PP2 – Pace Test

PP2 – Pace Test

Eligible horses

Combinations participating in this race are excluded from PP1 and PP3 at the same event.

Track

This test is performed on a track suitable for pace tests. Please refer to the drawing in the FEIF Rules and Regulations.

Starting order

Before the first round, lots are drawn to set the starting order. The starting order is the same in the first and the second round.

Announcement of marks

The speaker shall announce the marks and time in order of judging positions with the rider’s time announced before the mark for slowing down.

Marks

If a horse gets the mark 0 from judge 2 or 3 and/or a red flag from the judge at the starting line or the judge at the finishing line, there will be given no scores for the time.

Start

As soon as the starting flag is raised, the horse is ridden in walk, trot or tölt in a good balance to the funnel zone. The horse enters a new zone when the first part of the horse breaks the dividing line between the zones. When the horse enters the funnel-zone they should change the gait to canter from walk, tölt or trot. For high marks to be given the horse has to perform like it is described above and to canter with agility through the whole 25m funnel before they make  the transition into pace. Between the 25 m mark and the 50 m mark (beginning of the timed stretch) change into racing pace. On crossing the 50 m mark time keeping starts at a visual signal. After the 150 m mark (end of the timed stretch) and before the end marker at 200 m, the horse has to have returned to tölt, trot or walk. For high marks the horse shall have returned to walk.

At the beginning of the track (up to the 25 m mark), there must be a clearly marked funnel-shaped corridor according to the drawing.

Horses are allowed to have two runs (even if they receive red flags). The average of the marks of both runs decides the placing. In case of equal marks, the marks given by the judges will decide the winner. 

If the horses are still equal, the horse will win that had the single best time. If the horses are still equal, the mark for the transition to pace will decide the winner. If the horses are still lequal, the horse will win that had the second-best time. And if they then are still equal, a coin has to be tossed. 

Judges

Six judges are needed; they score openly from 0-10 with half points:

  • the first judge judges the strike off at canter and the changeover into pace;
  • the second judge judges the pace between the 50 m and 100 m mark;
  • the third judge judges the pace between the 100 m and 150 m mark;
  • the fourth judge judges the downward transition between the 150 m marker and the end of the track at 200 m;
  • the starter (who must be a judge) stands at the 50 m mark and indicates to the three timekeepers at the 150 m mark with the flag that the horse has passed the 50 m mark. The starter also indicates with a red flag if the horse is not in pace at the 50 m mark;
  • At the 150 m mark a judge will show a red flag is the horse is not in pace when crossing the 150 m line.

 

The judges choose their places in order to get the best possible view over their respective areas. When the horse has passed the area concerned, judges one to four show their marks. If the horse falls out of pace during the timed section, the relevant judge(s) show(s) a red flag and no marks for time shall be given.

A maximum of 40 points for style and a maximum of 10 points for time can be obtained according to the table of marks. The final sum is to be divided by 5.

Check the FEIF Rules and Regulations document for further details.