FOR
RIDERS

• FEI Tips from Jan Stevens
  Let's Go With Dick, Jane, and Sally to an FEI ride!

  Hey Kids! What do we need to know if we're going to an FEI ride?

  1. What do I need for my horse?

• A. You will need your horse's paperwork.
  • Passport or horse registration with USEF.
  • Proof of Vaccination as required by FEI for Equine Influenza.
  • Current Coggins and Health Papers. Make sure that your Coggins papers are specific to your horse. Don't allow your vet to put down "bay gelding" or "flea bitten grey mare". The vets that are doing the inspections will want more information. If you can get your vet to list the whirls on your horse's coat, specific markings, brands, and anything else that is particular to your horse you will be miles ahead.
• B. Tack Wise, what do I need to know?
  • Leave your spurs, whips, and draw reins at home. They don't allow them at FEI events.
  • Remember to make sure that you and your tack make the weight required at the FEI event before you leave. It's best to wear what you're going to wear on ride day when you weigh yourself. The weight requirement should be available in the Definite Schedule from Ride Management. To be safe, make sure that you and your saddle make the weight requirement. Usually they don't allow you to weigh with your bridle, although this is up to the organizing committee and the FEI officials. Also remember to empty your water bottles before you go weigh.
  2. What do I need for me?
• A. Clothing Wise, What do I need to know?
  • Shirt with a collar is usually required. This just means a polo shirt, so you won't need to purchase anything finer. You don't even need a tie, though it would look "Smashing".
  • Leave the bright and flashy tights at home. Generally speaking most Officials aren't going to make a BIG deal about it, but just to be on the safe side, wear "Plain Jane" tights.
  • If you ride in boots with heels you have no problem. If, however, you ride with tennis shoes you will need to have cages on your stirrups.
  • Don't forget your helmet!
  3. Inspections, Examinations, Pomp and Circumstance.
• A. Check with ride management (Organizing Committee) to see when and where you will need to park prior to unloading. FEI requires that you park separate from the "other" riders. This is to insure that only horses with the correct vaccinations are "stabled" together. Often at the US FEI rides they allow horses who are not entered in the FEI division to camp with the FEI horses if they have the same vaccinations (bring that paperwork on the other horse(s)! OR expect that you'll have to park elsewhere OR have two different "stables" for your horses. Yes, this is a pain the @#$, but it is something that you'll just have to live with. Believe me they have all heard it before, so complaining about it isn't going to help.
• B. Horse Inspections: This is to make sure that you are riding the horse that you say you are riding. They also use this to make sure that your vaccination paperwork is correct.
• C. Examinations: This is like a vet check. Plan and simple.
• D. Sometimes they combine the two to save time, although sometimes the inspection will be held as soon as you enter the ride site.
• E. After unloading and setting up your camp, go see the ride management to check out when you're set up for "inspections, examinations, and weigh-ins".
• F. Rider Weigh-In and Inspection: Yes, you'll have to step up on the scales with your tack. Again, check with ride management to see when you have to show yourself. Also wear what you're planning on wearing ride day-that way you'll have your exact weight. 4. What should I expect that might be different from a "Normal Ride"?
• A. Paperwork. Just a couple extra forms maybe, bring your membership cards for USEF, AERC, and AERC International
• B. Parking. Yes, they will make you park in a separate area. Some rides make a big deal about this, while others do not. If you are bringing another horse for a different distance, buddy, or whatever, try to have that horse have the same type of vaccinations and vaccination records that your FEI horse has and bring them with. If you don't, please don't panic, you will probably just have to park in another row. Check with Ride Management to see how they are handling it.
• C. Vetting Area. Generally speaking you probably won't see a lot of difference here. You might see a more "Defined" area for crewing, pulsing down, and vetting lanes. It may even seem more "Organized" looking. Again, this is nothing to panic about, just pay attention and move through the lines just the same as you would at a "normal" ride.
• D. Petting or massaging your horse. If you can, try not to get to "touchy-feely" with your horse in the Pulsing Area and the Vetting Area. It used to be that they didn't allow you to touch your horse while pulse was being taken and while the horse was being vetted through. All you could do is just hold your lead rope. It's best not to push it. Again, you will find this differs from FEI ride to FEI ride. Currently, I'm not sure how the stance is on this, but we will know FOR SURE well in advance of Pan Am.
• E. Meetings. More than likely they will just combine the FEI with the "normal" ride meeting. Check with Management just to be safe.
  Finally:
  5. Ride Your Ride. Don't try to make this more than what it is. Ask questions if you aren't sure of something. Riders sometimes feel really intimidated by "Officials". The Officials and the ride management are there to help