Are you ready to go affiliated this year?
13 Feb 2024
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Eventing, also known as a One Day Event (ODE), is a combination of dressage, show jumping and cross country, making it a real test of horse and rider skill. Competitions are split into ‘affiliated’ or ‘unaffiliated’. Unaffiliated events tend to be organised independently and often focus on local and regional levels of competition. Affiliated events are run by British Eventing, who are the official body for the sport, run under a high level of safety and regulations. You will also need to be a member to compete at a BE competition and can earn points and high placings to qualify for championships and national finals.
If you’ve been eventing before to an unaffiliated competition and are thinking about stepping into the world of affiliated events, we are here to help! With the 2024 eventing season just around the corner we will go through all the ins and outs of affiliated eventing.
If you are in the Staffordshire/Derbyshire area, we are a great venue to start your eventing journey with. We run unaffiliated and affiliated competitions throughout the season and offer facility hire including, cross country, show jumping and dressage arena hire.
Assessing your readiness for affiliated equestrian eventing
It's incredibly important to assess your readiness for eventing as it combines the disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross-country, you and your horse will require a high level of fitness.
There are many ways to practice before you go eventing whether it's unaffiliated events, combined training arena and course hire or practicing at home.
The benefit of competing is you will get a score which will give you a rough idea of where you will place when out competing affiliated.
Access to High-Quality Facilities and Resources
Another reason to consider going affiliated eventing this season is the access to high-quality facilities and resources. When you participate in affiliated events, you will often have the opportunity to compete at venues that offer top-notch amenities for both riders and horses that may not be available at unaffiliated venues.
The benefits of joining British Eventing
"British Eventing are proud to deliver top quality, professional, well-run events provided by the highest trained teams. We boast consistent standards and processes in place to provide the best possible ground conditions and quality courses for you and your horse at every level. Gain exclusive access to prestigious venues and breath-taking scenery competing alongside your idols. British Eventing gives you the chance to qualify for Championships at every level. Catering for all levels, from grassroots to Olympic level riders, we give you the opportunities to make your dreams a reality with our wide range of competitive levels and membership categories." British Eventing- Governing body for Eventing in the UK.
Training and preparation for the eventing season
Once you have gathered all the necessary equipment you'll need for eventing, it's time to develop a training plan that will prepare you and your horse for the competition.
First and foremost, it's important to assess your current level of fitness and skill. Take into consideration your horse's fitness level as well. This will help determine how much time you need to allocate for training and what areas you need to focus on.
For an unfit horse coming from the field, you will need to start purely doing walk work. If you are unsure, talk to a professional. You will need to gradually work up to a schedule that includes a mix of flatwork, jumping exercises and cross-country training. Incorporate regular hacking and conditioning sessions to build stamina. It’s also crucial to include rest days, for both horse and rider, to prevent burnout and help avoid injuries.
Consider enlisting the help of a professional trainer or coach who specialises in eventing. They can provide guidance, assess your progress, and offer valuable insights to improve your performance.
Remember, consistency and patience are key when training for a one day event. Stay committed, follow your plan, and enjoy the journey!
Understanding the rules and regulations of affiliated eventing
Before any competition it's important you are aware of the basics and rules before you compete. If you are not up to date with the latest rules you may not be allowed to participate on the day of the competition. The rules cover safety standards, equestrian tack, faults and refusals and so much more!
Choosing the right events for your level of experience
British Eventing starts from 80cm and go right up to Intermediate classes. If you are not sure where to start, you can find out more on the British Eventing website, it talks through the different fence heights. This will give you an idea which class is suitable for you and your horse.
How do you progress through the levels?
To progress through the British Eventing levels, you must achieve Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), which are the results a rider needs to get to qualify for the next tier.
At the national level, a single MER is awarded for getting the following result at an event:
- Not more than 50 penalty points in dressage
- Not more than 16 penalties in showjumping
- Zero cross-country penalties and not more than 30 cross-country time penalties
While BE80 and BE90 require no MERs and can be entered at any point, from BE100 upwards, each full level requires a certain number of MERs at the level below for qualification.
- BE100: Must have two MERs at BE90
- BE100 Plus: Must have two MERs at BE90
- BE105: Must have two MERs at BE100 or BE100 Plus
- Novice: Must have three MERs at BE100, BE100 Plus, or BE105
- Intermediate Novice: Must have three MERs at BE100, BE100 Plus, or BE105
- Intermediate: Must have five MERs at Novice
- Advanced Intermediate: Must have five MERs at Novice
- Advanced: Must have five MERs at Intermediate
Note: Because BE100 Plus, Intermediate Novice, and Advanced Intermediate are intended as tasters to the next tier, they can be entered provided you qualify for your current level.
Managing the financial aspects of affiliated eventing
There are a few membership options when it comes to BE. If you are just starting out and don’t want to commit to a full year’s membership, there are Pay-As-You-Go membership, a flexible option for those who are not competing regularly. There are also higher-level memberships like the ‘Premier Membership’ for riders competing at CCI 4* and CCI 5*.
Taking care of your mental and physical well-being during the eventing season
With the pressure of competing, it is incredibly important to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing. Whether it's competition nerves or trying to find your feet after a fall, it's important you talk to a professional. Riders Minds is a great charity that provides mental health advice to equestrians. Find out more.
Charles Owen are also carrying out research to help improve rider safety with their fall/accident report.
Our upcoming British Eventing competitions!
If you think you’re ready to go affiliated this season, have a look at our upcoming British Eventing competitions.
