Natural Obstacle rules

[John Lechner]

I think after this weekend that one thing is clear about some rules, that is, they are unclear.

The question asked prior to X/C was; can we (intro), use another obstacle as an exit from a sunken road, it was more direct but flagged for Pre-novice.

Answer NO, you can't jump a flagged obstacle higher than your class.

However after several riders were eliminated for jumping the pre-novice they appealed and the TD checked with a FEI judge.

Apparently as long as it isn't a dangerous obstacle e.g. jumping an intermediate obstacle in intro class ( dont laugh it happened this weekend) then it's OK.

So, end of the day, what we really need is very clear rules so that both riders and officials can know where they stand.

By the way had a great weekend, first 3DE, loved it, was proud just to have completed, well done Phil, Debbie and many helpers.

[Keira]

yeah i know, ive had that problem, and can i say they need them pony club too, i lost my first place for jumping a jump one grade higher than i was... just because got in my way and i didnt have great turning or stopping control at that point!!!!

[Morgan]

Yeah I was also one of the riders eliminated...Thanks to debbie and phillip for following that up...also proud to have completed the 3DE and congrats to them for running such a smooth event.

I just wanted to also state something else....There was no way out of that suken road without going through higher grade flags...althought not 3DE the neck of the sunken rad was intermediate and advanced jump...how it was flagged. hehehehe....

Anyway....so glad I was not eliminated.

Thanks

[vince roche]

Hi. I was the "FEI Judge" .. well an FEI TD actually .. who gave a "second opinion" to the TD at Macathur 3DE. There is no reference in either national or FEI Rules to fences belonging to a different class, and over the years, the convention is that whether these flags are removed during other classes, or not, there is no penalty for jumping a fence used in another class, as this fence is deemed to "not exist". Providing that the fence for that class is jumped succesfully, in the correct order, once only and in the right direction, nothing else matters. Pony Club, on the other hand, does have a rule to eliminate people for jumping a fence from another class. I have never seen anyone come to grief jumping a fence from another class by accident, but theoretically it could happen. My general attitude as a TD to a situation such as this is: let commonsense prevail, as long as safety is not compromised. Vince