The Grading System - If you've got questions, we have the answers
There is now a questions and answers sheet to help you.
From Lesley Sullivan, Chair Australian Dressage Committee:
"Unfortunately the new grading system will not be implemented on 1/7/10 as planned. You will re-call that we did say that the new system was subject to the EA data base system being able to handle it.
The National Office is in the process of overhauling the whole IT system and the grading system is caught up in this process.
We did initially say that the 1/7/10 date was subject to the data base being ready for it which apparently it is not.
Also there is a concern about not having enough time for the required training of personnel in the new system.
Grant Baldock (CEO) has advised that EA will be working towards an implementation date of 1/12/10.
Because of the delay in the implementation of the new grading system the ADC has agreed that an ‘amnesty’ on the accruing of grading points will apply to horses, the same as it currently does for ponies, effective from 1/7/10 until such time as the new grading system is implemented. Riders will still be required to keep a record of their performances for qualification purposes. In addition all horse results need to continue to be entered on the National data base but without accruing any grading points.
The reason for the above is due to the fact that there are many, many riders who have planned their competition programme around the implementation date of 1/7/10 in order to keep their horses at their current level. Another added bonus is the fact that all horses and ponies now know what their grading will be. So will the Branches and they can then work on getting new performance cards out to the riders/owners before the implementation date."
You can download the QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS here.
The following information gives riders time to become familiar with the new system which will hopefully enable them to plan their competition schedule to prevent any upgrading between now and when it is implemented.
· The new system is based purely on performances
· Placings will not count for grading
· Preliminary and Novice are once again separate levels
· Horses/ponies are only upgraded once they have gained 30 up-grading points in a higher level than their grading
How will the system work?
· On the implementation date, a horse or pony will be graded at its current level (e.g. Elementary) with no grading points.
· The horse/pony can continue to compete in Elementary competitions until such time as it gains 30 upgrading points that have been gained by competing successfully at a higher level than Elementary (e.g. Medium or above)
· Once the horse/pony has gained 30 upgrading points at a higher level than it is graded then the horse/pony will be upgraded to the next level (e.g. Medium). After upgrading the horse/pony has zero (O) grading points and zero (0) upgrading points until it competes at a higher level (e.g.) Advanced.
Horses/Ponies currently graded Preliminary/Novice
Preliminary and Novice are once again separate levels. In the interest of the sport and in an effort to have a level playing field those horses currently graded Preliminary/Novice with less than 30 points currently will be graded Preliminary with 0 points. Those horses currently graded Preliminary/Novice with between 30 and 59 points should be graded Novice with 0 points.
Performance Card
A new performance card is being developed that will look and work like this (based on the horse being graded Elementary as if implementation was at 1/7/10:
|
Date
|
Venue
|
Comp
|
Total %
|
Grading Point/s
|
Upgrading Points
|
Total Upgrading Points
|
Grading
|
|
30/6/10
|
Horse/Pony graded Elementary
|
-
|
-
|
118
|
-
|
|
|
|
1/7/10
|
Horse/Pony graded Elementary
|
-
|
-
|
Zero
|
Zero
|
|
|
|
2/7/10
|
Behind the Black Stump
|
3B
|
67.8%
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
Element
|
|
2/8/10
|
Ditto
|
3C
|
72.2%
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
Element
|
|
2/9/10
|
Back of Bourke
|
3B
|
72.2%
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
Element
|
|
7/9/10
|
Ditto
|
3C
|
74.4%
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
Element
|
|
|
|
4A
|
74.75
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
Element
|
|
|
|
4B
|
76.65
|
7
|
7
|
14
|
Element
|
|
|
|
4C
|
71.4%
|
6
|
6
|
20
|
Element
|
|
|
|
5A
|
70.6%
|
6
|
6
|
26
|
Element
|
|
|
|
3D
|
76.85
|
7
|
0
|
26
|
Element
|
|
|
|
3C
|
76.2%
|
7
|
0
|
26
|
Element
|
|
|
|
4B
|
69%
|
5
|
5
|
31
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
4A
|
65%
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
4C
|
65.5%
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
4B
|
70%
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
4B
|
75.9%
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
5A
|
70.6%
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
Medium
|
The above horse/pony can continue to compete Medium until such time as it accrues 30 upgrading points gained in Advanced or above competitions.
Rule Book
The rule book will be amended as follows:
1.13 Grading Points
· horses and ponies are graded on a points system based on percentage gained
· points are accrued when the horse or pony gains 60% or above in Official competitions from Preliminary level and above
· points gained at Official competitions outside Australia will also be counted
· for pony competition, grading points are only applicable when the competition is open to any rider aged 10 years and over (i.e. not divided into separate Junior and Senior competitions)
· when, for any reason, the height of a horse/pony changes and they are required
1.13.1 Awarding of Grading Points
· grading points are awarded based on percentage only (not placing)
· grading points are only awarded from performances in Official competitions as follows regardless of placing:
Ø Between 60% to 61.999% = 1 point
Ø Between 62% to 63.999% = 2 points
Ø Between 64% to 65.999% = 3 points
Ø Between 66% to 67.999% = 4 points
Ø Between 68% to 69.999% = 5 points
Ø Between 70% to 71.999% = 6 points
Ø 72% and over = 7 points
The following competitions do not incur grading points
· Freestyle competitions
· Young Rider competitions
· Young Horse competitions
· Associate competitions – open or restricted (e.g: interschool)
1.14 Eligibility of Horses and Ponies for Each Level
· in Official competitions the following criteria apply at the closing date of entries
· upon gaining 30 points in any higher level than the horse/pony is graded as defined in the table below, that horse/pony may not compete in any level below that grade except HC
· all points earned during an event will be added to the horses grading points at the level at which they were earned
|
Level
|
Points Required
|
|
horses/ponies with less than 30 points in Novice or above
|
|
horses/ponies with less than 30 points in Elementary or above
|
|
horses/ponies with less than 30 points in Medium or above
|
|
horses/ponies with less than 30 points in Advanced and above
|
|
horses/ponies with less than 30 points in FEI competitions
|
|
horses/ponies that have on two occasions at different events achieved
|
|
horses that have:
|
|
ponies graded at least Elementary
|
|
horses that have gained 60% or better at Prix St Georges
|
1.16 Down-Grading of Horses/Ponies
Applications for down-grading of horses/ponies for any category of competition must be directed to the SDA and the following applies:
· each request will be considered separately and on its merit
· applications for down-grading must be made in writing with supporting documentation
· the decision to down-grade is entirely at the discretion of the SDA
Down-grading
The following is our current downgrading rule:
· may occur only once in the duration of a rider’s partnership with the horse/pony
· may occur more than once in a horse/pony’s lifetime but not more than once in a two-year period
· will only apply to those graded at least Elementary level and above
· if approved, a horse/pony will be down-graded a maximum of three levels e.g: Advanced to Novice
· if the horse is ridden by someone other than the rider for whom the downgrade is requested, it must compete at its previous level and any grading points earned will be awarded in relation to that previous level
1.19 Hors Concors (HC) – Amend the first dot point to read ‘horses/ponies may compete HC at any level’ below their grade and only level above their grade
Downgrading
You may have been upgraded too quickly in the recent past. Some horses have actually been upgraded from say Novice to half way through Elementary without even having an Elementary start!!!!
If you find yourself in this sort of position then you need to apply to your SDA for a down grade, stating the reason for your application.
Comments and Feedback
Please be advised that the ADC is prepared to reconsider changes to 1.14 above in relation to the criteria to compete in the FEI levels when it meets with SDAs in September. Any changes as a result of this meeting will be effective from 1/1/11.
All comments/feedback/suggestions must be forwarded to Lesley Sullivan, Chair ADC – contact details listed below under NT/QLD – and must be received no later than 31 July 2010.
Queries – Who to Contact
If you have any queries about how the new grading system will operate or how it will affect you personally please contact the following person in your state:
|
NSW
Robyn Targa
Phone: 02 4448 6442 or
Mobile: 0402 117 142
E-mail: targas@bigpond.net.au
|
NT & QLD
Lesley Sullivan
PO Box 6221
TWEED HEADS SOUTH NSW 2486
Mobile: 0412 896 360
E-mail: lsullivan11@optusnet.com.au
|
SA
Lorraine Wohling
Phone - 08 8536 2449 (ah)
Mobile - 0408 851 636
E-mail: Lorraine_Wohling@yahoo.com.au
|
|
TAS
Pia Nowell
E-mail: nowell.pia@gmail.com
|
VIC
Jess Harmans, EV Dressage Co-ordinator
Phone: 03 9013 0707 ext 105
|
WA
Kim Thomas
Mobile: 0409 101 707
E-mail: zao5@bigpond.com
|
