A few of you have asked about the virtual show that May and I entered and how it works. Karen did a post this morning with the full breakdown for the show I am doing, but I figured that it was still worth a post!
Dressage
Dressage is probably the easiest element to roll out in the digital format. You do need to set up an actual Dressage arena, but your “letters” can be any place holders (flowers, cones, etc etc) and the boundaries can be poles on the ground. All you have to do is have someone videotape the test from C. (not editing!)
Dressage is judged like any Dressage test. The judge watches the video and scores you.
Show Jumping
This one is a bit trickier, but the show I entered had a great solution. They sent out a jump course diagram with 6 jumps and 9 jumping efforts. As you can see, the two straight lines have distances.
They also said that, for Novice and above, to include a vertical 2 strides after 7. There are two criteria for the judging of SJ:
- Clear Round
- Style points (1-10)
So it’s a bit more like an equitation round that a true Show Jumping Round. Just like Dressage, you have someone video the entire course (again, no editing!), and you submit the video.
Other Rules
Helmets are 100% mandatory, and the equipment rules are the same as those for USEF. Obviously, there is no bit check, but an obviously illegal bit will cause disqualification. You also can’t use martingales or boots in Dressage etc etc.
That being said, there really wasn’t any dress code. I tried to dress up, but it was suddenly really cold in KY for the 2 days that I took my videos so… I am wearing sweaters in both videos. Oh well.
Awards
Honestly, I paid about 0 attention to the award part of this, and I am still not 100% sure how it works. (and I might have sacrificed my award, but I’ll get into that later).
They are awarding 1 – 6 place ribbons for each division. They are offering either local pick up or the shipping of a ribbon. Because who doesn’t want another piece of satin? (Also… seems like an interesting item to bring out in about 50 years when we’re telling our grand kids about the pandemic of 2020.)
What I Entered
I ended up doing Novice Test A for my dressage test and BN for SJ. I wanted to get a score for a Novice test as a baseline and to get some feedback, but I didn’t feel like we were ready to SJ at the full Novice height. (and I am glad I didn’t attempt that because we STRUGGLED this week.)
So I am not sure if this really counts as a CT or I will just be judged against other BN riders in SJ and other N riders in Dressage… Heaven knows. BUT it did break up the monotony and ended up being great practice for both of us.
What do you think? Would you ever enter a virtual show?
Interesting how everyone is doing these differently. With so many barns around here closed, some virtual shows are accepting previously filmed rides so courses are flexible, dressage tests are flexible, and flat work is flexible for for hack classes. The one show I saw has hunters, eq, dressage, and mini classes w/ 3 judges. Maybe I should clean Jiminy up and enter him!! Hunter in hand? W/t and cross rails? Lol!!!
Interesting! I wouldn’t mind doing a couple of true “hunter” and equitation classes with May haha. We even got some flying lead changes last night, so that means we’re hunters now, right? 😉
I’d love to enter a virtual CT. Looks like a lot of fun and what great feedback
Set stuff up and ride it today or tomorrow! The last day to enter is tomorrow 😉
Sounds like a fun alternative to getting to a real show. Good luck!
It was fun and definitely was great practice!
you are way too ambitious for me but I am here for you throughout it 🙂 HA HA
Haha haha you could do it 😜
I love this! I’m not currently somewhere that I can set up an SJ course, but wish I could. What fun motivation!
I entered a dressage show! I set up a nice ring and got Husby film. I didn’t have the best warm up as I was already testing his patience with time lol but the ring is set now and I will definitely do other tests!
Awesome! I think it’s always great to get a judge’s eyes on a test, even when we know we can do better. It really helps pinpoint where those points were lost. (or gained!)
I would be so keen to enter a virtual CT or jumping comp just for the experience and doing a course. And feedback of course. B is about to whack me over the back of my head with a stick because he is sick.to.death of the flatwork
Youuuuu should enter the next one hahaha. Might be not able to get your ribbon hahaha but you can still ride a test and do the course
That would be an experience! Your tests are so different to ours I swear!
You’d be an international competitor 😜
Hahaha, going straight on the CV
Sounds like fun! I love that they’re even sending ribbons.