FSCDA ~ CONDITIONS OF ENTRY (Effective June 2023)
RULES – Our competitions follow the current Equestrian Australia (EA) dressage rules. These change often! So please be familiar with them if you’re entering.
Our events generally follow the EA categories of:
- Closed Unrestricted (open to financial members of FSCDA and/or EA),
- Official Competitive (must be a financial member of EA and horses and ponies must have current registration with EA).
The FSCDA Organising Committee (OC) reserves the right to alter, amend or cancel any section of the program without notice.
ENTRIES – All entries must be made online via Nominate and be received by the closing date.
Scratchings and the draw are also managed through Nominate, along with full entry conditions.
TAGGED HELMETS – As per EA rules, ALL competitors must wear protective headgear at all times when mounted on a horse, tagged in accordance with EA requirements. For more information on this, visit the EA website.
BRIDLE NUMBERS – Bridle numbers are compulsory so judges and other officials can easily identify competitors.
Two numbers must be worn when competing – one on each side of the horse – on either the saddlecloth or the bridle and must be clearly legible – 3.5–4cm high.
The bridle number must also be clearly displayed on the horse whenever the horse is being ridden/lunged/led/tethered or grazed for the duration of the event. Numbers can be easily obtained for free from EA over the phone 02 9620-2660.
GEAR CHECK – per the new EA rule 4.4 (from 1 January 2024), riders must complete a gear check immediately AFTER each test. Failure to do so may lead to elimination.
COMPETITION CANCELLATION – If one of our events is cancelled, all competitors will be notified by email and the FSCDA Facebook page will be updated.
The OC will attempt to reschedule a cancelled event to an alternative date and entry fees will be carried over.
If an alternative date can’t be arranged or doesn’t suit a rider, entry fees will be refunded (excluding the rider levy).
CALLERS – Are allowed.
DOGS – Dogs (other than assistance dogs) are NOT encouraged at events. If present, dogs must be on a lead.
Dogs are not permitted in the following areas under any circumstances – arena grounds, lunging area, warm up area, gear check area, food preparation area or any office areas.
HORSES – Each horse may only compete in two consecutive levels (eg Prelim/Novice) and no more than two tests per day.
For insurance purposes, all horses on the ground must be entered in a competition.
RIDING ATTIRE – Riding attire for Official Competitive classes must comply with EA regulations.
Riding attire for Closed Unrestricted/Restricted events also includes approved short or long boots, gloves, club T-shirt or EA regulation shirt with optional jacket. If gaiters/chappettes are worn, the exposed side must be full grain leather; suede on the exposed side is not permitted.
Plaiting is optional, but preferred for official competitive events.
STALLIONS – Stallions must display the EA compliant “Green” Stallion Identification Discs or number holders as issued by EA, which must be worn at all times at an event, being clearly displayed on both sides of the stallion’s head (attached to bridle or halter) or both sides of the saddle cloth.
Stallions are to be handled as per the EA guidelines. More information on the Stallion Safe Guidelines can be found on the EA website.
WARM UP / LUNGING / ISOLATION AREA – At Cobargo Showground, warm up and lunging are restricted to their separate designated areas.
Please be aware of group riding rules when more than one horse is in the warm up area (see the EA dressage Rulebook Annexes F.10.2).
Lunging is NOT allowed in the warm up area or within the main showground.
Please stay away from the signed Isolation Area which is reserved for any horse that becomes ill on the day.
HOT WEATHER POLICY – The OC will follow the EA guidelines regarding hot weather, based on wet bulb temperature.
COMPETITION AREA – Competitors must not enter the designated competition area unless they are next to be judged and the rider competing before them has completed their final salute to the judge.
Any competitor that enters an arena other than for the purpose of being judged will be eliminated.
SPECTATORS / PHOTOGRAPHY – Spectators and any cameras must stay at least 10m away from any competition arena.
Spectators are urged to stay out of the warm up area, unless specifically assisting a competitor.
IMAGE CONSENT – By participating in this event you are consenting for you or your child/children being photographed or filmed, and for FSCDA to copy or reproduce such images as FSCDA may determine, without acknowledgement of yourself and without your entitlement to any remuneration or compensation now or in the future. FSCDA may use these images for promotional use, this includes but is not limited to, use on the FSCDA website, marketing material and in all forms of media. You understand photos in which you or your child/children appear may be submitted to FSCDA partners, stakeholders and sponsors who may also use these images for the purposes of promoting their association with FSCDA.
PROTESTS – All protests must be submitted in writing to the Secretary within 30 minutes of the incident that gave rise to the protest.
Written protests must be accompanied by a fee of $50, which will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
RESULTS – Tests and results will be automatically emailed by Nominate. Ribbons will be awarded up to 5th place in each test.
Any rider who fails to comply with these Conditions of Entry or a direction of a responsible official (judges, committee members, gear steward, etc) may be eliminated.