1. NEC PRE NOVICE

2. NEC NOVICE

3. NEC INTERMEDIATE

4. NEC ADVANCE

All rides of 40 to 59 Kms in one day

All rides of 60 to 79 kms in one day

All rides between 80 to 119 kms in one day

All rides above 120 kms in one day or between 70 Kms and 79 Kms per day over two days

1.  All riders 14 years and above can participate in Senior Rides.

1.  Horses participating in National Endurance Championships cannot participate in any other discipline, in the same championship. Article 502 (JNEC) refers.

2.  Horses below 5 years of age cannot participate in National Endurance Championships. Horses must at least 5 years old to qualify at Pre Novice level of competition.

3.  Horses must be 6 years and above to participate in Novice and above levels.

4.  A horse that in the opinion of the Veterinary Commission has an irregularity of gait consistently at walk/ or at trot under all conditions and thought to cause pain or threaten the athletic future of the horse may be restricted from entering a competition.

5.  FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse:- At all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount.

Note:- In an endurance competition any member of Genus Equus counts as a “Horse”.

As per the EFI grading list.

1.  Upgrading of horses will take place for horses that have competed in the National Endurance Championships. Horses in the first four positions (Individual) in the National Endurance Championships are entitled to be upgraded to the next higher grade. However if a horse is placed in the first four positions (Individual) for Two consecutive years it will be upgraded. It is mandatory for all horses to begin the National Championships ride at the lowest category.

2.  Horses and Athletes must, though not necessarily as a combination:-

(a)  Successfully complete 2 rides of distances between 40-79 km and 2 rides of between 80-90 km at speeds of 16 kph or under.

(b)  Athletes and Horses must complete the requirements of this qualifying phase all within the 24 month period and no shorter than 12 months.

1.  Horses not participating consecutively for two years in the National Endurance Championships may be downgraded.

2.  All applications for down grading should be sent to the Secretary General at least thirty days prior to the scheduled date of the NEC or EFI approved competitions.

1.  In principle, there is no restriction on saddlery however it must be in safe condition and fit the horse. (refer also to FEI Veterinary Regulations):- Any type of rein that may unduly restrict the free movement of the head of the horse, including, but not limited to Draw (Running) Reins/French Reins are forbidden.

2.  Specific safety equipment, such as reflective items or otherwise, may be required as indicated in the schedule of the competition.

3.  Whips (or the use of any other item as a whip) and Spurs are prohibited.

4.  The use of mobile phones and GPS devices are permitted. All other forms of communication devices must be approved by the Ground Jury prior to competition.

5.  The horses ears should be free of any inserts or attachments. Ears of horses should not be clogged. Ear plugs are forbidden, blinkers may be allowed but must permit full forward vision without modification and must be removed during the vet gates. Definition of blinkers shall be provided in the Endurance ‘notes for guidance’.

1.  Protective headgear, of a recognized equestrian/endurance standard and securely fastened, is compulsory for all persons at all Endurance events whilst mounted.

2.  Safe riding footwear with heels of 12 mm or more, or alternatively caged/boxed stirrups/equestrian safety stirrups are compulsory for all persons at all Endurance events whilst mounted.

3.  Dress, that is appropriate and not detrimental to the image of Endurance Riding is required.

4.  Athlete:- Smart Pressed Team or Individual Riding uniforms.

5.  Team Officials, Grooms, Crews: Smart Pressed Team or Individual uniforms.

6.  FEI Officials:- Smart Clothing to include jacket and tie where applicable, Shorts or sandals are unacceptable standards of dress and will not be allowed.

7.  During the actual ride:-

(a) Athlete:- Appropriate riding attire, shirt/polo shirt to include a collar.

(b) Team Officials, Grooms, Crews: Smart Team or Individual attire. No shorts within the Vet Inspection area, or sandals allowed within the ’Field of Play’ (safety).

(c) Officials:- Smart working attire, no shorts or sandals.

As per FEI Rules.

1.  The National Federation may however from time to time lay down minimum standards of entitlement for awarding of medals in the National Equestrian Championships. This has been incorporated to debar presentation of medals to undeserving participants in the unlikely circumstances where participation in NEC is either very limited or unrepresentative of National standards. The average speed required to be achieved to qualify for a National Medal are as under:-

(a) Pre Novice - 18 km/ hr.

(b) Novice - 15 km/hr.

(c) Intermediate - 13km/hr.

(d) Advance - 12km/hr

2.  The minimum qualifying speed per phase, may be laid down by organizers for administrative reasons.

1.  Any act or series of actions which, in the opinion of the Ground Jury can clearly be defined as cruelty or abuse shall be penalised by disqualification and as otherwise allowed under the GRs, and the individual concerned shall be reported to the EFI.

2.  Reports of such actions must be accompanied whenever possible by the signatures and addresses of witnesses of the actions. The reports must be given to the Ground Jury or the Secretary of the Organizing Committee as soon as possible.

As per FEI Rules.

1.  After competing in an event, a horse must be given a mandatory minimum rest period, as defined, before it is again eligible to participate in a National or FEI competition (Rest Period commences at Midnight on the day that the ride finishes as denoted by the maximum ride time allowed and finishes at Midnight, the day before published ride start time):-

See FEI Articles 815.3.1 and 815.3.3 to 815.3.4 for extended mandatory rest periods following immediate invasive treatment.

2.  Invasive treatment is defined as:- Any treatment of a horse which involves the puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of any instrument or foreign material into the body is considered invasive (Exceptions to the rule would be the administration of oral electrolytes or acupuncture). Any metabolic condition diagnosed in a horse that has Failed to Qualify that left untreated would compromise or threaten the welfare of the horse would be considered a condition requiring invasive treatment.

3.  If a horse has Failed to Qualify for metabolic reasons which require immediate invasive treatment at any events it must be given a mandatory rest period of 60 days before it is again eligible to participate in an event.

4.  If a horse has Failed to Qualify for metabolic reasons which require immediate invasive treatment at any 2 consecutive events or twice within any 3 month period, it must be given a mandatory rest period of 90 days before it is again eligible to participate in an event.

5.  It is the responsibility of the FVD and the Treatment Veterinarian to review, on a case by case basis, the treated horses at the end of an event and classify each case as that is immediate invasive treatment, incurring mandatory rest or Authorised Treatment.

6.  The EFI in consultation with the VP (Tech) and VP (Vet) may decide to create a supplementary schedule.

1.  Horses which are presented for vetting must proceed, as instructed, directly from the ‘timed in gate’ to the veterinary examination area (vet lane) showing constant forward motion.

2.  No action must be taken to hold back the horse or to prevent this constant forward motion (this to include deviation from course, encouragement either by sound or by command to stop).

3.  Whistling within the vet gate to encourage a horse to urinate is not allowed and considered as a failure to observe this article and may attract disqualification or other disciplinary action.

4.  The following can be enforced should the above regulations not be followed at all times:-

(a) Should a horse be presented at the vet gate with tack then that horse will be considered to have failed the first inspection. The time in will be cancelled and the horse will be required to exit the vet gate and present for a second (final) presentation.

(b) Should a horse fail to proceed directly to the lane veterinarian, as instructed by an official, the Rider (Person Responsible) will be in breach of Art. 821.2.3 and may be given either affixed time penalty of 5 minutes and/or be given a yellow warning card. (Note: two yellow warning cards results in immediate disqualification from the event and a two month suspension from all FEI competitions).

(c) Should a horse be walked so slowly that it stops then it is considered to be in breach of ‘constant forward motion’ and may be subject to either a fixed time penalty of 5 minutes and/or be given a yellow warning card. (Note: two yellow warning cards results in immediate disqualification from the event and a two month suspension from all FEI /EFI competitions).

(d) The horse will not be allowed to enter the vet lane itself until the heart rate has been taken and instruction given by the lane Veterinarian to trot.