Scoring (MeCTA) Horse Trials
c. 3/2008. USEA rules change often! Please do check that the current penalties match those listed here.
Make up a Master Score Board (sample #1) to post scores on. It needs columns for the Competitor’s Number, Rider’s Name, Horse’s Name, which will be filled out at the beginning of the day, one row per competitor. Then there must be columns for Dressage Score, Placing after Dressage, [XC jump penalties, XC time penalties], Cumulative Score, Placing, [Stadium jump penalties, Stadium Time penalties], Cumulative (final) Score, and Final Placing. Note that the XC and Stadium listings should be switched, if that’s how the event is run.
Dressage Scoring
Judges award good marks for each movement in a test and for each collective (the boxes at the bottom of the test). These good marks are tallied and converted to Penalty Points for eventing. Here’s how:
Add up the points in the right hand column (be sure to double any so designated). Add in the collective marks (bottom section of test sheet). If there were any Errors of Test (usually written in red by the judge), now is the time to subtract them. 2points for the first error, 4 points for the 2nd error. A 3rd error is Elimination. This gives you the TOTAL GOOD MARKS. (see sample #2)Divide the Total Good Marks by the Possible Good Marks (usually shown at the bottom of a test as “Total possible points” and equal to a rider scoring 10 for every movement and collective. The number is usually around 200 for eventing tests.) Multiply that number (Good Marks divided by Total Possible Good Marks) by 100 and round the result to 2 decimal places. To convert this percentage to Penalty Points, subtract that number from 100.Total Good Marks / Possible Good Marks) x 100 = xx.xx%
100 – xx.xx = Dressage Penalty Points This is the number you post.
Write the scores on the Master Score Board and mark the placings (lowest score is best!).
Cross Country Scoring
Every obstacle must have a jump judge with score sheets (Jump Judge Sheets, see sample #3), with spaces for each competitor who will be jumping that obstacle. So for a Beginner Novice course with 15 obstacles (for example), there must be 15 jump books with spaces in EACH for all the BN competitors.
To help you keep track of all this paper when it comes in from the XC course, you need to have XC Jump Score Sheets with a column for each obtacle and a row for each competitor. (See sample #4)
Scoring Jump Penalties – when the jump judge sheets come in, write the rider # at the far left and mark the penalties for each fence for that # on the XC Jump Score Sheet. (Note: Don’t pre-number the XC Jump score sheet – the riders may not start in numerical order. Number the score sheet in the same sequence as the jump judge sheet from Fence 1. At later fences on course, the sequence often changes as riders pass others or are eliminated) Check off each fence with no penalties, so you’re sure none were missed. This is best done with 2 people, one reading jump judge sheets, one marking the score sheet. Be sure you have all the jump sheets. Missing one (or more)? Ask the TA and Organizer to track them down!
- The 1st refusal or runout at an obstacle = 20 penalties
- The 2nd refusal or runout at an obstacle = 40 penalites
- The 3rd refusal or runout at an obstacle = Elimination
- The 1st fall of the competitor (related to an obstacle) = 65 penalties
- The 2nd fall of the competitor (related to an obstacle) = Elimination
- The 1st fall of a horse anywhere on the course = Mandatory Retirement (note: fall of horse means both hips and shoulders touch the ground)
If XC is timed, you will get Start and Finish time sheets (see sample #5). The watches for these two positions must have been synchronized before the beginning of XC. It will be easier for everyone involved if the Starter sends competitors off on even minutes (for example: 1:35:00 instead of 1:35:14). You will need to subtract the Start Time from the Finish Time to get Elapsed Time.
Optimum Time, Speed Fault Time, and Time Limit need to have been calculated for each course. These numbers are based on the length of each course and the posted speed at which they to be ridden.
Optimum Time = course length (in meters) / speed (in meters per minute)
If you do this on a calculator, you get decimal minutes, which must be converted to seconds. Here’s how:
For example, if the BN course is 1435meters and is to be ridden at 325mpm, 1435/325=4.415minutes
60 x 0.415 = 24.9 seconds, so the Optimum Time = 4minutes 25 seconds
Time Limit is twice the Optimum Time (in our example, 8minutes 50 seconds)
Speed Fault times are defined by the USEA and are listed in the Rule Book. They are calculated the same way as Optimum Time.
Each second over Optimum Time = 0.4 penalty points
Each second under Speed Fault Time = 0.4 penalty points
Exceeding the Time Limit = Elimination.
Some other odd details;
“Willful Delay” Walking, weaving, going slowly between the last fence and the finish line by someone who went too fast and is trying to avoid Speed penalties = 20 penalties.
“Early Start” Time is recorded at the actual time they left the start box, and 5 seconds penalty is added UNLESS speed faults apply, in which case 5 seconds penalty will be subtracted from the Elapsed Time.
Post the XC Jump Fault totals and the Time Penalties on the Master Score Board. Sum them, then add to the Dressage Score (=Cumulative score) and determine Placings.
Stadium or Show Jumping Scoring
The Stadium Judge will be responsible for most of this, but here are the basics:
IF the rounds are Timed,
Jump Faults – each knock down = 4 penalty points
1st disobedience (refusal, runout, etc) = 4 pts2nd disobedience = 8 pts3rd disobedience (on the entire course) = Elimination.1st fall of rider = 8 pts
2nd fall of rider = Elimination (at USEA the rider is eliminated after the 1st fall)
1st fall of horse = Mandatory Retirement (remember, hips and shoulders must touch the ground)
Time Faults – each second over the Time Allowed = 1 point penalty.
(Time Allowed is calculated the same way as Optimum Time for XC, distance/speed)
Time Limit = 2x the Time Allowed. Exceeding the Time Limit = Elimination.
Timing starts when the rider crosses between the Start Flags (going the correct direction) and stopped when they cross between the Finish Flags. The clock continues to run in the case of a fall, run-out, refusal. If a refusal results in a fence needing to be rebuilt, the judge will signal (whistle or bell), the clock stops, jump is rebuilt, judge signals again, the rider approaches the jump and the clock resumes, and a 6 second penalty is added to their time. All this should be recorded for you, but just in case… (see sample attachment #6)
If rounds are NOT TIMED (MeCTA only)
Jump faults: each knockdown = 4 penalty points
1st disobedience (refusal, runout, etc) = 14 pts2nd disobedience = 14 pts3rd disobedience = Elimination1st fall of rider = 38 pts2nd fall of rider = Elimination1st fall of horse = Mandatory RetirementPost the Jumping Faults (+ any Time penalties, if applicable)
Add to the Dressage and XC scores to get the FINAL SCORE, then figure the placings.
Remember: Low Score is Best!
For TIES at MeCTA events, the following procedures should be followed:
If a tie exists, the best XC score shall win.
If a tie remains, the time closest to Optimum Time shall win.
If the XC was untimed then the best Dressage score shall win.
If a tie remains, then the best Collective Marks shall win.
If a tie remains, a coin may be tossed to determine the winner.
Questions? Problems? Ask any T.A. or contact Wendy Bellows 207-633-3809 or wbellows@bigelow.org
INCOMPLETE - samples still to be added
text is OK, though
