ANRC NATIONAL EQUITATION CHAMPIONSHIPS RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS Revised August 2019 Overview: The ANRC National Equitation Championships are an invitational competition for collegiate, junior, adult amateur, and ANRC alumni teams that pay an annual ANRC team membership fee. There is no need to qualify. Everyone is welcome to join us in 2020. Membership opens September 1, 2019. The ANRC National Equitation Championships are traditionally held on the second or third week in April. The championship for each group is held on the same weekend and judged separately. In each championship, teams may compete in a 3′ National Division or a 2’6 Novice Division. Participants may compete on a school-owned horse, a leased horse, or a privately-owned horse. The competition is judged and scored on equitation skills and sound horsemanship practices. The highest score in each phase will be awarded to the rider who demonstrates excellence in equitation and produces a smooth, cooperative performance exemplifying quality hunter movement both on the flat and over fences. The scores are added to produce an both individual and team standings. The four phases are described below: • Written test based on riding theory and a selected stable management topic worth 5% of the total score • Flat Phase (includes USEF Hunter Equitation Tests) worth 35% of the total score • Equitation Derby Course (natural jumps in a field) worth 30% of the total score • Hunter Seat Medal Course worth 30% of the total score Teams: A college or high school/organization that pays a team membership fee may field one team in each division. Each team can have a minimum of two riders or a maximum of three riders. (when there is a team of three riders, the lowest score is dropped in each competition phase). If approved by management, a college or high school/organization may enter up to eight individual entries. An organization that enters an adult amateur team or an ANRC alumni team must pay a membership fee for each team and may field more than one team in each division under the organization’s name. For example: Shady Oak Farm Gold Team; Shady Oak Farm Silver Team. Each team can have a minimum of two riders or a maximum of three riders (when there is a team of three riders, the lowest score is dropped in each competition phase). If an organization cannot field a team of two riders, they may pay a membership fee for an individual entry, or ask to be on a team with another organization. Annual Membership (September 1 through August 31) ANRC Collegiate Team Membership (may have one team in each division – minimum of two riders and maximum of three riders per team and up to 8 individuals) $250; One individual rider (no team entries) $125 ANRC High School/Organization Team Membership (may have one team in each division – minimum of two riders and maximum of three riders per team and up to 8 individuals) $250; One individual rider (no team entries) $125 Adult Amateur Team Membership (one organization may join and can have multiple teams in each division named under that organization—minimum of two riders and maximum of three riders per team) $150 per team; One individual rider (no team) $125 ANRC Alumni Team Membership (one organization may join and can have multiple teams in each division named under that organization—minimum of two alumni riders and maximum of three alumni riders per team) $150 per team; One individual rider (no team) $125 2020 National Equitation Championships Tentative Schedule: April 9-11, 2020 – Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA The championships begin with stabling open and teams arriving on Monday, April 6 or Tuesday, April 7. Prior to arrival, entered teams have been assigned scheduled schooling sessions in each competition area. This practice time gives coaches, riders, and horses a chance to become familiar with each venue. Informal gatherings are held in the evenings to promote camaraderie among teams. Regular coaches’ meetings are held to ask questions, review competition rules, and declare team riders for each division. The tentative schedule is as • April 6-7 (Monday/Tuesday) – Arrival • April 7-9 (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) – assigned schooling sessions • April 8 (Wednesday) assigned schooling continues followed by the Written Test Phase for all competitors • April 9 (Thursday) – Novice Flat Phase followed by the Novice Hunter Seat Medal Phase • April 10 (Friday) – National Flat Phase followed by the National Equitation Derby Phase and awards dinner • April 11 (Saturday) – Novice Equitation Derby Phase followed by the National Hunter Seat Medal Phase and the final awards ceremony Eligibility: • A collegiate rider must be a full-time undergraduate student or part-time senior who has completed all requirements for graduation at the time of the Championships. The registrar must sign entries from each competing college. • College students have four years of eligibility, not necessarily in succession. • Riders who have completed college and competed in an ANRC National Championship are eligible to compete on an ANRC Alumni team. • A junior rider must be enrolled in a high school or an equivalent education entity in grades 9-12. • An entered adult amateur rider must be an amateur under USEF rules. • The entered organization must be a current ANRC member. • Riders are eligible to compete in the Novice Division if they have never completed the National Division in any prior ANRC National Championships. A competitor who competed in the Novice Division in any prior ANRC National Championships and placed 1- 5 in the overall Novice Individual Standings for any two years is prohibited from entering the Novice Division, and is eligible to enter in the National Division. This rule will be retroactive to include the past two Championships in 2017 and 2018. Entries: • Each college or high/school organization may enter one team at each level and will designate a maximum of three riders on each team who will represent the organization. The top two scores from each phase will count toward team overall points. Team riders must be designated at the coach’s meeting that is held after schooling but prior to the start of the competition. After that time, changes will be allowed only with a doctor's/vet's certificate stating horse or rider’s inability to compete prior to the commencement of the first riding phase. • Each organization fielding an adult amateur team or an ANRC alumni team may enter more than one team at each level. Each team may have a minimum of two riders or a maximum of three riders on each team representing the organization. The top two scores from each phase will count toward team overall points. Team riders must be designated at the coach’s meeting that is held after schooling but prior to the start of the competition. After that time, changes will be allowed only with a doctor's/vet's certificate stating horse or rider’s inability to compete prior to the commencement of the first riding phase. • Entries may be limited. Priority will be given to entries received by the closing deadline that have all completed paperwork and payment in full for entry fees and stabling. The Meet Director will make the final decision on the acceptance of entries. Entry forms and fees must be sent in by the deadline set by the host organization and include any required signatures and biographical information requested by management. Draw Procedure: • A Steward shall perform an independent draw for each mounted phase. • The team name of each organization competing will be drawn randomly to determine the organization’s order of go. The draw is conducted for each mounted phase so teams are not likely to go in the same order in every phase. • The coach will designate the order of go for their team riders. The riders will compete in that order for each phase, although the team order may vary in each phase. • The coach will designate the order of go for their team riders. The riders will compete in that order for each phase, although the team order may vary in each phase. • In the order of go, individual riders will compete before designated team riders. General Rules for Coaches and Riders: • All competition rules are in effect upon the arrival of an entered organization, coach, and/or competitors, and/or horses. • There will be a minimum of one coaches’ meeting prior to each competition phase. Attendance at all coaches’ meetings is mandatory. • The meetings will be conducted by the Meet Director, Steward; and/or an ANRC board member that is not representing a team. Any adjustments, technical corrections, additions, or the like, must be approved by a majority vote with the participating coaches present. There will be no exceptions. • The purpose of the meetings is to provide a forum to: o exchange information relevant to the competition facility o ask questions o review competition rules or protocol o resolve any issues that arise o meet with judges for clarification o declare teams • ANRC is a USEF Education Partner and requires Safe Sport Training under USEF Guidelines. ANRC Championship coaches, trainers, and participants must comply with the USEF Safe Sport Policy and the new USEF Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies effective June 1, 2019. These USEF policies and U.S. Center for SafeSport Code are aimed at protecting all participants in our sport. Required SafeSport Training is available free to all members the USEF Member Dashboard. Instructions are available here. (As of Jan 1, 2019, every USEF adult member (18 years of age or older) with a Competing Membership must complete the U.S. Center for Safe Sport Training). SafeSport Training for non-USEF members is available for $20.