Jul 13, 2020

How Strong is Your Beginner Novice Game?

Kalie Beckers and Madoc Mari had the best Beginner Novice finishing score in 2019. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Last month, we introduced this series with a look at the Preliminary level. Now, EquiRatings is showing you the key stats from Beginner Novice. How strong have your Beginner Novice results been? What’s a good final score? What’s a good dressage? What scores should you be aiming for if a top finish is your goal? Read on to evaluate your Beginner Novice game.

How are people scoring at Beginner Novice?

These graphs show Beginner Novice performance across the board, from sub-28 to DNF (Did Not Finish). Take a look to see what scores the Beginner Novice crowd has been earning. What scores do you usually get? We give you some of our takeaways to get you started.

The Show Jumping Zones and the Cross-Country Zones include time and jumping penalties.

The Big Picture at Beginner Novice

Finishing Score Zones

  • Sub-28 Zone: Only one in 25 Beginner Novice starters (4%) finish sub-28.
  • 60+ Zone: For every one Beginner Novice starter who finishes sub-28 (4%), there are about three starters who finish with 60 penalties or more (13%).
  • 32 to 40: Nearly one-third of Beginner Novice starters (30%) finish in the 32 to 40 range.

Per-Phase Zones

  • Less than one in 10 Beginner Novice starters (7%) earn a sub-28 dressage score.
  • Almost half of Beginner Novice starters (44%) get a dressage score between 31 and 37.
  • Over half of Beginner Novice show jumping starters (54%) keep all the poles up and finish within the time. This is the highest percentage of any US national level.
  • Over three in five Beginner Novice cross-country starters (61%) finish clear and within the optimum time.

The Target Score for a Win at Beginner Novice

Eventing is about putting all three phases together to finish strong, but what is a strong finish at the Beginner Novice level? What does a top performance look like? The graphs and tables below show you what it takes to win.

TOP FINISHING SCORES

  • The majority of Beginner Novice winners (73%) finish sub-32.
  • Nearly 2 in 5 Beginner Novice third-place finishers (38%) score between 32 and 36.

Dressage - What Does a Strong Start Look Like at Beginner Novice?

Final Position

Average
Dressage Score

Started as Dressage
Leader

Started 10 Marks or Less from Dressage Leader

Started More Than 10 Marks From Dressage Leader

Winner

29.1

53.4%

45.6%

1.0%

Third Place

33.4

4.4%

83.5%

12.1%

Using 2017 – 2019 Beginner Novice data.

  • Beginner Novice winners average a dressage score of 29.1.
  • 99 out of every 100 Beginner Novice winners (99.0%) are no more than 10 marks behind after the first phase.
  • Most Beginner Novice third-place finishers (Over 4 in 5, 83.5%) are not the dressage leader but are within 10 marks after the first phase.

Show Jumping - Can You Afford to Knock a Pole at Beginner Novice?

Final Position

0 SJ Penalties

1 to 4 SJ Penalties

5 or More SJ Penalties

Winner

87.7%

10.9%

1.4%

Third Place

74.9%

19.1%

6.0%

Using 2017 – 2019 Beginner Novice data. This table includes show jumping time penalties and jumping penalties.

  • A clean show jumping round is critical for a win at Beginner Novice. Almost 9 in 10 winners (87.7%) keep all the rails up and finish under time. This is the highest percentage of any U.S. national level.
  • One in four third-place finishers (25.1%) do have show jumping faults but, of these, few have more than a pole.

Cross-Country - Do You Need to be Clear Inside the Time at Beginner Novice?

Final Position

Clear Inside the Time

Average XC Time Penalties

Winner

95%

0.1

Third Place

87%

0.5

Using 2017 – 2019 Beginner Novice data. Clear Inside the Time includes all runs that were clear jumping with no time penalties (whether for going over the optimum time or for going too far under the time).

  • A clean jumping cross-country round is critical to success, but it’s also important to get the time right. Almost all Beginner Novice winners (95%) finish clear and without cross-country time penalties.
  • Beginner Novice winners have the highest clear inside the time rate (95%) of any U.S. national level.
  • Nearly nine in 10 third-place finishers (87%) complete cross-country clear and without time penalties.

What are the 2019 record performances?

Lastly, we have pulled the 2019 record dressage scores and record finishing scores from the Beginner Novice level. Beginner Novice competitors have put forth some very impressive numbers!

How Can You Use These Numbers?

Have these stats been eye-opening? They’re here to help you set goals. But we don’t want you to spend tons of time comparing yourself to everyone else – that takes all the joy out of it! If your main goal is to have fun with your horse and put your game face on every once in a while, that is great. Use these numbers just for fun. If your goal is to be a bit more competitive, now you know what it takes. Maybe we will see your name in the record books soon.

Mar 18, 2024 Interscholastic

Double the Fun for the Spirit Award Contests at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships

The coveted Spirit Award, which originated from the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship and quickly became as important as the competition itself, will be returning this year with double the excitement at the 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships! With the two program championships merging for the first time, the organizing team at Stable View is committed to making the weekend an unforgettable experience for these middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. Separate Spirit Contests will be offered for each program , and Stable View has generously donated perpetual trophies for the two contest champions. The 2024 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Championships will be held at the Stable View Local Charities H.T. on May 4-5, 2024 in Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more and prepare to enter on opening day tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19!

Mar 17, 2024 Membership

Membership Minute: How Lucky I Am to Have My Horse

Sometimes all it takes is a little luck on your side to make your dreams come true. We recently asked our USEA membership to share why they feel so lucky to be partnered with the horses they compete with, and we received over 100 heartwarming stories! We compiled some of our favorites below in celebration of today’s luck-themed holiday.

Mar 16, 2024 Eventing News

Miks Master C Passes the Test at SRF Carolina International CCI4*-S

With Paris Olympic team selection this summer as a big goal, Liz Halliday headed out onto Ian Stark’s CCI4*-S cross-country course today at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International hoping to make the time with Miks Master C and show off a smooth round. After leading the division from day 1’s dressage on a 22.5, Halliday was able to accomplish both things and win aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Deborah Palmer’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF).

Mar 15, 2024 Eventing News

Miks Master C Makes Easy Work of Show Jumping at SRF Carolina International

The standings after today’s CCI4*-S show jumping at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International shuffled with 14 double-clear rounds out of 35 to start, but Liz Halliday stayed right where she was at the top of the leaderboard aboard Miks Master C.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Real Estate Partner of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA