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
Full details on MERs can be found in the BE Rules and Members' Handbook.
| Level | MERs |
|---|---|
| BE80(T) | None required |
| BE90 | None required |
| BE90 Open | None required |
| BE90PC | None required |
| BE100 |
Must have two MERs at BE90 level If in the year of 12th or 13th birthday, they must have completed the two MERs as a combination, each with no more than 12 show jumping penalties |
| 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, the above must have been completed as a combination |
| Novice |
Must have three MERs at BE100, BE100 Plus or BE105 If in the year of their 16th birthday or younger, the horse and rider must have completed the above as a combination and also must have completed, as a combination, one MER at ONu18 or a Pony Trial |
| 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, 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 at one, two, three and four star level, no more than 40 penalties 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.
Please note: MERs must be completed by both horse and rider, although not necessarily as a combination UNLESS the MER is in bold, where it MUST be completed as a combination.
View the International MERs in the BE Rules and Members' Handbook HERE.
| Level | FEI Category | MERs |
|---|---|---|
| CCI2*-S | All athletes | Two at Novice |
| CCI2*-L | All athletes |
Four at Novice PLUS one Intermediate OR Four at Novice PLUS one CCI2*-S OR Six at Novice |
| CCI3*-S | A, B, C, D athletes |
One at 2* OR One at Intermediate |
| CCI3*-S | Uncategorised |
One at CCI2*-S PLUS One at Intermediate |
| CCI3*-L | A, B, C, D athletes |
(One CCI2*-L OR one CCI3*-S) PLUS (One CCI3*-S OR two Intermediate) |
| CCI3*-L | Uncategorised |
(One CCI2*-L OR one CCI3*-S) AND One CCI3*-S PLUS (One CCI3*-S OR two Intermediate) |
| CCI4*-S | A and B athletes |
One CCI3*-S PLUS (Two CCI3* OR one Advanced) |
| CCI4*-S | Uncategorised and C & D athletes |
Two 3* PLUS (Two 3* OR one Advanced) |
| CCI4*-L | A and B athletes |
One CCI3*-L PLUS One CCI4*-S PLUS (One CCI4*-S OR one Advanced) |
| CCI4*-L | Uncategorised and C& D athletes |
One CCI3*-L AND One CCI4*-S PLUS One CCI4*-S PLUS (One CCI4*-S OR one Advanced) |
| CCI5* | A athletes |
One CCI4*-L PLUS One CCI4* PLUS (One CCI4* OR one Advanced) |
| CCI5* | B athletes |
One CCI4*-L AND Three CCI4*-S |
| CCI5* | Uncategorised, C and D athletes |
Two CCI4*-L AND Two CCI4*-S PLUS (One CCI4* OR one Advanced) |
Contact us
For more information on MERs and qualification please contact the sport team on 02476 698856 or email sport@britisheventing.com.
