From Kristina Paledes

membership chairman (2000-2010)

At my suggestion, followed by a lot of debate, the board earlier this year agreed to make some changes to the CTEA's points keeping system. The changes are as follows:

1. Eliminate participation points

2. Take schooling shows out of the main awards category and establish separate awards program for schooling shows

3. Eliminate the awards for high point nonprofessional and professional rider and high point horse

When the club was established about 30 years ago, we could probably count the number of recognized horse trials on one hand and a couple of fingers. There were a lot of schooling show opportunities -- most of which were just combined tests, although a few places offered all three phases. The participation points were considered an incentive to get club members to make the extra effort that riding in a three-phase competition requires. I suspect they also were to try to ensure that a rider winning an award in an eventing organization had actually stepped hoof on a cross-country course. Last year there 16 USEA recognized horse trials in Area V; this year there are 18 on the schedule. A large percentage of our membership competes in them and it's time to eliminate the crutch and score our riders the way the big boys do. And just like the Area does. We have been using the same scoring system with the exception of the participation points for some years now. Beginning with this 2011 season, we will use the exact same system.

Taking schooling shows out of the main category and putting them into a separate awards category serves two purposes: It levels the playing field within each category and it gives the club the opportunity to recognize more riders for their accomplishments. We realize that there are some riders who compete primarily at schooling shows. For those riders who do and for those riders who would like to, we decided that adding a separate schooling show awards category enables the club to recognize a different group of riders for their achievements. At this point we are looking at offering awards in two or three divisions up through novice. Initially, I'm sure it will be a combined junior/senior award, but that could change as membership grows.

The club added awards for high point rider in both professional and nonprofessional categories and for high point horse several years ago. Although the extra recognition is always nice, two of these awards -- nonpro rider and horse -- are redundant; both receive championship awards in their categories. Although we will not necessarily eliminate the recognition of these accomplishments, we will eliminate the awards, using those resources toward our schooling show awards program.