Since its inception in 1988, NITE has been run annually over the first weekend in January, hosted by
a different club each year.
Teams consist of 4 to 6 riders who compete in the various phases over the weekend. Each phase must be
completed by four riders from each team from the pool of up to six riders per team. There are between
four and six phases: Riding Club Mount (Obstacle Course), Quadrille (Themed dressage), Teams Cross-
Country, Show Jumping (Gamblers Stakes). Team Turn-out, And this year; Team's Ride.
The only restriction on the horse-rider combinations is that they have not in the past 2 years
competed higher than NZEF Elementary Dressage, NZEF "C" grade Showjumping, or NZEF Novice Horse
Trials.
Team members must be over the age of 17.
Please Note: The Rules are very different from Pony Club, FEI and NZEF.
Points are awarded for each phase plus housekeeping/uniform points. Six trophies are up for grabs.
This is truly a fantasic event to participate in or even to just attend as a spectator or ground
crew. It is a great way to meet other clubs and teams from around the country and see what all the
hype is about!
Other NITE sites:
NITE
2008 -
Nite Site
Past NITE Teams
2000 Team - 'Happy Hunters'
RIDERS: Donna Harley on Mrs Plod, Andrea Parker on Slyvester, Val Tester on Bill, Ann Faithful on Blob.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: No-one.
GROUND CREW: No-one!
2002 Team - 'Masterton Yahoos'
RIDERS: Donna Harley on Mrs Plod, Andrea Parker on Star, Chris Lever on May, Michelle Pike on
Benson.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Team took photos.
GROUND CREW: Kerry Harley and Samantha Parker.
2005 Team - 'Go Team Yahoo'
RIDERS: Chris Lever on May, Michelle Pike on Benson, Tarns Walker on Mac, Leah Burns on Girl.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Donna Harley.
GROUND CREW: Donna Harley.
2006 Team - 'Team Bond Stirred not Shaken'
RIDERS: Chris Lever on May, Michelle Pike on Benson, Sally Pederson on Scottie and Di Oliver
on Ari.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Team took photos
GROUND CREW: Donna Harley.
2008 Team - 'Lets Tango'
RIDERS: Donna Harley on Jack, Andrea Parker on Bugalugs/Louis, Bonnie Parker on Cheyanne, Sonja
Garrity on Charlie, Chris Lever on May and Val Tester on Sailor.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: John Garrity and Chris Lever.
GROUND CREW: Alison & Barney Woollard, Samantha Parker, Michelle Pike, Erica & Darrell
Hughes, Phil Tester and John Garrity.
Want to compete at NITE?
At all times the objective of this Teams Event is to promote a friendly, competitive atmosphere
centred around the Team Effort, encouraging confidence and horsemanship and riding skills for all.
If you are first timers and are thinking that it is much too daunting a task to organise on your own,
here are some tips which may help you!
Tip #1:
Advertise for riders to form a team in your local club newsletter and arrange a meeting or coffee
evening for anyone interested.
Six riders are the maximum for a team, however, it is always a good idea to have a couple of extras
on the back burner as horses can go lame etc and a fill-in may be needed at some point.
Once the team (or two teams) is decided and if possible a ground person/coach is roped in to help,
then you can start thinking about a theme for the quadrille.
Tip #2:
Ensure that all team riders are
fully paid members of your club for the current season, and
that they and your club are affiliated to the NZRC (New Zealand Riding Club), otherwise you do not
qualify to participate at NITE! Contact someone from MARC. We will help you with this.
Tip #3:
Get hold of a copy of the rules (contact the NZRC or MARC). The blue section covers NITE, and it
really pays to read up on each phase thoroughly to ensure that both riders and gear are in line with
requirements. Ideally a photocopy of these rules should be given to each team member to ensure
nothing is missed and everyone is clear on the rules.
Tip #4: Quadrille
Once a quadrille theme has been decided upon, (with or without music) (6 minute maximum), and
outfits, then the movements can be drawn up on paper or if your prefer, on the ground mounted.
Costumes need not be expensive, they can be sourced from the local op shop, produced from cut-price
products, or sewn yourselves. You are only limited by your imagination.
This is the fun part! Don't forget outfits can extend to your horses. The movements to be carried out
will depend on the level of your team, for first timers keep it fairly simple, it is far better to
have an easier movement performed well, than attempting a complicated movement poorly.
Tip #5: Quadrille
Organise a time and place for practices with a flat area of 20m by 60m. Try if possible to vary the
venue occasionally, this gives the horses and riders a chance to work in unfamiliar places. This is
where your "person on the ground" is really helpful. They are able to watch all four horses working,
and can help ensure that your lines are straight and your turns are made in unison. They are also
handy for turning music on and off (from a car if nothing else is available), and making a cuppa
afterwards.
Tip #6: Riding Club Mount
(Also know as the Obstacle Course) This is nothing particularly daunting but points are easily gained
and lost, so get your team members to practice picking things up off drums, opening and closing gates
and horses used to stepping over things.
Also practice carrying a cup, raincoat and bucket you never know what you will be asked to do. This
is done in your Team uniform (along with the jumping phases) but make sure you have a set for each
rider and the NZRC pin. (Uniforms can be as simple as all the same colour saddle cloths and Shirts.
You do not need to rush out and buy expensive uniforms. Also note that if you wanted to do the
Quadrille in a Stock Saddle etc then this is allow in the rules.)
Tip #7: Cross-Country
The Cross-country phase is run as a team of four, following one behind the other in a 'Snake' at a
regular distance. This tends to make the horses keen, so practice at a steady pace over one or two
fences and work out which horse is best suited to lead (a "non-stopper") and which horses will be OK
at the rear ("plodders"). This will take a bit of juggling but team support and safety is the most
important thing both at practice and on the day. There will be a choice of heights at each jump
element to cater for all abilities. There are no eliminations.
This is where team-work really kicks in as you don't ride as an individual.
Tip #8: Show-jumping
The show-jumping phase involves four horses but competing one at a time. Each rider will get to
choose their course, so picking jumps that do not push riders past their limit, skill or confidence
is important.
Practice helps and some coaching a week before the event can be a real confidence boost.
Tip #9: Team Ride
This is the ultimate test of teamwork! The riders are asked to perform a sequence of movements in
unison from instructions given by a caller.
However, none of the riders will have any prior knowledge of what these will be! The aim is to show a
synchronised and evenly balanced display.
To achieve this, each rider will have to
watch their other team mates very closely and adjust
their riding accordingly to create a mirror image.
It would pay to practice with your Riders being numbered - 1 (Leader), 2, 3 and 4 - as the test may
make reference to these eg: Riders 1 & 3 turn right, Riders 2 & 4 turn left, or Follow your Leader
through a figure of 8 at a trot. Just in case this sounded too easy, only the official caller is
allowed to speak!
Tip #10
Keep an eye on the NZRC newsletter to make sure your entries are in to MARC before the due date.
Entry fees for 2010 are yet to be finalised. You will also need to pay for ground levies. Fundraising
for the team costs (entry fees, costumes etc) is a good way to get your Team involved in the event.
Holding a ribbon day, derby day, raffle, trivial pursuit night etc, are just some ideas to raise
money.
Tip #11
The final step is to drive down, set up camp, compete and enjoy the company!
Most NITE venues will have pens available. Be prepared for a shortage of grass; bring enough hard
feed and hay to sustain your trusty steeds for the weekend.
An equine first aid kit is good to have on board. A vet will also be on call for those unseen
emergencies. It is a good idea to have the horses freshly shod. However there will also be a farrier
on call for any emergencies.
Bring a central large tent or canopy with tables and chairs so your team can have a "meal/party"
space. It's a great idea if you can mange it. If you can bribe some of your friends, family, club
members to come down and support you, it is always great to have extra feet on the ground to help
with grooming, mucking out, cooking, filling water buckets, calming nervous riders etc.
If your team supporters share the work and the fun then you will have a great weekend!!
Once you have done it once, YOU WILL BE HOOKED!
