Feature: The right time to level up

FEATURE

The right time to level up

Part of the fun of competing is acing your current level and moving up. The trick, says CHRISTINE ARMISHAW, is to know when the time’s right.

How do you know when it’s truly time to step it up a level? Generally speaking, the rule of thumb is to be competing at a level below the one you’re currently confidently training at. That way, when you go out to ride a dressage test or enter the show jumping ring, you are comfortable in the knowledge that this is familiar territory.

Ready or not?

In eventing, Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) are an additional set of tools at your disposal. I spoke with 5* Technical Delegate (TD) and Chair of the Equestrian Australia National Eventing Committee Des Hughes on the matter. He explained that from EvA95 up, the general rule is the horse and rider, as a combination, need to complete a set requirement of three MERs before becoming eligible to move up a level. “Generally, two of those MERs have to be clear of cross country faults and one can have twenty penalties,” Des explained.

On top of this, the combination also has to achieve a particular dressage percentage and meet certain show jumping requirements. “If you have more than twenty jumping penalties, you’re not allowed to go cross country,” says Des, calling to attention a recent rule change to the show jumping phase.

However, Des believes that just because you’ve achieved three MERs and can move up, this does not necessarily mean you should move up. “The more experience you have at a certain level, the more confidence you’re going to have going up to the next level,” he says. “There’s nothing wrong with sticking round and getting five, six, seven or even eight MERs at a particular level before you move up if that’s where you’re comfortable.”

I personally had a case with a green horse I was eventing who already had two good qualifying MERs at his current level, so only needed one more under his belt to move up. After a break he came back in a bit looky and a little

lacking in confidence. At the next event I took him to, he was backing off the cross country fences, had a few awkward jumps, and we ran over time. We even had a couple of rails in the show jumping. On the whole, he wasn’t giving me loads of ‘we got this’ vibes. However, the final result was still actually a qualifying MER score.

While we were technically eligible to move up a level at our next competition, that would have been a terrible decision. He simply hadn’t been jumping with confidence at the previous event. This is what listening to your horse is all about. A few events later, he was back to pulling me to the fences and eagerly asking ‘where’s the next one?’. Then I knew he was actually ready to step up. Do more than scrape through

MERs may be the minimum requirement, but like everything, the more time you put in at a certain level, the more competent you and your team mate will become. Don’t just aim to go up the grades to keep up with your friends. It’s a decision you have to make based on your horse, how they’re going, and how they’re finding the current demands. Is it just scraping by, or is it really excelling and oozing confidence coupled with control?

You also need to consider how you are feeling as a rider. Give thought to the reasons you are trying to move up to the next rung. Does your current level feel easy? Have the last few runs at this level been consistent? Or, are you just trying to run with the crowd, reaching for the level you think you should be at? Too many people are trying to run before they can walk. Equestrian sport is serious business and this attitude can lead to disaster.

One social media video compilation that sticks in my mind was of a young rider who was barely hanging onto a rearing horse in the start box, was practically bolted with across country, and had more than a few hairy moments. In her comments she announced that after the success of this event she had qualified to move up to 1*. Her nonhorsey parents were likely unaware of the escalating risk, and this is where the guidance of a good coach should most certainly have come into the picture. The wisdom of others

Work with a coach and use their experience and guidance to help determine your areas of strength and weakness. Even with his own daughter, Des made sure it was her coach who

FACING PAGE: Christine and Myal High El Capitano when they were training well again and ready to step it up a level (Image by Melissa Goodson, Snapshotaustralia) TOP: Des Hughes as Sector Controller with another official at Adelaide a few years ago (Image courtesy of Des Hughes). BOTTOM: If your horse isn't totally confident, stay at that level until they are.

The more time you put in at a certain level, the more competent you and your team mate will become (Image by Melissa Goodson, Snapshotaustralia).

was comfortable with her moving up through each grade. “Coaches are a really important tool in the development of riders. They know when their riders are ready to move up,” he comments.

In the throes of competition, Des points out that the TD’s role can also entail stepping down a rider if they are not happy with how they are riding at that level: “The TD can say, ‘for me, it’s a safety issue, I don’t think you’ve had enough experience, I’ve seen you warming your horse up. Sorry but you can’t go’. As a leader, you have to be on the ball and looking for those sorts of things.” This could be a rider in the warm up getting consistently too deep to the fences, having repeated ‘ugly’ jumps, or just looking like they’re really lacking confidence in their own riding.

It’s critical the rider themselves recognises that they are confident at their current level and are ready to go forward, and that their horse has enough experience to move forward too. So how can you tell if you’re ready? Des sums it up like this: “If the answer is ‘hmm maybe, maybe not’ to either one of those questions, then don’t go.”

Ponder this

In times gone by, Des has encouraged riders to stay at each level for twelve months before moving up. “You don’t have to go up just because you have your MERs,” he says. Good food for thought when reviewing your horse’s current attitude to things. You don’t want to blow their confidence, or your own, by being in too much of a rush.

Competitions should be a way for you to consolidate all of your training to date. Do everything you can to prepare at home, come out and give it your all, then, under the watchful eye of the judge, see how well it all comes together on the day. Use the experience as a way to self-analyse. If you or your horse feel even a little doubtful or less than fully committed, stay at your level a little longer. Spending more time in your current grade will only benefit you and your equine in the long term.

Indeed, it’s the wise horse trainer who can resist the shouting of their ego and instead heed the whispers of their horse and stand firm in their own capabilities. That’s not to say you shouldn’t move up, but don’t chase MERs - level up when the time is right.

Over at Equestrian Hub you’ll find additional Zoom content when Des talks more about MERs, the role of the TD, and how Sector Control works.