New EFA Dressage Competition Rules as of 1/1/08
The Australian Dressage Committee have completed their recent review including rules pertinent to ponies in official dressage.Although the ADC have not adopted the Vic trial of allowing ponies to compete in open official dressage without being subject to height requirements, they have at least lifted the age restriction on pony riders that prevented adult pony riders competing.
Ponies will have to have their own sections, awards and applicable grading points.
If no pony section exists then ponies will be grouped together at either the beginning or end of the competition.
At this point in time in Vic, our requests for acceptance of ponies in official EFA dressage have been much more obvious than our attendance at official EFA dressage comps.
If we really want our ponies to have this opportunity we desperately need to back it up by our actions.
Yes EFA membership is quite expensive, but what follows is recognition for ponies, pony riders and pony breeders and the opportunities going forward to show that ponies in Australia are equal to those already competing at an international standard overseas.
Maybe this year will be the year you begin your campaign, after all New Forest ponies have certainly been shown to have the goods to achieve at top dressage levels.
Check the Nationl EFA website www.efanational.com for 2008 dressage rules listed under Dressage News, especially the section headed “Important Notices” re height changes to metric, pony grading, pony competitions and pony measuring.
Changes to Tests only relate to freestyle tests, other tests remain as for 2004.
PONIES IN OFFICIAL EFA EVENTING
EFA Rules for ponies in Official Eventing can also be viewed on the national EFA website www.efanational.com Since 2004, ponies 14.2hh and under have been allowed to compete alongside their larger counterparts.Acceptable age of riders varies with competition level.
Introductory level riders may compete from the beginning of the year they turn 11.
Preliminary level riders may compete from the beginning of the year they turn 12.
Junior pre-novice and Pre-novice from the beginning of the year they turn 13.
Other ages listed in rules.