What are MERs?
MERs, or minimum eligibility requirements, are the results that rider and horse, either as a combination or individually, must achieve in order to compete at a certain level. A summary of MERs can be found below for both the National and International levels.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
National
At National level (BE80(T) to Advanced) an MER is achieved with the following result:
- Not more than 50 penalties in the dressage
- No more than 16 jumping penalties in the show jumping
- Zero cross country penalties and no more than 30 cross country time penalties
| Level | MERs |
|---|---|
| BE80(T) | None required |
| BE90 | None required |
| BE90 Open | None required |
| BE90PC | None required |
| BE90Ou18 | None required |
| BE100 |
Must have two MERs at BE90 level If in the year of 12th or 13th birthday, they must have completed two BE90 competitions as a combination. |
| BE100 Open | As for BE100 |
| BE100Ou18 | As for BE100 |
| BE100PC | As for BE100 |
| BE1003DE | Please see Annex 5 in the BE Rules and Members' Handbook |
| BE100 Plus | As for BE100 |
| BE105 |
Must have two MERs at BE100 or BE100 Plus If in the year of their 16th birthday or younger, must have completed as a combination 2 MERs at BE100 / BE100 Plus. |
| Novice |
Must have three MERs at BE100, BE100 Plus, BE105 or CCI1* If in the year of 17th or 18th birthday, one MER must be as a combination. If in the year of their 16th birthday or younger; must have completed as a combination four MERs at BE100 / BE100 Plus / BE105 and also must have completed as a combination one MER at OUN18. |
| Open Novice | As for Novice |
| Open Novice U18 | As for Novice |
| Pony Open Novice | As for Novice |
| Pony Trials | As for Novice |
| Intermediate Novice | As for Novice |
| Intermediate |
Must have five MERS at Novice or 2* level, and at least one of these must have been completed as a combination if the competitor is competing at Intermediate for the first time (unless already qualified for Advanced) If in the year of their 16th birthday or younger please see the BE Rules and Members' Handbook for full details |
| Open Intermediate | As for Intermediate |
| Open Intermediate U21 | As for Intermediate - please see the BE Rules and Members' Handbook for full details and if in the year of their 16th birthday or younger |
| Advanced Intermediate |
As for Intermediate - please see the BE Rules and Members' Handbook for full details Must be in the year of their 17th birthday or older |
| Advanced | Must have five MERs at Intermediate or CCI3*-S/L and additional requirements exist for the horse - please see the BE Rules and Members' Handbook for full details |
*Please note that there are other requirements to compete at certain levels, therefore read the BE Rules and Members' Handbook for full details
International
For International classes an MER is the following:
- Dressage test with no more than 45 penalties
- No cross country jumping penalties, and no more than 30 time penalties (75 seconds) at one, two, three and four star level, no more than 40 penalties (100 seconds) at five star major
- No more than 16 show jumping penalties
If you do not know which category FEI athlete you are, you can find out on the FEI website.
|
LEVEL |
RIDER TYPE |
FEI REQUIREMENTS (to be achieved by horse & rider combination unless stated below) |
|
GBR HORSE & RIDER REQUIREMENT (as a combination or separately) |
|
CCI1*- Intro |
All Athletes |
|
|
3 x BE100 / BE100 PLUS / BE105 |
|
CCI2*- Short |
All Athletes |
|
|
2 x Novice |
|
CCI3* - Short |
A, B, C & D FEI Athletes |
|
|
1 x CCI2*-L/S OR 1 x Intermediate |
|
Uncategorised Athletes |
1 x CCI2*-S |
PLUS |
1 x Intermediate |
|
|
CCI4* - Short |
A & B FEI Athletes |
1 x CCI3*-S (Horse only) |
PLUS |
(2 x CCI3*-L/S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
Uncategorised and C & D Athletes |
2 x CCI3*-S |
PLUS |
(2 x CCI3*-L/S OR 1 Advanced) |
|
|
From 1st July 2021 Uncategorised and C & D Athletes |
3 x CCI3*-S |
PLUS |
(2 1 x CCI3*-L/S OR 1 Advanced) |
|
|
CCI2* - Long |
All Athletes |
|
|
(4 x Novice PLUS 1 Intermediate) OR (4 x Novice PLUS 1 x CCI2*-S) OR (6 x Novice) |
|
CCI3* - Long |
A, B & C FEI Athletes |
(1 x CCI2*-L OR 1 x CCI3*-S) (Horse only) |
PLUS |
(1 x CCI3*-S OR 2 x Intermediate) |
|
D Athletes |
1 x CCI2*-L OR 1 x CCI3*-S |
PLUS |
(1 x CCI3*-S OR 2 x Intermediate) |
|
|
Uncategorised FEI Athletes |
1 x CCI3*-S AND (1 x CCI2*-L OR 1 x CCI3*-S) |
PLUS |
(1 x CCI3*-S OR 2 x Intermediate) |
|
|
From 1st July 2021 |
2 x CCI3*-S AND (1 x CCI2*-L OR 1 x CCI3*-S) |
PLUS |
(1 x CCI3*-S Advanced OR 2 x Intermediate) |
|
|
CCI4* - Long |
A & B FEI Athletes |
1 x CCI3*-L (Horse only) |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-S PLUS (1 x CCI4*-S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
Uncategorised, C & D FEI Athletes |
1 x CCI3*-L AND 1 x CCI4*-S |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-S PLUS (1 x CCI4*-S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
|
|
From 1st July 2021 Uncategorised, C & D FEI Athletes |
2 x CCI3*-L AND 1 x CCI4*-S |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-S PLUS (1 x CCI4*-S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
CCI5* - Long |
A FEI Athletes with Horses having not obtained yet a MER at a CCI5*-L competition |
1 x CCI4*-L |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-L/S PLUS (1 x CCI4*-L/S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
A FEI Athletes with Horses having already obtained a MER at a CCI5*-L competition |
2x CCI4* –S |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-L/S PLUS (1 x CCI4*-L/S OR 1 x Advanced) |
|
|
B FEI Athletes |
1 x CCI4*-L AND 3 x CCI4*-S |
|
|
|
|
Uncategorised and C & D FEI Athletes |
2 x CCI4*-L AND 2 x CCI4*-S |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-L/S OR 1 x Advanced |
|
|
|
From 1st July 2021 Uncategorised and C & D FEI Athletes |
2 x CCI4*-L AND 3 x CCI4*-S |
PLUS |
1 x CCI4*-L/S OR 1 x Advanced |
Contact us
For more information on MERs and qualification please contact the sport team on 02476 698856 or email sport@britisheventing.com.