Since 2008, the USEF Endurance Rider Ranking List has been in place to aid in the selection process for US endurance riders wishing to participate in Championship events. The ERRL is based on points earned by riders who complete at various CEI events. The list of which rides are deemed "ranking rides," and at which riders can so accrue points is available on the USEF website. Riders may ride different horses to earn their points for the ERRL.

For example, Rider A nominates and rides Horse Z at the Git R Done, completes the event and (using the formula outlined below) receives points. Rider A then decides to ride Horse X at the Fort Howes ride and again completes, receiving points based on the aforementioned formula. Rider A now has two ranking trials under his/her belt and has points that will help determine a ranking.

Rider A could ride Horse Y during the Patriot's Day at Lake Almanor ride, complete and place higher than either of the other rides that have given him/her a ranking and the ride with the least amount of points earned from the three events will be dropped and Rider A may now have a higher ranking based on the new points. (We say "may" because other riders are earning points throughout this time period, so the list has the potential to be constantly changing.) An important piece to remember is that riders must be members of the rider ranking list prior to the events they want to use as ranking trials in order for the points they earn at those events to count.

The above example is hypothetical, of course, but it gives you a bird's eye view of how the endurance rider ranking list (ERRL) process works. We are very excited about the opportunities this will give many more riders.

Go to www.usef.org for the complete selection process and application, or contact Vonita Bowers at vbowers@usef.org for a complete packet.

An excerpt from the ERRL working document:

"Ranking trials: Ranking List Riders shall be ranked using points earned by competing in designated ranking trials. These trials must be approved by the USEF Executive Committee upon recommendation of the USEF High Performance Committee and the USEF High Performance Working Group. Ranking trials include CEI1*, CEI2*, CEI 3* and CEI 4* events in the U.S. and selected Foreign Trials."

Remember that if a designated ranking trial offers an open AERC division and an FEI division, points may only be accumulated if competing in the FEI division. The ERRL Ranking is determined using points earned from an athlete's two best performances at the ranking trials over a two-year period. Points will be earned for the ERRL as follows:

-- Ranking points will be calculated against all open riders entered in a designated ranking trial or in an authorized foreign trial, as defined above.

-- While placing plays a role in determining points, finish time in comparison to winning time plays a more vital role.

- The ranking score for each rider at a ranking trial will be calculated as follows: Ranking Score = (Completion Points + Placement Points) - Time Penalties.

A rider awarded a completion will receive 50 completion points.

Placement points will be awarded to any Ranking List Rider to complete the ride within the Top Ten of all finishers.

Placement points are earned as follows:

The first rider to finish and complete shall receive 100 points, and that number shall then be reduced by 10 for each succeeding rider to complete based upon his/her order of finish, resulting in the tenth rider to finish receiving 10 placement points. Later finishers will receive no placement points. (Note: If the top 10 finishers of a trial contain only three FEI riders, then only those three riders will receive placement points. Riders will be competing against the "open" field.)

Time bonuses shall be earned for all Ranking List Riders who complete the Ride as follows:

100 time bonuses for the first to finish; 90 points for finishing within 15 minutes of the winning ride time; 80 points for 15:01-30 minutes of the first place finisher; 70 for 30:01-45; 60 for 45:01-60; 40 for 60:01-75; 30 for 75.01-90; 20 for 90:01-105; 10 for 105:01-120; 5 for 120:01-180. Zero points for finishing in excess of 180 minutes behind the winning horse.

Ranking scores are adjusted based on the distance of the ranking trial as follows:

For CEI 3* 160 km in one day multiply the ranking score by 100%, for other 3* events multiply the ranking score by 75%, for CEI 2* multiply the ranking score by 75%, for CEI 1* multiply the ranking score by 50%.

The maximum ranking score that can be achieved at a ranking trial is 250.

2011 Ranking trials. This year's ranking trials include Dupuis Piney Pig (FL), FITS (FL), Buck Meadows 4/9-10 (CA), Biltmore 5/7 (NC), Shine Only 5/14-15, (CA), Ft Howes 6/11-12 (MT), Lake Almanor 7/30 (CA), NAETC 9/24 (CA).

For an updated list, please visit the USEF website at www.usef.org.