Post by Jewellz on Apr 15, 2020 13:22:36 GMT -5
Hello all you lovely SS members! Your mod and admin team is excited to announce that, while COVID-19 has ruined plans all over the world concerning the 2020 Olympics and summer vacations, it's not going to stop us from having the most exciting summer event we've seen since 2016. So, start packing your bags and preparing your horses, because soon, we will be traveling the world in search of the best horses on the forum to compete in exclusive shows and races at the SS Olympics in Tokyo!
Unlike past world tours, we will not be stopping in individual countries. We will be making regional/continental stops, so all countries from that continent are included! We could really use some help from you, the members, to hex adoptions or come up with fun, creative things to do (training clinics, fun competitions, anything you want to do!) at some of the stops to make each one feel unique to that region. For example, some handsome German warmbloods would be perfect to raffle off during our stop in Europe, or some beautiful Arabians from the UAE during our stop in Asia.
The schedule for the tour:
May 2nd - 10th: North America
May 10th - 17th: South & Central America
May 17th - 24th: Europe
May 24th - 31st: Australia
May 31st - June 7th: Asia
June 12th - 19th: Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
There will be qualifying rounds for all of the Olympic disciplines and races at each of the five stops in our world tour. The top horses in each qualifying round will earn a spot in the final Olympic shows and races. After our stops around the world, all of the horses that qualified will make their way to Tokyo, Japan to compete for coveted Olympic medals!
This year we are excited to announce that three new disciplines have been added to the Olympics: Barrel Racing, Reining, and Western Pleasure!
Since Olympic shows and qualifying rounds do not award points, all champion and grand champion horses are encouraged to participate! The Olympics are about finding the best of the best, so pick some of your top horses to compete with!
NOTE: All horses who won medals in Rio in 2016 are disqualified from competing again in any discipline they won a medal in last time. Check out this thread of all the 2016 medalists!
The Seeing Stars Olympics will be by invitation only, as it is for the real Olympics. Only horses that competed in qualifying shows and placed in the top 4, OR in either the top three or top two in the qualifying races (depending on the continent), will be qualified and invited to the Olympics. Each discipline will see the top 20 horses, and each race will see the top 14 racers, competing for that coveted gold medal in Tokyo. At the start of each of our world tour stops, we will open up qualifying races and shows for all of the disciplines, and once they're judged/finished (before we visit the next country), the top horses will be invited to compete in the Olympics. Once qualified in a discipline or race, a horse cannot enter any more qualifying rounds for that discipline or race, but may compete in other disciplines and races if desired.
Every horse competing in Olympic shows must have a country that it is representing. Last Olympics, we only stopped in certain countries in our world tour, so if a horse qualified in that country - that's the one they represented. However, this time around, our stops are regional and cover multiple countries. As such, if a horse wins a spot in the Olympics at a certain stop, the owner may choose any country from that continent/region that the horse will represent in the Olympics. For example, a horse that qualified in Europe could represent Germany, France, Ireland, Spain etc.... We would like to encourage diversity when choosing countries, because the Olympics is a worldwide event!
Because it is the Olympics, most of the show disciplines require a little extra - similar to our Advanced disciplines. Below, you can find out more about each discipline and what will be expected and required. More information about the judges and how we will judge will become available as we get closer to the event!
The Olympic disciplines are...
Barrel Racing: We will be trialing a new judging system of Barrel Racing for the Olympics and may implement it permanently if it goes well. However, the three poses required are still the same!
Dressage: This will be run a little differently than the regular Dressage discipline to make the poses worth more in the final scores. The qualifying rounds and the final show will require 3 different poses, which may be any of the following: halt, collected trot, extended trot, passage, canter, & piaffe. It is up to the rider to choose which 3 poses best show off the abilities of the horse.
Eventing: Eventing will require the same poses as it does now, however, poses will be scrutinized more than usual. This show is for Preliminary and Intermediate level Eventers. Novice horses will be separate due to the stats being such a great difference. Due to the division, Eventing and Novice Eventing will both receive gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Novice Eventing: This show is for Novice level Eventing horses (even horses that are brand new!)
Halter: This show is basically our regular Advanced Halter, but the gait has been expanded to include more than just a canter. Each entry requires two poses: a level halt pose and a collected trot, extended trot, or canter - no other gaits are accepted.
In-Hand: This show is very close to our regular Advanced In-Hand. It requires a halt pose and a collected or extended trot (no other gaits are accepted). Both poses must be shown in a halter or bridle, preferably matching.
Reining: This show will require each entry to submit three poses, instead of the usual two. Entrants may choose to enter their choice of: two different canter/gallops (may not be the same pose twice, so either a canter and a gallop or two different types of gallops) and a reining specialty pose (spin, backup, sliding stop) OR one canter/gallop and two different reining specialty poses (spin, backup, sliding stop). It is up to the rider to choose which 3 poses best show off the abilities of the horse.
Show Hunters: This show is basically our regular Advanced Hunter Under Saddle. It requires a gait (walk, trot, or canter) and a jump pose - a take-off or landing pose is just as acceptable as the mid-jump. Tack is OPTIONAL on both poses. Editing such as shading/transparency/adding tack or rider is acceptable, however editing the actual pose is not allowed. Gallops and the piaffe are unacceptable gaits. Jump poses may only use a hoop for jumping and it must not be edited out, any other jumps are unacceptable.
Show Jumping: This show has the same requirements as Show Jumping does now, there must be a take-off, mid-jump, and landing pose for each entry, and all poses must use the hoop as a jump.
Western Pleasure: This show is basically our regular Advanced Western Pleasure. It requires two poses: a gait (any accepted gait, except a gallop or piaffe) and a second pose that is either a halt or backup. Tack is OPTIONAL on both poses. Editing such as shading/transparency/adding tack or rider is acceptable, however editing the actual pose is not allowed.
The Olympic races are...
Tokyo Olympic Dirt Sprint - 6F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Turf Mile - 8F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Dirt Mile - 8F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Classic - 10F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Distaff - 9F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ fillies and mares
Tokyo Olympic Turf Classic - 12F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Marathon - 15F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile - 10F dirt for juvenile colts
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Fillies - 9F dirt for juvenile fillies
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Dirt Mile - 8F dirt for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf Mile - 8F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf - 12F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf Sprint - 6F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Dirt Sprint - 6F dirt for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Marathon - 15F turf for juvenile racers
NOTE: Juvenile racers are all horses that have stats at 69 & under, even brand new open level horses are included. Any horse with a stat that is 70+ is NOT a juvenile and may not participate in Juvenile races. All races will have set post weights based on grade levels to make it more fair, which will be posted at a later date.
And what can you get out of this?
NO points or stats will be awarded in the qualifying shows, nor the Olympics!* However, this means that almost any horse can now participate, even if they've been retired for years! There will be graphic awards for the qualifiers and of course there are bragging rights for even making it to the Olympics to compete.
*EXCEPT all races still award stat boosts. NOTE: If a juvenile horse qualified for a race as a juvenile and then, by the time the Olympics rolled around, had any stats higher than 69, it will be raced with the stats it had while it ran the race it qualified in.
For the Olympic final placements, the top 3 horses in each discipline will receive a medal (1st: gold, 2nd: silver, 3rd: bronze) and A LOT of prestige! Expect requests for breedings to increase! Everyone will know the name of your horse! In addition, many (hopefully some at least?) people will most likely be contributing hexed horses, custom horses, custom tack, or TONS of SS to make these some of the best rewards we've ever seen!
If you'd like to contribute to the prize pool for any of the shows or races, get ahold of one of us through PM, or just post here so everyone can admire your generosity.
More information will be coming soon about how the shows will be judged, who the judges and raceholders are, and anything else we come up with in the meantime. I know Neco has an exciting addition to announce, so stay tuned!
Unlike past world tours, we will not be stopping in individual countries. We will be making regional/continental stops, so all countries from that continent are included! We could really use some help from you, the members, to hex adoptions or come up with fun, creative things to do (training clinics, fun competitions, anything you want to do!) at some of the stops to make each one feel unique to that region. For example, some handsome German warmbloods would be perfect to raffle off during our stop in Europe, or some beautiful Arabians from the UAE during our stop in Asia.
The schedule for the tour:
May 2nd - 10th: North America
May 10th - 17th: South & Central America
May 17th - 24th: Europe
May 24th - 31st: Australia
May 31st - June 7th: Asia
June 12th - 19th: Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
There will be qualifying rounds for all of the Olympic disciplines and races at each of the five stops in our world tour. The top horses in each qualifying round will earn a spot in the final Olympic shows and races. After our stops around the world, all of the horses that qualified will make their way to Tokyo, Japan to compete for coveted Olympic medals!
This year we are excited to announce that three new disciplines have been added to the Olympics: Barrel Racing, Reining, and Western Pleasure!
Since Olympic shows and qualifying rounds do not award points, all champion and grand champion horses are encouraged to participate! The Olympics are about finding the best of the best, so pick some of your top horses to compete with!
NOTE: All horses who won medals in Rio in 2016 are disqualified from competing again in any discipline they won a medal in last time. Check out this thread of all the 2016 medalists!
The Seeing Stars Olympics will be by invitation only, as it is for the real Olympics. Only horses that competed in qualifying shows and placed in the top 4, OR in either the top three or top two in the qualifying races (depending on the continent), will be qualified and invited to the Olympics. Each discipline will see the top 20 horses, and each race will see the top 14 racers, competing for that coveted gold medal in Tokyo. At the start of each of our world tour stops, we will open up qualifying races and shows for all of the disciplines, and once they're judged/finished (before we visit the next country), the top horses will be invited to compete in the Olympics. Once qualified in a discipline or race, a horse cannot enter any more qualifying rounds for that discipline or race, but may compete in other disciplines and races if desired.
Every horse competing in Olympic shows must have a country that it is representing. Last Olympics, we only stopped in certain countries in our world tour, so if a horse qualified in that country - that's the one they represented. However, this time around, our stops are regional and cover multiple countries. As such, if a horse wins a spot in the Olympics at a certain stop, the owner may choose any country from that continent/region that the horse will represent in the Olympics. For example, a horse that qualified in Europe could represent Germany, France, Ireland, Spain etc.... We would like to encourage diversity when choosing countries, because the Olympics is a worldwide event!
Because it is the Olympics, most of the show disciplines require a little extra - similar to our Advanced disciplines. Below, you can find out more about each discipline and what will be expected and required. More information about the judges and how we will judge will become available as we get closer to the event!
The Olympic disciplines are...
Barrel Racing: We will be trialing a new judging system of Barrel Racing for the Olympics and may implement it permanently if it goes well. However, the three poses required are still the same!
Dressage: This will be run a little differently than the regular Dressage discipline to make the poses worth more in the final scores. The qualifying rounds and the final show will require 3 different poses, which may be any of the following: halt, collected trot, extended trot, passage, canter, & piaffe. It is up to the rider to choose which 3 poses best show off the abilities of the horse.
Eventing: Eventing will require the same poses as it does now, however, poses will be scrutinized more than usual. This show is for Preliminary and Intermediate level Eventers. Novice horses will be separate due to the stats being such a great difference. Due to the division, Eventing and Novice Eventing will both receive gold, silver, and bronze medals.
Novice Eventing: This show is for Novice level Eventing horses (even horses that are brand new!)
Halter: This show is basically our regular Advanced Halter, but the gait has been expanded to include more than just a canter. Each entry requires two poses: a level halt pose and a collected trot, extended trot, or canter - no other gaits are accepted.
In-Hand: This show is very close to our regular Advanced In-Hand. It requires a halt pose and a collected or extended trot (no other gaits are accepted). Both poses must be shown in a halter or bridle, preferably matching.
Reining: This show will require each entry to submit three poses, instead of the usual two. Entrants may choose to enter their choice of: two different canter/gallops (may not be the same pose twice, so either a canter and a gallop or two different types of gallops) and a reining specialty pose (spin, backup, sliding stop) OR one canter/gallop and two different reining specialty poses (spin, backup, sliding stop). It is up to the rider to choose which 3 poses best show off the abilities of the horse.
Show Hunters: This show is basically our regular Advanced Hunter Under Saddle. It requires a gait (walk, trot, or canter) and a jump pose - a take-off or landing pose is just as acceptable as the mid-jump. Tack is OPTIONAL on both poses. Editing such as shading/transparency/adding tack or rider is acceptable, however editing the actual pose is not allowed. Gallops and the piaffe are unacceptable gaits. Jump poses may only use a hoop for jumping and it must not be edited out, any other jumps are unacceptable.
Show Jumping: This show has the same requirements as Show Jumping does now, there must be a take-off, mid-jump, and landing pose for each entry, and all poses must use the hoop as a jump.
Western Pleasure: This show is basically our regular Advanced Western Pleasure. It requires two poses: a gait (any accepted gait, except a gallop or piaffe) and a second pose that is either a halt or backup. Tack is OPTIONAL on both poses. Editing such as shading/transparency/adding tack or rider is acceptable, however editing the actual pose is not allowed.
The Olympic races are...
Tokyo Olympic Dirt Sprint - 6F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Turf Mile - 8F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Dirt Mile - 8F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Classic - 10F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Distaff - 9F dirt for non-juvenile G3+ fillies and mares
Tokyo Olympic Turf Classic - 12F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Marathon - 15F turf for non-juvenile G3+ racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile - 10F dirt for juvenile colts
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Fillies - 9F dirt for juvenile fillies
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Dirt Mile - 8F dirt for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf Mile - 8F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf - 12F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Turf Sprint - 6F turf for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Dirt Sprint - 6F dirt for juvenile racers
Tokyo Olympic Juvenile Marathon - 15F turf for juvenile racers
NOTE: Juvenile racers are all horses that have stats at 69 & under, even brand new open level horses are included. Any horse with a stat that is 70+ is NOT a juvenile and may not participate in Juvenile races. All races will have set post weights based on grade levels to make it more fair, which will be posted at a later date.
And what can you get out of this?
NO points or stats will be awarded in the qualifying shows, nor the Olympics!* However, this means that almost any horse can now participate, even if they've been retired for years! There will be graphic awards for the qualifiers and of course there are bragging rights for even making it to the Olympics to compete.
*EXCEPT all races still award stat boosts. NOTE: If a juvenile horse qualified for a race as a juvenile and then, by the time the Olympics rolled around, had any stats higher than 69, it will be raced with the stats it had while it ran the race it qualified in.
For the Olympic final placements, the top 3 horses in each discipline will receive a medal (1st: gold, 2nd: silver, 3rd: bronze) and A LOT of prestige! Expect requests for breedings to increase! Everyone will know the name of your horse! In addition, many (hopefully some at least?) people will most likely be contributing hexed horses, custom horses, custom tack, or TONS of SS to make these some of the best rewards we've ever seen!
If you'd like to contribute to the prize pool for any of the shows or races, get ahold of one of us through PM, or just post here so everyone can admire your generosity.
More information will be coming soon about how the shows will be judged, who the judges and raceholders are, and anything else we come up with in the meantime. I know Neco has an exciting addition to announce, so stay tuned!