These General Rules are established so that competitors and teams of competitors may compete against each other under fair and equal conditions. If there is any doubt about the meaning of any of the rules they should be interpreted in the sense of providing fair conditions for all competitors.
The rules have been drawn up in the broadest possible spirit so as to allow the Committee the fullest freedom in the management of the event and the preparation of the programmes.

1. THE PRESIDING COMMITTEE OF THE CLUBE DE EQUITAÇÃO DO ALGARVE SHALL BE THE SOLE INTERPRETER OF THE RULES.

2. MEMBERSHIP: The Club shall have an annual membership from January 1st to December 31st:
a) Junior Members: 17 years and under on January 1st
b) Senior Members: 18 years and over on January 1st
c) Honorary Members: Those individuals or groups of people, who due to the services rendered to The Club, have been selected by the Management Committee through a decision at one of its meetings.
d) Any member wanting to compete in Club's events must have a Personal Accident cover against Riding Accidents either from a Portuguese insurance company or from any other company as long as it clearly states the cover is valid whilst competing in Portugal. Any non-member willing to compete must pay for extra insurance cover at any Show or sign a disclaimer if they fail to show proof of insurance such as a valid FEP card.

3. ENTRIES:
a) Making an entry for a CEARC competition implies acceptance of these rules, any breach of which will result in elimination.
b) Once an entry has been submitted verbally, the entry is accepted and the competitor is liable for the entry fee unless a valid reason is accepted by the Show Secretary.
c) A rider / horse combination must be adhered to.
d) A horse may be entered in any class twice with different riders.
g) Maximum number of entries (per horse) during the day: Three regardless of class.

4. ENTRY FEES:
a) A surcharge of 50% will be levied for late entries.
b) A surcharge of 50% will be levied for fees not paid before entering the arena.
c) Visiting riders may compete in CEARC competitions, having paid an increased entry fee. (also see 3a)
d) Entry fees will be decided by the committee organizing the event.

5. COMPETITIONS:
a) Will start promptly. It is up to the competitor to arrive on time.
b) Disqualification: The Chief Judge of the day may disqualify a competitor at any stage of the competition for:
i) Dangerous riding
ii) If, in his opinion, the horse is lame, sick or exhausted.
iii) Misuse of whip or spurs or ill treatment of the horse.
iv) For any breach of the rules.
c) Unless a class has a minimum of five entries, that class will be closed and the Junior and Senior sections in that category will be combined. Trophy points will be allocated according to placing.
d) Any of the foregoing rules of the CEARC may be changed or rules may be added for a particular event at the discretion of the Committee. However, all members will be advised of any alterations before the event. Alterations and additions will also be displayed on the notice board on the day of the event for all competitors to see.
e) Show Jumping will be run under FEP rules.
Dressage will be run under FEP rules when using FEP and the CEARC-F tests.
Dressage will be run under BD rules when using BD tests.
Equitation will be run under CEARC rules.
Gymkhanas will be run under CEARC rules.
Jump Cross will be run under JCUK rules.
Cross Country will be run under FEP rules.
Eventing will be run under FEP rules.
Endurance will be run under FEP rules or CEARC rules.
f) Any objections must be lodged in writing at the Show Secretary's tent before the final results are announced and must be accompanied by a deposit of €25.00. Refund of the deposit will be made if the complaint is upheld.
g) At CEARC competitions Riding Hats, with a chin strap securely fastened where applicable, must be worn by riders on horses, regardless of whether competing, warming up or 'just sitting around'.
h) In any unforeseen or exceptional circumstances, it is the duty of the Judge to make a decision in a sporting spirit, approaching as clearly as possible the intention of these General Rules and the Official Rules of the discipline.
i) SHOW JUMPING
i) The type of class will be circulated in the program.
ii) Maximum Dimensions in jump-off

Class Height Width Treble Bars
Pre-Debutantes 50-60 cm 50-60 cm -
Debutantes 70-75 cm 75-85 cm - Pre-Novice 80-85 cm 85-95 cm -
Novice 95-100 cm 105 cm 145cm
Intermediate 105-110 cm 125 cm 155 cm

Pre-Debutante Open to inexperienced riders and/or young or inexperienced horses that have not been placed 1st - 3rd in this class more than three times. In addition rosettes will be given to all Clear rounds, jump-off optional.
Debutante Open to all horse / rider combinations that have not been placed 1st - 3rd in this class more than three times. Horse / rider combinations then move up to the next class.
Pre-Novice Open to horse / rider combinations that have not been placed 1st - 3rd in this class three times.
Novice Open to all horse / rider combinations.
Intermediate Open to all horse / rider combinations.

Any other classes can be organised on the discretion of the organising committee.

j) DRESSAGE
i) The number of the test(s) will be circulated in the programme.
ii) No person other than the competitor may warm up a horse on the day of the Dressage competition. This rule may be waived in the Pre-Debutante class if a rider is at risk from a badly behaved horse which needs to be schooled by the instructor.
k) Any horse which habitually kicks must wear a red ribbon in their tail for any competition.

Pre-Debutante For newcomers to dressage.
Restricted to horse / rider combinations that have never been placed 1st - 5th in higher classes. Following three 1st - 3rd placings in this class riders must move up to Debutante class or compete HC.
Debutante Restricted P test or equivalent
Open for horse / rider combinations that have not been placed 1st - 5th with 65% or more in this class or in Pre-Novice more than three times. Horse / rider combinations must then move up to Pre-Novice or compete HC.
Pre-Novice Open P test or equivalent
Open to horse / rider combinations that have not been placed 1st - 5th with 60% or more in higher classes more than three times. Riders who are not eligible for this class may compete HC and use the class as a warm-up for the Novice test.
Novice Open E test or equivalent.
Open to all horse / rider combinations.
Intermediate Open M test or equivalent.
Open to all horse / rider combinations.

Any other classes can be organised on the discretion of the organising committee.

6. CLASSES:
a) For the purpose of the CEARC classes there will be five regular grades of horse and rider combinations:
PRE-DEBUTANTE : DEBUTANTE : PRE-NOVICE : NOVICE : INTERMEDIATE
b) The PRE-DEBUTANTE class is for all ages comprising of equitation or a few low jumps. Competitors may ride any horse regardless of its classification. Lead reins will be allowed.
c) DEBUTANTE, NOVICE, PRE-NOVICE and INTERMEDIATE classes are open to any horse/rider combination where either the horse OR the rider is DEBUTANTE, PRE-NOVICE, NOVICE or INTERMEDIATE.
d) Competitors having obtained a grade may not compete on a horse of a higher or equal level in a lower class. (i.e. a Novice rider cannot ride an Intermediate horse in a Debutante class.)
e) It is the responsibility of the competitors to ensure that they and their horses are eligible to compete in the classes for which they are entered.
f) Any horse/rider combination that competes at FEP shows will have a grading. That combination may not return to lower classes at CEARC shows unless there is no class to accommodate them.
g) A horse/rider combination who, through injury, work or school commitments, does not compete for a full 6 month period, will be allowed to enter its first return to competition on a lower level, if required, in each discipline.
h) If any horse & rider combinations are having difficulty in a class, they can put forward in writing to the committee their problem and a decision can be made whether to allow them entry into a lower class.

7. HORS-CONCOURS
a) Horse and rider combinations may enter any class hors concours.
b) In show jumping hors concours riders may not enter the jump-off if they have a clear round.

8.TROPHY POINTS
A points system will run from January 1st to December 31st each year. Placings in Dressage, Show Jumping, Endurance, Jump Cross and Cross Country will count along with any other events that the Committee deems suitable.
a) Following the Club's final event of the year there will be an outright Junior and Senior Champion in Dressage and Show Jumping as well as an Overall Junior and Senior Champion judged on points accumulated during the year.
b) Points are accumulated as per following:
i) Show jumping - 1st place: 5 points, 2nd place: 4 points, 3rd place: 3 points, 4th place: 2 points and 5th place: 1 point
ii) Dressage - % achieved of test score divided by 10. i.e. 54% = 5.4 trophy points.
c) There will be a register kept of all placings and of the classifications of each horse/rider combination.
d) Any other Year-End awards can be given on the discretion of the presiding Committee.

9. LEGAL LIABILITY.
Neither the organisers, nor any person acting on their behalf accept any liability for any loss, damage, accident, injury or illness to horses, riders, ground, spectators or any other persons or property whatsoever. The Clube de Equitação do Algarve has a third party liability policy only.

10. SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION.
The suspension or expulsion of any member from taking part in any Clube de Equitação do Algarve event or remaining as a member of the Clube de Equitação do Algarve is entirely at the discretion of the presiding Committee.