The USEA Eventing By The Levels Handbook

70 Advanced Level Teaching and Rider Requirements Required for ECP Coaches Level V Advanced Level Purpose The Advanced Level is the highest national level of Horse Trials. It offers tests of significant difficulty designed to prepare compet- itors and horses for either Four- or Five-Star Events. The requirements for Advanced Level competition represent the culmination of all knowledge and experience earned through the progression through the levels. Open to competitors from the beginning of the calendar year of their 18th birthday, on horses six years of age or older. Both the competitor and the horse must have obtained the required MERs. ADVANCED Advanced Specifications for Competition (for complete specifications refer to the USEF Rules For Eventing): Show Jumping • Maximum course length 600m • Speed 375mpm • Jumping efforts 13-15 • Height 4'1" • Spread 4'9" • Spread triple bar 5'5" Cross-Country • Distance 3200-3990m • Speed 570mpm • Jumping efforts 32-40 • Fixed height 3'11" Advanced Level Rider Expectations Overview Riders at the Advanced Level should be able to successfully execute all expectations of the Starter through Intermediate Level Requirements. Advanced Level Riders should have a sophistication of riding skills and a comprehension of horse training and management which only result from years of progression, training, success, and cumulative experience at the previous levels. They should ride on an instinctive level rather than just a technical level. The Advanced level rider should have a highly developed sense of feel that allows the rider to feel how the horse is performing and reacting to the aids and instantaneously react accordingly. They should be able to feel or sense when a problem is 'about' to happen and be able to prevent it before it occurs. At this level the rider should have developed a rapport with the horse in all three phases. The level of communication between the horse and rider should be refined and instinctive, so that a true partner- ship is formed. At the Advanced Level, the rider is the trainer. Advanced level riders should have had significant exposure over many years to high quality instruction and coaching for the sport of eventing, as well as mentors in all aspects of training and horsemanship. Advanced level riders should continue to surround themselves with qualified professional eyes on the ground as a regular part of their training pro- gram. The higher degree of technical and physical difficulty expected at the Advanced level must be reserved only for horses and riders who are both capable and properly pre- pared physically and mentally. All aspects of horse health and management must be directly overseen by the rider at this level. Advanced riders should know how to identify po- tential health and soundness issues, adjust their program ac- cordingly, and should assess and minimize the risk of injury to their horse in every aspect of their management program. The rider should assemble a team of professionals, including veterinarians, grooms, farriers, therapy providers, Coaches, coaches, and mentors who have the knowledge and expe- rience required to produce and maintain equine athletes at this level. Riders must have complete knowledge and un- derstanding of all USEF rules governing participation in competition at the Advanced Level, and FEI rules govern- ing CCI4* and CCI5* competitions as appropriate. • Brush height 4'7" • Top spread 5'11" • Base spread 8'10" • Drop height 6'7"

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