events are the characteristics and qualities of the cross-country courses, other aspects of the competition are also part of why or why not a rider chooses to ride in a particular event on a particular weekend. The event schedule is one such aspect.

Being an Area 2 organizer, an eventing official all over the country and a competitor who enjoys riding in events east of the Mississippi, I observe many different ways to set up an event. Clearly, what works for the western areas of 6, 7, 9, and 10 would not have the same appeal on the East Coast. A novice level competitor in Seattle thinks nothing of packing off to ride in a horse trial that is scheduled over three, sometimes four days plus travel time. Whereas a novice level rider in Area 2 would rarely consider enduring such a travel hardship unless for a championship. Indeed, the single day events in Area 2 are quite the norm. Riders typically ship in, compete in all three phases and are home in time for dinner! Maybe it is the ‘sooner I get it done, the better, so I can do the next thing on my list’ mentality that makes this type of schedule attractive to this part of the country.

Initial impressions aside, riders generally do not feel frantically rushed and truly enjoy the satisfaction that the phase just completed is the perfect preparation for the next phase to ride. Single day events have typically been run so that riders have 1 to 2 hours in between each phase, which allows for cooling out, mental downtime, and perhaps a final course walk of SJ or XC. Recently, organizers have begun experimenting with an even more compressed schedule. Riders complete their dressage phase and are then scheduled to show jump within the hour, usually in 45-50 minutes, allowing time for change of tack and warm up. They then finish with the cross country following anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes after the stadium phase. Riders have permission to ride stadium in cross-country attire, and many will use the stadium phase as a “warm-up” for cross-country. Having a few cross country portables for cross country warm up, in addition to the adjustable fences, is about all that horses and riders need before entering the start box.

This type of schedule does require advance planning, particularly when to walk both the jumping courses. And there are always some riders who want more time in-between phases and find their requests granted as long as they ask on their entry forms. The trick to success for riders is preparation and for organizers, adhering to the timetable plus scheduling in those time ‘buffers’ should the unexpected occur. But over the past several years since this type of schedule has been used, it has been met with favorable results. Riders generally like this format.

In addition to the one-day events, Area 2 also has the conventional 2-day horse trial, dressage and one jumping phase on Saturday with the final phase on Sunday. And there are some of the 3-day horse trials that remain well liked too. In case you are wondering how those riders with multiple horses manage, ask Phillip Dutton, Sally Cousins, Stephen Bradley or Sharon White. They like the ability to efficiently get all of their horses done in one day AND they all have the ground support to keep on schedule. Plus the organizers are willing to work with their preferences whether it is doing one horse entirely before going to the next or getting one phase done on all horses before proceeding. Either way can work and does! But this timetable is not for every rider or every organizer.

All organizers and riders are working towards the same goal of the event being a safe and successful one. But there are definitely reasons to look outside the box for a new idea that just might make the competition run more efficiently for both groups. Organizers do care about your thoughts and appreciate it when you share them on the competitor evaluation form. This is one of the best ways to communicate with a particular organizer what you like about their event as well as what you wish was different. By working together there is a greater chance for even the best event to be even better!

Also share your thoughts by replying about which format you prefer and why. As you rank events, how much does the scheduling influence your choice of where to compete?

Dec 23, 2024 Education

Saddle Fit Simplified

Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?

Dec 22, 2024 USEA Foundation

Top Tips for Applying for a USEA Foundation Grant

Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!

Dec 21, 2024 Education

3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025

With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.

Dec 20, 2024 Sponsor

“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.

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