AEC Program

202 1 AEC PROGRAM 46 LEVELS OF EVENTING BEGINNER NOVICE: The Beginner Novice level is designed to introduce green horses and riders to horse trials, combining dressage, cross-country, and beginner jumping tests. It is designed for competitors and horses that have already had experience schooling competitions in all three disciplines. The entire experience should be safe, inviting, and educational to build confidence and a desire to progress. Competitors should be prepared to do a walk, trot, and canter dressage test with 20-meter figures and a halt. The cross-country should include a variety of introductory obstacles, including a bank-up, a shallow natural ditch, an inviting water crossing, and a brush. The jumping course should be inviting and straightforward and may include one double of two strides. NOVICE: The Novice level is a continuing introduction to horse trials. It is designed for competitors and horses with some experience at lower levels or for experienced riders and horses new to the sport. The dressage tests ask them to perform the three gaits of walk, trot, and canter, and some basic figures. The cross-country fences are very straightforward and inviting, helping to teach the horse to gallop and jump in balance. Show jumping courses are also straightforward, and may include a double combination (two fences generally with two or less strides between them). TRAINING: Training level helps further develop confidence and accuracy. The dressage tests ask for more development within the gaits, including some lengthening, and also more technical figures. On cross-country the competitors will see combinations, which means two or three obstacles which are related to one another, therefore requiring an accurate route and pace between them. The show jumping courses increase slightly in difficulty, and may include two double combinations or a triple combination. MODIFIED: The Modified level is for the Training level horse with the intent on progressing to the FEI CCI* and Preliminary level. The dressage may include medium paces at trot and canter, as well as the introduction of leg yielding, and changes of lead through trot. The cross-country course should introduce tests of accuracy, agility and boldness, control, judgment, and jumping ability. The show jumping course shall include two doubles, or a double and a triple combination. PRELIMINARY: This is the level which starts to prepare some horses for international competition. More advanced movements, such as leg yield, shoulder-in, and rein back are introduced into the dressage test. The cross- country courses become more technical, asking the horse and rider to negotiate not only bigger obstacles, but also those that require very precise approaches. The show jumping courses also emphasize accuracy, with the horse needing to be more adjustable and agile in order to leave all the rails in their cups.

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