RDA South East Region Challenge Day

Conditions of Entry

1. Please ensure you are familiar with the RDA Competition Rules 2022, which can be accessed here: https://www.myrda.org.uk/assets/RDA-Rulebook-2022.pdf.

2. All horses travelling to the Regional Qualifier must have a valid passport from which the horse’s identification will be verified. The passport must contain all vaccination d

Conditions of Entry

1. Please ensure you are familiar with the RDA Competition Rules 2022, which can be accessed here: https://www.myrda.org.uk/assets/RDA-Rulebook-2022.pdf.

2. All horses travelling to the Regional Qualifier must have a valid passport from which the horse’s identification will be verified. The passport must contain all vaccination details which must be up to date, completely and clearly recorded, signed and stamped by a veterinary surgeon, who is not the owner of the animal. Passports will be checked on arrival and passports with missing, altered, unclear or incomplete vaccine records will not be accepted and entry to the event may be refused.
The horse must receive a primary course of two injections against equine influenza given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart (only these first two injections need to be given before the horse may compete). In addition, a first booster injection must be given no less than 150 days and no more than 215 days after the second injection of the primary course. Subsequent booster injections must be given at intervals of not more than 365 days apart, commencing after the first booster injection. 
Those horses attending the RDA National Championships must have received a subsequent vaccination in the preceding 6 months of the event.
None of these injections can be given within the seven days before either the regional or national competition. Vaccination records will be checked by a vet in attendance. 
If your horse has not been vaccinated against equine influenza in accordance with the above requirements, it will not be permitted entry to the event. 
Please note, vaccinations need to be up to date for ALL classes, including non-qualifying classes. A representative from our Regional Vet team will be on hand to assist and answer any queries.
Further information can be found here: https://www.myrda.org.uk/runningyourgroup/horses-and-rda/vaccinations/.

3. Competitors must be medically fit for the activities they undertake. It is the responsibility of all competitors to ensure that they are medically fit to compete. Where necessary their parents/guardians must take this responsibility. The organisers reserve the right to require any competitor to withdraw. The complexity of the event requires strict observation of health and safety guidelines at all times by everyone involved. In order to minimise risk of accidents you are asked to comply with any instructions given by a Steward.

4. The use of any herbal, natural or chemical product to affect the performance of a horse or pony in a calming (tranquillising) manner is strictly forbidden under RDA rules. The use of such products during competition has important safety and welfare consequences.
The RDA follows the lead of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) and British Equestrian with respect to the medication of horses used in competition. A full list of banned substances can be found on the FEI’s Clean Sport website.
The RDA does make certain, specific exceptions to the FEI’s list of controlled and banned substances with respect to the population of horses engaging in RDA activities. Some of these medications need to be declared in order to be permitted. It is strongly recommended that you familiarise yourself with the Prohibited Substances Policy under the National Championships section of the RDA website.

5. Horses and ponies must be five years old or over.

6. Any height of horse or pony is allowed in any class.

7. In line with standard RDA policy, stallions must not be used in any RDA competitions.

8. Bitless bridles are not permitted in any discipline.

9. Each horse may only enter a maximum of five ridden classes including lead rein each day. These must not comprise of more than four in any one discipline.

10. Competitors may compete with more than one horse but may not compete more than one horse in any one class.

11. If a horse becomes unsettled to the point at which it poses a risk to the rider, helpers, the judge and others in the immediate area the judge has discretion to ask the horse/rider combination to leave the judging area.

12. Before entering, please ensure that you consult the RDA weight chart to ensure that your horse/rider combination is suitable.
RDA has created an Excel calculator to help groups work out the maximum carrying weight a horse can carry. Please see the myRDA website (Equines in RDA/Health & Welfare) for further information.
RDA reserves the right to check any rider/horse combination considered not to comply with the limits set out on the weight chart on RDA’s website. If a combination is found to be outside the parameters action may be taken.

13. All riders’ hats must be of current standard (current guidelines can be found here: https://www.myrda.org.uk/runningyourgroup/health-safety/hat-rules-regulations/). Hats will be checked and tagged on collection of numbers and must be tagged for the National Championships. It is the sole responsibility of riders/guardians to ensure that at all times while on horseback, they wear correctly fitted protective headgear and that chin straps must be securely fastened.

14. For all Visually Impaired Countryside Challenge qualifying classes please ensure proof of British Blind Sport classification is brought to the secretary on the day of competition to be presented before numbers are collected. This must also be sent to the National Championships secretary upon qualification.

15. Horses may be ridden and schooled for up to 20 minutes per day by the trainer/coach or their nominated representative during competition hours. The horse may only be warmed up in permitted saddlery and bits. Only the competitor may ride the horse during the 20 minutes immediately before the test.

16. Walk only outside the arenas.

17. Riders must be aware that they may be photographed and videoed during the event. If you have any strong objections to either being videoed or photographed please make this clear at time of entry.

18. The organiser of this event has taken reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of everyone present. For these measures to be effective everyone must take all reasonable precautions to avoid and prevent accidents occurring and must obey the instructions of the organisers, officials and stewards.

19. Neither the organiser nor any person acting on their behalf accepts any liability for any loss, damage, accident, injury or illness to horses, riders, and spectators or any other persons or property whatsoever.

20. There may be circumstances where the event has to be postponed, cancelled, abandoned or curtailed as a result of circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, for example as a result of inclement weather, making it impractical to hold the event. In such circumstances, once any administration fees have been deducted, entry fees will be refunded.

21. Refunds for entry fees may be issued for withdrawals/cancellations and will be considered on an individual basis, partial refunds may be given. The Organiser’s decision is final.

22. On the day, each rider will be required to present themselves for a tack and equipment check at least 15 minutes before their allotted test time. Following the tack and equipment check, please present yourself to your arena steward.

23. Dogs are permitted at this event and must be kept on a lead at all times. They will not be permitted in the stable or competition areas.