National Competitions

As a member of Hippeia, you can sign up for National Competitions, better known as SO’s. These competitions are held by the VNS (Dutch Association for Student Riders). Many equestrian associations organize SO’s annually, including U.S.R. Hippeia. During an SO, dressage and jumping competitions take place in various classes. Hippeia often travels with a large team to the SO’s of our sister associations to compete for prizes and, of course, enjoy a fun weekend! More information can be found on the website of the VNS-KNHS.

A Weekend Away at an SO

A weekend away at an SO is a special experience. Most SO’s start on Saturday afternoon with the dressage qualifying rounds. Afterwards, everyone puts on their crazy outfit for the themed party, followed by a fun night out at the bar. Around midnight, the results are announced, and you find out whether you have made it to the semi-finals the next day. On Sunday, the semi-finals and finals of the dressage take place, followed by the jumping competition in the B and L classes.

The Knock-Out System

The knock-out system used by the KNHS-VNS in national competitions is unique within the Dutch equestrian sport. Regular competitions focus on fixed horse-rider combinations that train together for years. However, student riders do not have their own horses, so they cannot be judged as a combination. Instead, the knock-out system aims to determine the best rider. Two or three riders take turns riding the same horse, and the one who delivers the best performance advances to the next round. Riders are assigned a horse by lottery, and new horses are introduced in every round.

Sign-Up

The vice-chair receives invitations from sister associations regarding upcoming SO’s, which are then forwarded to the members. You can sign up for an SO by sending an email to info@hippeia.nl.