Rules & Regulations
For everything you need to know about Riding Club, find the full British Riding Club rule book below:
| brc-handbook-2023-final.pdf |
For those of you who don’t want to read an entire rule book, we have compiled a list of basic rules for each discipline at Area level which we hope you will find helpful….
Dressage
Dressage at Area level consists of completing one test for a judge. Scores will be given for each movement with extra points added for rhythm, suppleness, contact & rider position. Sheets are available at the end of the class and you can enter as many classes as you wish (depending on the requirements of the class)
Rider attire:
- Black or Navy show jackets.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots with gaiters.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- White jodhpurs.
- White stock.
- Long hair to be in a bun or a hair net.
- Number bib to be worn if you don’t have bridle or numnah numbers.
- Back protectors are allowed, but not often worn by riders in Dressage.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
Horse attire:
- Snaffle bridles, no martingales.
- Breastplates and nosebands are allowed.
- Plain non-bright numnah’s, White numnah’s preferred.
- Fly veils are allowed.
- A bridle number can be worn but must be on your both sides, or on the numnah both sides.
- No boots!
Other notes:
- Horses should be plaited.
- Schooling whips are only allowed in tests at Prelim level, but you can work in with them at all levels.
- Callers for tests are allowed.
- If the judge hears you talk to your horse during the test, points will be deducted (speak to them quietly and out of earshot!)
- Doing three incorrect movements will be elimination.
- Fall of rider will be elimination.
** DRESSAGE JUDGES TIP **
“Ride your test as accurately as possible. We want you to do everything in the correct places more than we want your horse or pony in a perfect outline!”
- Nick Rodgers, Grand Prix judge.
Rider attire:
- Black or Navy show jackets.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots with gaiters.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- White jodhpurs.
- White stock.
- Long hair to be in a bun or a hair net.
- Number bib to be worn if you don’t have bridle or numnah numbers.
- Back protectors are allowed, but not often worn by riders in Dressage.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
Horse attire:
- Snaffle bridles, no martingales.
- Breastplates and nosebands are allowed.
- Plain non-bright numnah’s, White numnah’s preferred.
- Fly veils are allowed.
- A bridle number can be worn but must be on your both sides, or on the numnah both sides.
- No boots!
Other notes:
- Horses should be plaited.
- Schooling whips are only allowed in tests at Prelim level, but you can work in with them at all levels.
- Callers for tests are allowed.
- If the judge hears you talk to your horse during the test, points will be deducted (speak to them quietly and out of earshot!)
- Doing three incorrect movements will be elimination.
- Fall of rider will be elimination.
** DRESSAGE JUDGES TIP **
“Ride your test as accurately as possible. We want you to do everything in the correct places more than we want your horse or pony in a perfect outline!”
- Nick Rodgers, Grand Prix judge.
Show Jumping
Show Jumping at Area level consists of two rounds of Show Jumping. In a 70cm class (for example) - Round 1 will be 70cm. Round 2 will be 75cm for the first half of the course, then the second half of the course will be 80cm timed. You can only enter two Show Jumping classes at Area level and some classes are restricted to those with BSJA points, so please check the regulations for each class.
Rider attire:
- Show Jackets must be worn.
- Show Shirts.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots and chaps/gaiters.
- White or beige jodhpurs.
- Stocks encouraged.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- Number bib to be worn, bridle numbers are allowed also, but are not visible enough on their own.
- Whips must be the padded type.
- Back protectors are encouraged, but not mandatory.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
Horse attire:
- All types of bridles are allowed.
- All colour numnah’s are allowed but bright colours are not encouraged.
- Boots can be worn.
- Fly veils and nose nets are allowed.
- Plaiting is not necessary, but is allowed if you want to.
Other notes:
- You cannot use your whip before jumping the first fence.
- Course walk times are announced in advance so don’t miss your course walk.
- Wait for the bell before you begin.
- If you get eliminated in round 1, you cannot take part in round 2.
- Three refusals is elimination.
- Fall of a rider is elimination.
** SHOW JUMPING JUDGES TIP **
“Walk your course the exact route you will ride it. Explore the arena, don’t cut corners. You may notice things on foot that you need to be aware of when on your horse.”
- Emily Adams, BSJA judge.
Rider attire:
- Show Jackets must be worn.
- Show Shirts.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots and chaps/gaiters.
- White or beige jodhpurs.
- Stocks encouraged.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- Number bib to be worn, bridle numbers are allowed also, but are not visible enough on their own.
- Whips must be the padded type.
- Back protectors are encouraged, but not mandatory.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
Horse attire:
- All types of bridles are allowed.
- All colour numnah’s are allowed but bright colours are not encouraged.
- Boots can be worn.
- Fly veils and nose nets are allowed.
- Plaiting is not necessary, but is allowed if you want to.
Other notes:
- You cannot use your whip before jumping the first fence.
- Course walk times are announced in advance so don’t miss your course walk.
- Wait for the bell before you begin.
- If you get eliminated in round 1, you cannot take part in round 2.
- Three refusals is elimination.
- Fall of a rider is elimination.
** SHOW JUMPING JUDGES TIP **
“Walk your course the exact route you will ride it. Explore the arena, don’t cut corners. You may notice things on foot that you need to be aware of when on your horse.”
- Emily Adams, BSJA judge.
Arena Eventing
Arena Eventing at Area level consists of a round of jumps on a surface, starting with 8 Show Jumps and then continuing directly onto 8 Cross Country Jumps and usually ending with a ‘joker’ Show Jump fence as the final fence. There is an optimum time for the Arena Eventing course which will be printed in the Show schedule. You will get 4 faults for refusals or knock downs in the Show Jumping section, 20 penalties for refusals in the Cross Country section, and three refusals will be elimination. The least amount of faults closest to the optimum time will decide the winner.
Rider attire:
- Cross Country colours.
- White or beige jodhpurs.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots and half chaps/gaiters.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- Number bib to be worn. (Bridle numbers are allowed also, but are not visible enough on their own.)
- Whips must be the padded type.
- Back protectors are mandatory.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
- Medical armbands are encouraged.
Horse attire:
- All types of bridles are allowed.
- All colour Numnahs are allowed, including matching Cross Country ones.
- Boots can be worn.
- Fly veils and nose nets are allowed.
Other notes:
- You cannot use your whip before jumping the first fence.
- Course walk times are announced in advance so don’t miss your course walk.
- Wait for the bell before you begin.
- Three refusals is elimination.
- Fall of a rider is elimination.
- Eventing watches are not allowed.
** ARENA EVENTING TIP **
“Combining rustic Eventing-style obstacles with the reliability of an all-weather Show Jumping surface, offers plenty of perks. The combination of this and the excitement of a new venue is sure to spark some enthusiasm, so you’ll need to spend time learning to embrace the extra energy rather than fighting it.”
-Gemma Tattersall, British Event rider.
Rider attire:
- Cross Country colours.
- White or beige jodhpurs.
- Long boots or jodhpur boots and half chaps/gaiters.
- Hats up to BRC standard (mandatory!)
- Number bib to be worn. (Bridle numbers are allowed also, but are not visible enough on their own.)
- Whips must be the padded type.
- Back protectors are mandatory.
- Spurs are allowed if needed.
- Medical armbands are encouraged.
Horse attire:
- All types of bridles are allowed.
- All colour Numnahs are allowed, including matching Cross Country ones.
- Boots can be worn.
- Fly veils and nose nets are allowed.
Other notes:
- You cannot use your whip before jumping the first fence.
- Course walk times are announced in advance so don’t miss your course walk.
- Wait for the bell before you begin.
- Three refusals is elimination.
- Fall of a rider is elimination.
- Eventing watches are not allowed.
** ARENA EVENTING TIP **
“Combining rustic Eventing-style obstacles with the reliability of an all-weather Show Jumping surface, offers plenty of perks. The combination of this and the excitement of a new venue is sure to spark some enthusiasm, so you’ll need to spend time learning to embrace the extra energy rather than fighting it.”
-Gemma Tattersall, British Event rider.
Eventing
Eventing consists of a Dressage test, a round of Show Jumping & a round of Cross Country with a combined score at the end of the three. There is a time limit in both jumping phases with time faults for being over the time limit. Faults in the Show Jumping are at 4f per knock down or refusal, with elimination if you have three refusals. Faults in the Cross Country are at 20 penalties per refusal, with also elimination if you have three refusals. If you get eliminated in a phase, you cannot continue to the next phase.
The dress codes for Eventing are the same as Dressage, Show Jumping & Arena Eventing (for the Cross Country section).
There are only a few differences:
- Schooling whips are not permitted in the Dressage phase.
- Callers are not allowed in the Dressage phase.
- Number bibs must be worn in all three disciplines.
- Eventing watches can be worn in the Cross Country phase.
** EVENTING TIP **
“You ride all three phases on one day, so it’s more important than ever not to overdo your warm up. The last thing you want is a tired horse in the Cross Country phase. I often only jump two or three fences in my XC warm up as the first five fences on course are a bit like a warm up anyway.”
- William Fox Pitt, British Event rider.
The dress codes for Eventing are the same as Dressage, Show Jumping & Arena Eventing (for the Cross Country section).
There are only a few differences:
- Schooling whips are not permitted in the Dressage phase.
- Callers are not allowed in the Dressage phase.
- Number bibs must be worn in all three disciplines.
- Eventing watches can be worn in the Cross Country phase.
** EVENTING TIP **
“You ride all three phases on one day, so it’s more important than ever not to overdo your warm up. The last thing you want is a tired horse in the Cross Country phase. I often only jump two or three fences in my XC warm up as the first five fences on course are a bit like a warm up anyway.”
- William Fox Pitt, British Event rider.
