Derby 7 Dec 2025
Derby 7 Dec 2025
Join us for our fun and educational Derby and schooling weekend!
Registration CLOSES 30 November. Late entries will be required to make a $35 donation to SAzEA in order to participate.
Tentative Schedule:
Saturday: Open schooling. Most jumps included in the derby will be available to school, and the course maps will be available. A “pace course” will be set up around the perimeter of the xc course to allow riders to practice galloping at level-appropriate speeds. REGISTER for Saturday in the shop on line; regular pricing applies; Membership requirement waived. Fun classes (Lead Line, Fun Run, Canine Challenge) will run Saturday between 3-5pm, with schedule published NLT 5 Dec. Register for fun classes and schooling in the shop.
Sunday: 9am - 4pm (approximate). See details below. Schooling will be available for riders who participated in the derby for 1 hour after last derby horse finishes. Must register in the shop on line for open schooling. Membership requirement waived. PRIZES FOR BEST CHRISTMAS OUTFITS.
Stabling, shavings and camping must be ordered/purchased directly from the fairgrounds by contacting John O via email at johno@pimacountyfair.com. Stall assignments will be provided by the RV office and shavings must be ordered from them as well, 520-762-8579.
Derby courses will be shorter than full USEA cross-country courses with a mix of show jumping and XC jumps. The speed will be appropriate for the levels as established by the USEA, with an optimum time and a maximum allowable time. All courses will have water or a water option and some terrain. ALL divisions will have an optimum time and a maximum time allowed. Exceeding maximum time results in elimination.
Divisions (run in this order):
Intro/Starter (24”) speed 325 MPM
BN (2’7”) speed 350 MPM
N (2’11”) speed 375 MPM
Entries. First come, first served. A rider may enter more than 1 horse. Separate levels require separate entries; To enter the same horse at the same level, select quantity “2.” To enter in the “pairs” competition, select that variant.
Price: $40/round
Signup: Limited time slots available. First come, first served. Late entries will be required to make a $35 donation to SAzEA. Additional day of show entries allowed if sufficient open time slots.
Releases and Acknowledgement. All riders or their legal guardians must acknowledge both theSAzEA Release/Waiver and Cross Country Schooling Policies and Facility Rules.
Prizes awarded 1-3 place. Details TBD.
SAzEA reserves the right to cancel this event if not enough participants register by the closing date. All registration fees, minus cc processing fees will be refunded.
See additional info for DERBY rules.
OVERALL RULES:
1. Riders must check in at official table at the entrance to xc course and pick up one pinnie number for each horse/rider combination. Each horse/rider combination will keep the same pinney throughout the day. Each horse/rider combination may compete in multiple rounds and at multiple levels. For placings, only the best score for each combination will count at each level. A rider may enter more than 1 horse.
2. Start times will be provided prior to Sunday, Dec 7. Course maps, optimum times, and maximum allowable times will be available on Saturday, Dec 6.
3. Trainers may offer assistance to riders on course.
4. Riders must jump all numbered fences for their level, in numerical order. If a rider misses a fence, they may back track and jump that fence if they have not yet jumped the next numbered fence. If a rider misses a fence and does not back track, they may continue on and complete their course, but they will be eliminated.
5. Riders are eliminated on their 4th refusal on course. They must leave the course at that time. Riders will be permitted to ride additional derby rounds they have signed up for, and they can add additional rounds if time slots are available.
6. A refusal occurs when a horse fails to jump a numbered fence or obstacle due to stopping or running-out. At a water obstacle, ditch, or bank, a refusal occurs if a horse stops and steps backwards away from the obstacle. A horse may move laterally at one of these obstacles and then proceed forward over the obstacle, as long as it does not step backwards. If the rider turns and re-presents, it is considered a refusal.
7. Falls: There will be NO safety/medical team on site. After a fall, riders are eliminated for that round and must leave the course following a fall. Riders can ride additional rounds at their own discretion. All participants are required to acknowledge the SAzEA waiver/release when signing up.
8. Scoring: Placings will be based on the horse/rider combination with the lowest number of faults, and closest to the optimum time without going over. See scoring information listed below. Riders are asked to adhere to the honor system if no jump judge is available at a specific jump.
9. An official or SAzEA Board Member may eliminate a rider on course or in the warm-up area for excessive whipping, dangerous riding, excessive speed, injury to the horse or unsoundness, or improper/dangerous equipment (draw reins, etc). There are no refunds for riders eliminated for these reasons.
10. Dress: Casual riding attire is appropriate. Paddock boots and half- or full-chaps are allowed. Tack, crops, and spurs must adhere to USEA requirements. All riders participating in schooling, pace course, and derby must wear XC Safety equipment including safety vest and ASTM approved helmet. An air vest is highly recommended.
11. General schooling will be allowed for 1 hour after the derby, ONLY FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE DERBY. Please note that work crews will be removing flags and numbers at this time. The cost for schooling is $45. Register in the shop under the appropriate item.
SCORING/FAULTS:
1st Refusal on course – 4 faults
2nd or 3rd Refusal on course – 8 faults
4th Refusal on course – Elimination, must leave course at a walk.
Rail – 4 faults
Time – 1 fault per second or portion of second over optimum time.
Fall of rider and/or horse – elimination
Exceeding maximum time allowed - elimination