From: Dan
Dear Jessica, the rumors are flying around our eventing barn, and I thought I would come to you for the straight scoop. Most of us are eventing at lower levels, Prelim and under, but we have a couple of Advanced riders who go to the big events. What we've all been hearing lately is that because of all the deaths last year in big-time eventing, there's going to be some international changes in course design. This is where it gets vague. I've heard that jumps are going to be lower in each division. My instructor says that he hasn't heard that, but he's heard that the fences are going to be designed to come apart much more easily, like if the horse hits them lightly. Someone else at the barn heard that you would have to retire on course if your horse hit a fence even if it wasn't a hard hit and nobody fell. What's the real story? I want to know what's going to be different this year!
Thank you!
Dan
Hi Dan! I've heard all those rumours too, but here's what I've heard from a couple of course designers:
There will indeed be some changes in design, and extreme verticals will be phased out in favour of jumps with an ascending face.
Jumps will be made to appear more solid, less airy and open, especially at the lower levels.
Terrain will become even more important, and the nature of the terrain will be taken into account when jump HEIGHTS are established. If the terrain itself serves to increase the difficulty of a particular jump or jumping effort, that jump may be reduced in height.
I wouldn't worry about jumps falling apart -- that's a dangerous notion, and I don't think that it's going to be implemented. Cross-country jumping isn't meant to be an outside-course version of stadium jumping. ;-)
For the best and most up-to-date information, get in touch with the USCTA -- better yet, find out who is designing the courses for the events you plan to attend, and talk to the course designers!
Jessica
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