The information provided on this page is for informational purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or should there be any doubt, please consult an up-to-date version of the rule book as this will supersede the information contained herein.
Members of affiliate clubs are graded in three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross-country – so that:
The Grades
Who is responsible for grading members?
Grading of individual members is the responsibility of the club Grading committee, with the advice where appropriate of a recognised instructor.
The onus is on the grading committee to grade their riders fairly and in a sporting manner.
Where a club does not have a grading committee, the main club committee is responsible for grading its members in a fair and sporting manner. The member does not grade themselves.
Download our guide for grading members in your club:
Basic Grading Rules
There are a number of rules to bear in mind when grading an individual:
How are members graded?
Each member should be assessed when they join an affiliated club and this can be performed by the club grading officer:
Eligibility Criteria
Outlined below are the eligibility criteria for each grade.
Members should note that their activities in other equestrian organisations – such as Dressage Ireland, Eventing Ireland and ShowJumping Ireland – can have an impact on their eligibility for a grade. This may result in them being no longer eligible for a grade and having to upgrade.
For example, if you are graded at Intermediate for show jumping (0.90m) but you are competing at 1.00m in SJI competitions, you are no longer eligible for Intermediate and must upgrade to Advanced Intermediate.
This is to ensure fairness in AIRC competitions.
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Dressage | They may not compete in Dressage Ireland competitions. Riders who wish to compete in these must upgrade to AP. |
Show Jumping | They may not compete in SJI competitions. |
Eventing / Horse Trials | They may only train over specifically designed fences. |
Cross Jump | They may compete in competitions that are specifically designed for them. |
Trec | They may compete in competitions that are specifically designed for them. The orienteering phase must be specifically designed and be able to be monitored. |
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Dressage | They may compete in Dressage Ireland competitions or unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions, up to and including Preliminary standard. Should they attain 65% or higher or the equivalent points on five occasions in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions in a calendar year, they will be required to upgrade to Intermediate. |
Show Jumping | They may not compete in classes exceeding 0.80m. |
Eventing / Horse Trials | They may only compete in club and inter-club competitions over a specifically designed course. |
Hunter Trials | They may only compete in club and inter-club competitions over a specifically designed course. |
Cross Jump | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Dressage | They may compete and gain points at Preliminary level only in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions. Should they obtain 72% or higher on three occasions in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions, they will be required to upgrade to Advanced Intermediate. |
Show Jumping | They may not compete in classes exceeding 0.90m. |
Eventing / Horse Trials | They may not compete in classes where they exceed the dimensions as prescribed in rule 7, b for this grade. |
Hunter Trials | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Cross Jump | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Dressage | They may compete and gain points up to and including Novice level in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions. Should they obtain 72% or higher on three occasions at Novice level in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions, they will be required to upgrade to Open. |
Show Jumping | They may not compete in classes exceeding 1.00m with the exception of Amateur A level only. |
Eventing / Horse Trials | They may not compete in classes where they exceed the dimensions as prescribed in rule 7, b for this grade. |
Hunter Trials | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Cross Jump | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |
---|---|
Dressage | They may compete and gain points up to and including Elementary level in registered and unregistered Dressage Ireland competitions. |
Show Jumping | They may not compete in classes exceeding 1.10m with the exception of Amateur AA level. |
Eventing / Horse Trials | They may not compete in classes where they exceed the dimensions as prescribed in rule 7, b for this grade. |
Hunter Trials | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Cross Jump | They may compete in competitions at an appropriate height. |
Activity | Eligibility Criteria |