BHS Competitions
Martin Collins BHS Instructors’ Challenge 2010
Combined Training Qualifiers and Championships
General Rules
a) There will be approximately 12 qualifiers with the 2 highest placed non-qualified horses in each going forward to the Championship.
b) To be eligible to compete, horses must have won fewer than 7 points in British Eventing, fewer than 125 points in Affiliated Dressage and fewer than 15 points in Combined Training Competitions.
c) Dressage Tests: Novice Test 24 (2010) to be ridden in the Qualifiers and Novice Test 37 (2007) in the Championship.
d) Riders must be a member of the BHS Register of Instructors.
e) Horses may continue to compete in qualifiers after they have qualified provided that the class is not oversubscribed.
f) Horses must be ridden in the Championship by the same person who qualified them.
g) The competition will be open to qualified BHS Instructors who are on the Register and who have not represented their country in an international competition within the past 10 years.
h) The BHS Young Instructor of the Year will be admitted to the final without the need to qualify.
i) Instructors may enter the competition with more than one horse.
j) Composition
The dressage and jumping phases, which make up this competition, must be ridden in that order. The same horse and rider must complete both phases, and elimination from one phase involves elimination from the whole competition.
k) Judges
There must be one or more Dressage Judges, drawn from the Official Panel and one Show Jumping Judge.
l) Qualifications
The eligibility of both horse and rider is governed by The British Horse Society.
m) Dressage Phase
The Dressage Phase is conducted according to British Dressage Rules.
n) Jumping Phase
The Jumping Phase will consist of one round of the course, judged under BSJA Rules, except where modified below. There will be approximately 8 to 12 numbered obstacles, including at least one double, as solid and imposing in appearance as available materials allow. NB The height of practice fences must not exceed the maximum height of the fences in the competition arena.
o) Obstacles
Qualifiers – The course will not exceed 3 ft. Spread fences will not exceed 4 ft in width.
A water jump should not be included.
Championship – The maximum height of the fences will be 3'6". Spreads will not exceed 5 ft in width. There will be approximately 8 to 12 numbered obstacles, including at least one double, as solid and imposing in appearance as available materials allow. NB The height of practice fences must not exceed the maximum height of the fences in the competition arena.
p) Speed
The speed is 350 yards per minute (325 metres per minute). The time taken by each competitor must be recorded, even if it is within the time allowed, as this may be the deciding factor in the event of a tie.
q) Penalties
| First disobedience | 4 penalties |
| Second disobedience in whole test | Elimination |
| Knocking down an obstacle | 4 penalties |
| Fall of competitor | Elimination |
| Fall of horse | Elimination |
| For every commenced second in excess of the time allowed | 1 penalty |
| Exceeding the time limit | Elimination |
r) Scoring
The marks for the Dressage Phase are totalled in the normal manner, but if there is more than one Judge, their scores are averaged.
Any faults incurred in the Jumping Phase are deducted from the marks awarded for the Dressage Phase.
If the final score gives equality of marks to two or more competitors, the classification is decided by the highest marks for the dressage test. If there is still equality, the fastest time in the jumping test determines the result.
s) Saddlery
Dressage – According to British Dressage Rules
Jumping – According to BSJA Rules
t) Dress
According to British Dressage Rules, except during the show jumping phase a hard hat of BSI standard must be worn, with its harness correctly fastened and with a black or navy blue cover, or alternatively a PAS 015. This rule also applies when jumping practice obstacles.
