The Speed phase is part of a 3 phase competition which is typically included in live events. We will be running this phase every other competition. This will give you the opportunity to experience the addition of this round in the Ease of Handling course as a test of the efficiency of your partnership together in the obstacles.
Navigation on the course is at your discretion, but you are advised to maintain the confidence of your horse by keeping the pace and ease of execution in mind so as not to jeopardise your Ease of Handling training. You cannot exceed the gait of the obstacles that are required for your level. Think about travelling on shorter more efficient lines to save time, especially on a small course. You can be creative in your execution of the obstacles as long as you meet the requirements.
The speed round may also have obstacles removed or executed differently from the Ease of Handling round, or a different order of obstacles in a competition. In our case we are keeping the same course with some different requirements in the speed round.
Note that requirements in WENZ rules have been updated for Speed penalties and disqualification circumstances.
The latest rules can be found here:
https://wenz.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/wenz-rules-v-1.3-march-2026.pdf
Requirements
Competition #14 has a speed phase for Preparatory, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary and Medium levels.
The course needs to be as accurate as possible, so you will need to use the course measurements for the level as per the Ease of Handling page. The speed round uses the same Ease of Handling course with some modifications. Halts are not required. You must still use the gait of the obstacles as per level and abide by the transition markers.
For any obstacle that involves handling an object (i.e. rope, pole, cup, etc.) if the object is dropped then the rider can continue without dismounting to retrieve the obstacle (a time penalty is applied) and complete as if the object is still in hand. At Elementary levels and above the penalty for this occurence is higher.
You must still only use the specified hand (left or right depending on your preference) for touching all obstacles. Touching obstacles with both hands will incur a time penalty (higher penalty for Elementary and above).
Gate must be completed as per Ease of Handling requirements for the competition level but NO halt is required. One of those requirements is NOT passing the gate rope over your head.
Bell Corridor does NOT require a halt.
Jug obstacle is NOT included in the Speed round.
Stepping off the side pass pole with one or more legs once the front two legs of the horse are over the pole and the side pass is not fully executed will incur a time penalty.
All other course directives are still in place except for these particular notes for the levels as below:
Preparatory
Gate MUST be done as option 1. Pickup rope, reverse, and hang up on the hinge end (i.e. leaving the gate open)
The halt over pole with sidepass obstacle does NOT require halt (if it can be done accurately).
Preparatory rounds CANNOT do a gait faster than a trot. If more than 3 strides of canter are seen in a round then you will receive a time penalty.
Preliminary
You must only do the obstacles at a maximum pace of trot, otherwise a time penalty will be given. Canter is allowed but not required in-between. (Note: canter over the jump is allowed).
Novice
Canter in the obstacles and canter between obstacles is allowed but not required including the slaloms. Canter lead changes DO NOT need to transition through walk or trot.
Elementary
Canter lead changes DO NOT need to transition through walk.
How is this round scored?
The phase placings will be done based on time, starting when you enter through the start flags until you pass through the finish flags.
Where a gait is required at obstacles or in-between, a non-permitted upward gait will receive a time penalty. The obstacle start and end are at the point of entry and exit if there are no transition markers. Note that trotting instead of cantering, or walking instead of trotting is NOT counted as breaking gait.
Transitions to the permitted gait for obstacle needs to be outside of the transition markers (before head of horse enters and after last foot of horse exits) otherwise penalty time will be incurred. Breaking into upwards gait within the transition markers required gait will incur a penalty.
There will also be time penalties for dropping handled objects (higher penalty at Elementary and above).
You are expected to finish each obstacle otherwise there will be a time penalty for Preparatory to Novice levels, and Elementary and above will be disqualified in their speed round.
For Elementary and above you will be disqualified for doing a course in the wrong order or entering an obstacle in the wrong direction (technically the Preparatory to Novice levels would be asked to pull up and then redo the missed obstacles without any adjustment in time, however for the virtual course we will need to ask you to redo the round or disqualify that round due to inability to have a judge onsite).
Passing through the finish flags before the course is completed or not passing through the start or finish flags when starting or finishing the course. or passing through the start or finish flags in the wrong direction or at any time other than the start or end of the course is a disqualification.
Disqualification also occurs if taking more than 15 seconds to begin an obstacle once approached (note: this can occur at any obstacle but would be more common at the bridge which we do not have in the virtual competitions. It may also apply to the gate, stockpen, jump etc.).
You need to salute the judge before and after the speed round otherwise, there is a 10 sec penalty time added for missing the salute.
The final scores will be points based on the placings of each competitor in order of lowest time. The points earned in each phase are combined to produce the overall points and competitor placings.