ALL STEPS FORMATION RIDING
COMPETITION SPECIFIC RULES & REGULATIONS.
The rules are a great place to start for all you need to know to compete in formation riding, including what you and your horse are allowed to wear, what the judges are looking for and how to qualify for all the different championships.
Classes are open to everyone, all tests are owned by All-Steps Formation Riding (ASFR) and may not be reproduced without permission.
We ask that our members respect the following requests to maintain a healthy atmosphere within the sport:
Show proper respect for laws governing copyright and fair use/dealing of copyrighted material.
Be aware that publication of information and comment on social media carries the same obligations as any other kind of publication and should follow the same ethical and legal standards.
Rosette placings up to 6th place, points from each placing will be added up for the championship with prizes at the end of the year for the overall winners of each class.
All-Steps Formation Riding (ASFR) maintain appropriate public liability insurance. Membership of the association does not entitle members to any personal public liability or personal accident coverage. Members are required to take out appropriate personal insurance policies.
The judges decision is final.
Any blood to be found on the horse will mean instant entry suspended.
Eligibility to Classes
If a team has won a championship at one level they are no longer able to compete at that level.
Entries
Competitors must complete the ASFR entry form in full.
Currently riders can ride twice in the same test (but in different teams).
Entrants can change the riders of their team until the closing date.
On entering any ASFR classes you accept and abide by the rules set out by ASFR.
Entry fees are nonrefundable once your entry has been made and accepted.
ASFR will reserve the right to refuse entry without stating a reason.
The same team cannot ride the same test twice, but some riders can ride the same test twice as long as not the full team.
All riders under the age of 16 and under must have parental consent.
ASFR cannot accept any responsibility for any horse, riders or anyone recording a test for online, all ride at their own risk.
Test calling is allowed along with voice cues from the two lead riders.
For every rule broken, 5 penalty points.
For every error of test, 1 penalty point.
Video Entries
All videos to be recorded from the centre line, behind the C marker, and must show the whole arena.
All riders are to line up facing the camera and announce their team name, individual names (each rider to say own name), the date and name of test entered. It is important this is done by the riders and not the videographer who is not permitted to speak.
Please name the team, date and class entered as the title of the video.
The video must have sound and start at least 5 seconds before the announcements and finish 5 seconds after the test has finished.
Videos must not be edited and must play from start to finish in one file.
Any video submitted should not have been judged before in any of ASFR competitions or anywhere else. Any videos found to have been judged before will be eliminated without refund.
When submitting any videos please make sure all copyright laws are adhered to in any video footage, images, or any printed material. ASFR cannot accept any liability for any costs incurred by copyright infringement.
The videographer must film in landscape and keep the camera still and facing into the arena from C.
No talking or instructions must be given although from the test can be called and riders can queue moves eg 3,2,1, turn.
All videos to be submitted 10 days before the competition and results will be announced on All-Steps Formation Riding Facebook/Insta page and our website.
Please make sure videos are uploaded to YouTube, set to private and the link should be sent to All-Steps.
For every rule broken, 5 penalty points.
For every error of test, 1 penalty point.
Championships and leagues.
Leagues, regionals and championships to follow.
Tack conformity
Snaffle or double bridles for all levels. Currently no bits are restricted.
Any style of saddles is allowed.
Whips, both long and short are permitted.
Spurs are permitted but are to be used responsibly but no shanks to be longer than 1inch.
Under 18s are only allowed spurs with prior permission.
Saddle pads can either be white or different colour, the team should have the same colour. The saddle pad can have the teams name embroidered on with no size restriction yet.
Boots and bandages are permitted but remember all the team need to look the same.
Please no Market Harborough’s, draw reins or De Gogue style tack.
What are the judges looking for
Spaces between the riders are all uniformed within the whole of the test.
All horses are working at the same rhythm.
Movements are ridden precisely and flowing with the ride.
The music suits the ride and lasts for the length of test.
Overall harmony throughout the horses and riders.
The judges decision is final. No discussion or communication will be entered into by ASFR and this will include any judges.
Dress code for competitors
A shirt with collar.
White/ beige breeches.
Tall riding boots or short boots with short chaps.
A show jacket (black or dark blue or tweed coat).
Colour/white stock or collar and tie.
Gloves, dark or white.
A hat that meets current safety requirements. Colour either black or blue.
Whips are permitted both short and schooling.
Spurs are permitted.
Team gilets or jackets are allowed if all riders from team have the same colour, these can have the team’s name embroidered on them.
Horse Welfare
Lameness or blood ruling – if there is any blood on the horse or lameness the stewards reserve the right to exclude the horse.
Farriery and Tack
o Foot care and shoeing must be of a high standard.
o Tack must be designed and fitted to avoid pain or injury.
Good horse management
o Stabling, feeding and training must be compatible with good horse Management and must not compromise horse welfare.
o Any practices which could cause physical or mental suffering in or out of Competition will not be tolerated.
ASFR officials may refuse entry of any equine into competition should they feel that it is not fit to compete.
Legal Identification Documents of Horses
o A legal passport must accompany each horse or pony at any competition and be readily available for presentation to competition officials.
Vaccination Programme
o First vaccination
o The second is given between 21 and 92 days after the first vaccination.
o The third is to be given between 150 and 215 days after the second
o One annual booster.
o No horse or pony should attend a national competition less than 7 days after a vaccination.
o All vaccinations must be listed in the horse’s passport.
Competing Internationally
All horses travelling abroad to international competitions must have vaccinations in compliance with FEI regulations.
Rules of the Warm-up Arena
The warm-up arena is for the rider’s preparation of their horses before their entry into the competition arena.
The warm-up arena may be monitored by paddock officials.
All competitors must respect the orders of the paddock officials.
No other person is allowed into the warm-up arena except the grooms/helpers and trainers of the competitors.
The warm-up arena is an area for quiet working in. Riders conduct must not jeopardise other riders. Riders must pass left to left.
Any breach of conduct will be reported by the paddock officials.
Organising commissions
Organising commissions co-ordinate a competition.
Rights - organising commissions can set the specific terms of a formation riding competition as long as it has the express consent of ASFR.
Obligations: all organising commissions must provide good competition facilities for horses and riders.
Judges
When there are large number of entries, different judges may be allocated for each level.
Rights: The judge must be in an isolated and comfortable position so that he/she can carry out his/her duties in an impartial manner.