The Modified level was introduced to eventing in 2017 to bridge the gap between the Training and Preliminary levels, a gap that has frequently recognized as being the biggest “jump” between levels. After watching the Modified level grow successfully over the last four years and with the addition of the new CCI* level as the FEI equivalent to the national Modified level, the USEA is very pleased to announce the addition of the Modified Three-Day Event in 2021.
In the USEF Rules for Eventing Appendix 3 – Participation in Horse Trials, the new Modified Three-Day division is outlined as follows:
“Open to competitors of any age on horses 5 years of age or older. Both the competitor and the horse as a combination must have obtained MERs at three horse trials at the Training level or higher, plus an additional MER at Modified level or higher, with no jumping penalties at obstacles on the cross-country test. A competitor established at the Preliminary level may compete on a horse that has obtained two MERs at the Training level or higher. Qualifying competitions must be completed within a 24-month period of the start of the Classic Competition.”
The specifications for dressage, endurance day, and show jumping for the new Modified Three-Day are below:
Modified | |
Dressage |
Modified Test A |
Phase A |
|
• Distance |
2640-3960 meters |
• Speed |
220 meters per minutes |
• Time |
12-18 minutes |
Phase B |
|
• Distance |
1650-1925 meters |
• Speed |
550 meters per minute |
• Speed Fault |
n/a |
• Time |
3 or 3.5 minutes |
• Jumping Efforts |
5-7, 4’1” maximum brush height |
Phase C |
|
• Distance |
2880-6160 meters |
• Speed |
160 or 220 meters per minutes |
• Time |
18-28 minutes |
Phase D |
|
• Jump Height | Fixed 1.05m (3'5") Brush 1.25m (4'1") |
• Jump Spread | Highest Point 1.30m (4’3”) Base 2.04m (6’5”) Without Height 2.6m (8’6”) |
• Drops | 1.5m (4'11") |
• Distance |
2695-3675 meters |
• Speed |
490 meters per minute |
• Speed Fault |
n/a |
• Time |
5.5-7.5 minutes |
• Jumping Efforts |
24-30, no more than one effort commenced per 130 meters. |
Show Jumping |
|
• Distance |
600 meters |
• Speed |
325 meters per minute |
• Jumping Efforts |
10-13 |
• Height |
1.05 meters (3’5”) |
• Overall Spread of Oxers |
1.25 meters (4’1”) |
• Overall Spread of Triple Bars |
1.45 meters (4’9”) |
Two events have already signed on to offer Modified Three-Day Events at their competitions in the fall:
The USEA Classic Series Guidelines have been updated to reflect the addition of the Modified Three-Day. The Guidelines can be viewed here.
Organizers interested in hosting a Modified Three-Day Event in 2021 should contact either USEA Senior Director of Competitions Sharon Gallagher at [email protected] or USEA Director of Programs and Marketing Kate Lokey at [email protected].
The USEA Classic Series keeps the spirit of the classic long format three-day events alive for Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels. Competitors can experience the rush of endurance day, including roads and tracks, steeplechase, the vet box, and cross-country, as well as participate in formal veterinary inspections and educational activities with experts on the ins and outs of competing in a long format three-day event. Riders who compete in a USEA Classic Series event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.
The USEA would like to thank Bates Saddles, FITS, SmartPak Equine, Parker Equine Insurance, and Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles for sponsoring the USEA Classic Series.
Being spontaneous has paid off for Kevin Keane and Sportsfield Candy. “I bought him on a Wednesday and showed him on a Thursday,” Keane recalls about his first event with his Irish Sport Horse gelding, then 9 years old, at Plantation Field Horse Trials (Unionville, Pennsylvania) in September 2016. “I owned him for part of a day, and the next morning I showed up at a CCI and jogged him up for a two-star, and we went clean and clean and clean.”
THANK YOU to everyone who has already entered the USEF/USEA Recognized CDCTA Spring Horse Trials scheduled for Sunday, April 9 in Berryville, VA. We will continue to take late entries through Friday, March 24 using USEA’s Xentry system. If you still want to come compete, please enter! The late fee has been waived through Friday, March 24.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation announces the appointment of long-term US Equestrian employee Hallye Griffin as Director of FEI Sport. Griffin will assume the duties of former Director of FEI/High-Performance Sport, Graeme Thom, who has chosen to step away from his role to attend to personal matters.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to announce that Sidelines Magazine will not only be returning as a “Media Partner of U.S. Eventing,” but they will also be supporting the Association as a “Contributing Level Sponsor of the USEA Emerging Athletes U21 Program” and a “Prize Level Sponsor of the USEA American Eventing Championships.” Sidelines Magazine will give the USEA additional promotion and exposure through their printed and digital media products, while also providing prizes for participants at the AEC and EA21 clinics.