The first “BE Lite” competition will be held at Howick Horse Trials next month (12 July) as the debut fixture in a new initiative by British Eventing (BE).
BE Lite is described as a “flexible affiliation model for unaffiliated events”. In a nutshell, competitors can be confident they are getting the rigorous safety standards they would at a regular affiliated BE event, but it is designed to be an accessible route into the sport. This means that organisers have greater flexibility, while for competitors the entry process is simplified and dress requirements are relaxed – for example, nobody is going to be worrying about what colour jodhpurs a rider is wearing.
It will still be a proper competition, not a training product, but the focus is on participation, enjoyment, confidence-building and progression. BE’s sports taskforce, which developed the idea, is finalising details in the rules, but BE’s standards in safety, welfare, safeguarding and event delivery will apply to BE Lite fixtures.
BE chief executive Rosie Williams told H&H she hopes that there will be four or five BE Lite fixtures in this pilot year.
She said that BE Lite is about “supporting organisers and riders, strengthening standards and creating more opportunities for people to enjoy our sport”.
“This initiative recognises that there is no single route into the sport and provides a welcoming, flexible framework that allows more people to experience eventing while benefiting from British Eventing’s expertise in safety, welfare and sport delivery,” she said.
“Importantly, while some competition rules are simplified to encourage participation, the core principles that matter most remain unchanged. Horse welfare, rider safety, safeguarding, veterinary and medical provision, and event oversight remain at the heart of every BE Lite competition.”
She added that this is about encouraging people who want to try eventing without feeling pressure to have to buy all the kit, particularly given the financial pressures people are under.
Qualified officials will oversee competition, medical and veterinary cover are mandatory, and BE’s welfare, safeguarding and conduct standards apply. Riders who fall or repeatedly incur refusals on cross-country will be eliminated, in line with established eventing safety principles.
Entry fees and prize money are currently being set by organisers. BE will not be taking money during the pilot phase, but it will in future.
“It is not a money-making exercise for BE,” said Ms Williams. “Yes we will take a little bit of revenue [in future], but for us it is about opening up the channel that allows a rider to do maybe two BE Lites and then get their brave pants on and perhaps go and do a BE80 – or maybe not! But they’ve tried it and had a good experience, I know they’re safe and I know that if things do go pear-shaped, there are [the right] people there to help.”
Currently venues that run unaffiliated events are not allowed to host international fixtures. Ms Williams confirmed that organisers who run BE Lite events, rather than unaffiliated, will be eligible in future.
Howick Horse Trials organiser Hannah Matthews said that the Howick team is “thrilled to be the first venue to host a BE Lite competition and to support an initiative that helps make eventing more accessible while maintaining the high standards our sport is known for”.
“We hope it will encourage new riders to get involved and provide a positive experience for everyone taking part,” she said.
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