new 3de format

[.:~*DaN*~:.]

im not yet competing in eventing, but with the new format, will this be the set standard for all 3de's held in Australia from now on?
if so do you think its going to change much in the way of training for a comp such as the horse wont be required to be AS fit? and do you think that x- country courses will become longer and more challenging to compensate for this? and my last question, do other countries still follow the traditional format for their international events?

[vince roche]

Danielle, for International and National 3 day events, either option (either with steeple/ Phase A & C or alternatively without steeple and phases a & C) is allowable depending on what the organising committee wants to run. In fact 95%+ of OCs in the world are opting to run without steeple. In January here in NSW we ran a forum with 60 of our senior riders, and not a single senior riders wished Sydney to run with steeple at any level. so we didn't! However, I expect that Macarthur will continue to offer Steeple at its lower level CCN .. as that is what the riders wish.
Re fitness: Sydney 3De showed that the same level of fitness is required for both formats, and there were some seriously tired horses where riders underestimated the fitness required in the absence of Phases a b & c.
Re distances: The FEI reduced the distances for 4, 3, 2 & 1 Star 3Des 3 years ago by a minute... and this actually now requires more stamina. Think of it .. same number of obstacles in a shorter distance. Proportionally less time cruising along at a comfortable gallop and proportionally more time either slowing or speeding up.

Vince