So, for all you oldies out there, here are the rules!  (By the way, EVERYONE CAN ENTER, not just geriatrics, please read ALL the blurb below, BEFORE you enter.  Ignorance of the requirements is no defence, sorry!!)

This is an ONLINE competition.

1.  You choose your tests from the level that you nominate in.  Enter on www.nominate.com.au under Dressage and ONLINE.
2.  You get to do TWO tests from that level, either the same one twice, or two different tests.  Video them as per the videoing rules below.  The date of videoing must be AFTER you nominate and pay, and BEFORE August 30^th, midnight, Qld time.
3. Upload your video as Unlisted, and send the Youtube link and your Nominate receipt screenshot or similar to cct6327@gmail.com anytime between August 1^st and August 31^th, at midnight, Qld time.
4. You can do this in one go, or two.  Maybe you would like to do the first test early in the month, and then the second later, after you have practised some more.
5. When you send the link and proof of payment, the link will be sent to the judges who will try to keep to a week turnaround to get your scoresheet back to you.
6. All through the month, there will be updates on the Facebook Group page ‘The Great Sport of Geriatric Dressage!’.  Be sure to keep in touch.
7. There are prizes for all sorts of things, not just highest percentages- Oldest rider, oldest horse, oldest combination, hairiest horse, best walk from the arena, etc, etc….  The prizes are up to the judges ;)
8. There will be an embroidered rug for the highest average percentage, BUT this includes the Advantages and Handicaps-
   1. You get 1% extra for the rider/driver being 60 to 69 years old
   2. You get 2% extra for the rider/driver being 70 to 79 years old
   3. You get 3% extra for the rider/driver being 80 years old or over
   4. You get 1% HANDICAP for the rider/driver being 40 to 49 years old
   5. You get 2% HANDICAP for the rider/driver being 30 to 39 years old
   6. You get 3% HANDICAP for the rider/driver being under 30 years old
   7. You get 1% EXTRA if your horse is 18 to 24 years old
   8. You get 2% EXTRA if your horse is 25 to 29 years old
   1. You get 3% EXTRA if your horse is 30 years old or over
9. Here are the levels you can enter
   1. Prep/Prelim Ridden Dressage tests, including Freestyle
   2. Novice/Elementary Ridden Dressage tests, including Freestyle
   3. Medium/Advanced Ridden Dressage tests, including Freestyle
   4. FEI Ridden Dressage tests, including Freestyle
   5. Drive-W Driving Challenge test
   6. Drive-1 Driving Challenge test
   7. Drive-2 Driving Challenge test

(email cct6327@gmail for copies of any of the Driving Challenge tests and rules or send a facebook Messenger PM to Corby Cunnington to discuss)

IF YOUR HORSE DOES NOT HAVE AN EA NUMBER, just put some zeros in, instead.

10. NOTE FROM HOME – an important part of Geriatric Dressage is the imaginative ‘Note from Home’.  There are no gear or dress restrictions, except where safety and horse welfare is an issue.  BUT, if you deviate from EA/FEI rules, you must ask for ‘permission’ in your Note from Home.  Judges may choose to ‘accept’ your note, or perhaps give you a handicap, depending on what you are asking for.

Examples – ‘Dear Judge, please excuse Jillian from doing sitting trot.  I am forgiving, but not THAT forgiving.  Signed, Jillian’s horse…’ OR ‘Dear Judge, please allow my mother to use a running martingale and neck strap in her test.  Her last Bone Mineral Density test result was as shit as her score from this test is likely to be.  Signed, very loving and caring daughter….’.  THERE ARE PRIZES FOR THE BEST NOTES FROM HOME.

11. You must be a member of the South Burnett Equestrian Group.  You can have ‘real’ membership for $35 for the year, or ‘online’ membership from $15 which will get you two Online Geriatric Dressage events, one in February and one in August.  The cheapest EA-affiliated Club membership in Oz, we reckon…
12. Yes, you can dress up, but not as Lady Godiva, please…
13. Yes, you can enter more than one level.  Yes, you can enter more than one horse.  Yes, a horse can be entered by more than one rider/driver.  Yes, the same horse can do different disciplines.  Yes, you can enter a pair and/or four-in-hand in the Driving classes.

Arena requirements for videoing

Tests must be conducted in an approximately 60m x 20m arena (for ridden tests and for Drive-W and Drive-1 for small ponies) or 40m x 80m (for Drive-1 and Drive-2), either in a specifically constructed arena or a grass paddock

Arena boundary must be clearly demarcated by a portable dressage arena or similar, or cones or other obvious safely constructed boundary

Arena letters must be clearly marked and in the correct position around the arena

Video requirements

Videos must be taken from C for all ridden tests 

Videos must be taken from B in a 40m x 80m arena in Drive-1 and Drive-2 Challenge Tests

Videos must be taken from B in a 20m x 60m arena in Drive-W and Drive-1 for Small Ponies Challenge Tests

Videos must be clear with minimal shaking

Videos must be taken in one continuous viewing – movements cannot be cut and pasted together

Videos are not to be edited to include effects or enhancing

Appropriate zooming is highly encouraged to assist the judges. Riders/drivers may lose marks if the judge is unable to accurately view the movement

Submitted videos must have been taken AFTER the date the nomination has been received through www.nominate.com.au, and before the end of August

Videos must be UPLOADED to Youtube during the month of August

Callers are permitted in all tests

Protective Headgear: For all riders/drivers/backsteppers, EA approved and yellow tagged safety helmets must be worn at all times

Body protectors are compulsory for all drivers or backsteppers under 18 years of age, and encouraged for everyone else, riding or driving

Dress: Formal attire is not required. Riders may wear any colour pants and shirt, so long as they are tidy and sunsafe. Drivers and backsteppers need to be tidy.  Shorts are not permitted.  Dress-up of fancy dress is allowed, where safe.

Horse Identification Numbers do not need to be worn.

Yellow EA helmet tags must be visible, for all riders, drivers and backsteppers.

ENQUIRIES TO cct6327@gmail.com or through Facebook messenger to Corby Cunnington.