riding down

[bankroll]

What are the rules on riding down grades in events? Can the same horse and rider combination compete at, for example, Novice level and then enter subsequent competitions at a lower level? Are any penalties involved and how many grades can you ride down?

[Lara]

This is cut and pasted directly from the eventing rules.

Riding Down
Riding Down is the act of competing at a lower level than that for which a
horse is qualified.
Riding Down one level from a higher level for which a horse is qualified,
carries no penalty. Riding Down two or more levels will incur twenty one
penalties, to be added to the total of faults for the three phases.
It is the responsibility of the competitor to inform the Organising Committee at
the time of entry that he is riding down two or more levels.

Riding Down: Championships.
A horse shall not be allowed to ride down directly to a Championship. If a
horse has been ridden down, it shall only be allowed to compete at a
Championships if it has competed only at the lower level for the 12 calendar
months prior to the Championships.

Riding Down: New Rider
A horse qualified for a certain level, upon having a new rider, shall be able to
reduce any number of levels without penalty, to the highest level for which the
new rider is qualified. It shall then be considered to be classified at that level.