SCHEDULE & ENTRY FORM

Entries for the 2010 Burghley Young Event Horse Competition at Gatcombe on Friday 6th August 2010 have now closed.

FOR ALL QUERIES AND WITHDRAWALS PLEASE EMAIL: olliebush@btconnect.com or call 01884 32284

09.00 - 4 Year Old Class
11.30 approx - Final Judging & Prize Giving
12.30 approx - 5 Year Old Class
17.00 approx - Final Judging & Prize Giving

The Burghley Young Event Horse Series has been an exciting part of Burghley Horse Trials for nearly 20 years and quickly developed into a most useful tool for predicting potential 'four star' horses at an early age.

The aim of these classes is to encourage trainers and breeders to produce and present the correct type of young horse which is considered to be the best material to make a world class three day event horse.

Method of Judging:
The Judges should bear in mind that they are looking for potential for the future. Unfortunately, all too often, the horse with the most potential may not be the one which is presented in the best manner. We are looking for an athletic, loose moving horse with a promising jumping technique who with correct training will develop physically and mentally into a strong three day eventer.

In the DRESSAGE phase, unlike a normal dressage test, we are not assessing the state of training and marks are not given for individual movements. Therefore the judges may watch from wherever he will get the best view. Three correct, elastic and regular gaits through a swinging back are what we are seeking. The Judge will have to weigh up the influence of the rider; a good rider may present a well balanced, smooth test from perhaps a moderate, unscopey horse while a novice rider may even hinder a good horse from showing its true worth. It is the horse's, and not the rider's real potential we are looking for. Trainability should also be taken into account.

In the JUMPING phase we are looking for a bold athletic horse with good technique and a horse with these qualities, should not necessarily be penalised for knocking down one fence (or a four year old having one refusal), providing he learns from his mistake. Four year olds may find it easier to jump out of trot.

The horse's CONFORMATION AND TYPE should enable him to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina. Lack of quality and other defects which may prevent him being fast enough, should be penalised against him, even though he may make a nice dressage or show jumping horse. However, a lack of size should not be held against him. Equally one should not allow a possible prejudice against mares to affect any judgement. It is essential to encourage producers to give mares more of a chance if we are to establish a better breeding policy using proven mares.

In the SUITABILITY AND POTENTIAL section only the top ten horses are required to come forward. They will be judged for star quality and potential to make the ULTIMATE WORLD CLASS THREE DAY EVENT HORSE. These horses will be required to gallop. Ten marks will be awarded to the horse placed first, 9 to the second, 8 to the third etc., down to 1 to the tenth horse. These marks will then be added to those from the previous 3 sections to find the winner.

The winner is that with the highest overall marks from four sections:

SECTION I - DRESSAGE TEST 35 MARKS
Marking: 1-10 poor; 11-20 adequate; 21-30 good; 31-35 excellent


SECTION II - JUMPING 40 MARKS
This follows immediately after the dressage, No time will be allowed between these sections for any adjustment to tack or riders dress.
Maximum height of fences 0.90m (4 years) 1.05m (5 years).
Note: fence height at Final 1.00m (4 years) and 1.10m (5 years)

SECTION III - CONFIRMATION & TYPE 15 MARKS
Horses are assessed in hand by the conformation judge. Their build and type should enable them to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina.

SECTION IV - FINAL JUDGING (Suitability & Potential) 10 MARKS

Note: In the event of equality of marks at the end, i.e. after all four sections, the jumping mark will take precedence. Should this still produce an equality of marks, the highest mark attained in the final section will be the deciding factor.

One horse in every 15 starters qualifies for the Burghley Young Event Horse Finals which take place at The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials on Friday, 2nd September. For advanced bookings and further information on The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials see www.burghley-horse.co.uk.