¶ Purpose and Philosophy
- Goal: Promote an elegant, clean, and well-followed performance while keeping it technically correct.
This is a judged competition similar to the typical silent dressage competitions.
Teams can choose easier vs harder routines; difficulty increases potential points, but also increases the cost of mistakes.
Date: May 28th, 2026 at 11am SLT
¶ Competition Format
¶ Team composition
- 1 trainer
- 2 to 4 ponies
Each team must register ahead of the event. Send a notecard containing your team members to Trish (trishace)
Note: Each individual can be a part of a maximum of 2 teams. (1 as pony, 1 as trainer).
Keep in mind, there is a limited amount of places available.
¶ Routine
Each team must decide on a routine ahead of the competition.
On the day of the event, judges shall be told the routine before its execution.
Competitors will declare:
- Style: Classic or Modern
- Blindness: Blind or Not blind.
- Pattern length: 10, 20 or 30 letters
Note: For the routine to be considered as a blindfolded run, every pony must be wearing a blindfold using the "Thin" preset of Anavision. (If you need one, please ask for a freebie blindfold ahead of the event). A judge shall hold the key to the blindfold device to ensure it is not unlocked during the pattern.
The pattern to execute will be given by the judges. Patterns are randomly generated and reviewed to ensure they are of sufficient complexity.
¶ On the day of the event
The overall flow of a performance goes as follows:
- The team enters the field and positions themselves in the respective starting spots.
- The trainer states the routine about to be performed.
- The judges give the pattern to the trainer.
- The team executes the pattern.
- The trainer validates the pattern.
- The judges judge.
¶ Scoring System
The judge panel is composed of 3 judges. Each judge awards points in every category which are the following:
- Technicality (5pts): How well the rules of the chosen ruleset are followed.
- This is an average of 5pts per pony.
- An incomplete pattern yields a score of 0 for this pony in this category. (Example: 1 pony does a flawless pattern, the other does not finish. The total points for a single judge in Technicality would be (5+0)/2 = 2.5 pts)
- A mistake that results in subsequent mistakes will be counted multiple times. A pony in error should attempt to elegantly correct themselves back into the proper expected pattern.
- A missing curtsy is considered a technical fault.
- Validation (5pts): How well the trainer validated the performed pattern.
- Trainers are not expected to catch every single mistake in the event that there are several from many ponies.
- Trainers should aim to identify at least one (ideally, the first) mistake of each pony. The more precise, the better. Remember, you are training ponies. Your insight is valuable to help them improve.
- Incorrectly identified mistakes, or missed mistakes lead to a point deduction in this category.
- Be precise, trainers should try to identify the cause or exact mistake instead of stating vague remarks like "this looked wrong".
- Synchronicity (5pts): How well ponies are synchronized overall.
- Ponies who fail to finish their pattern will earn a 0 in Technicality but may still score some points in Synchronicity.
- This category covers start timings, stomp timings, curtsy timings and overall flow of the pattern.
- Improperly timed curtsies are considered a synchronicity error.
- Accuracy (5pts): How well the team follows intended lines.
- This category includes following the lines cleanly.
- Starting and ending positions are also factored into this score.
- Hesitations can impact accuracy, and may also affect sync if they create a lasting delay.
- Curtsying in the wrong direction is considered a lack of accuracy.
- Attire (5pts): Overall elegance and presentation.
- The theme of the team (outfits) should be coherent and elegant.
- Complexity (multiplier of 1.0 to 2.0, the same for every judge):
- The complexity of a routine is used to multiply the score of the team, creating a high risk, high reward approach.
- The minimum complexity is x1.0. This is for a team of 1 trainer and 2 ponies performing a 10 letter pattern without blindfolds.
- Each additional pony (up to 4) increases complexity by 0.2.
- Having all ponies blindfolded for the pattern increases complexity by 0.2.
- Each additional increments of 10 letters (up to 30 letters total) increases complexity by 0.2.
- The maximum complexity multiplier is x2.0 by performing a 30 letter pattern with 4 blindfolded ponies.
- Your choice of Classic or Modern ruleset does not impact the complexity multiplier.
The formula is:
- Judge Score = (Technicality + Validation + Synchronicity + Accuracy + Attire) * Complexity
Sounds complicated? Don't sweat! These details are provided to help you make an informed decision about your routine. Do your best and it will be reflected in the score.
¶ Scoring Examples
Here are two example scores with 1 judge.
Team 1: Classic Ruleset, 20 letters, 2 ponies, not blindfolded. (Complexity of x1.2)
- Both ponies did 0 technical mistakes. They scored 5 in Technicality.
- The trainer correctly identified that there was no mistake, scoring 5 in Validation.
- The ponies stomped and began slightly off-sync, but curtsied in sync, earning 4 in Synchronicity.
- Ponies generally followed the lines well, but both of them failed to stop accurately at the end of the pattern, missing the inner circle’s perimeter, earning 3.5 in Accuracy.
- The team had good and matching outfits, earning a 4.5 in Attire.
- Their final score is (5 + 5 + 4 + 3.5 + 4.5) * 1.2 = 26.4 pts
Team 2: Modern Ruleset, 30 letters, 4 ponies, blindfolded. (Complexity of x2.0)
- 1 pony was flawless, 2 ponies failed to finish, and another did 2 technical mistakes. They scored (0+0+3+5)/4=2 in Technicality.
- The trainer correctly identified that there were two mistakes done by one pony, but failed to identify where the two lost ponies failed their pattern. In this confusion, the trainer failed to confidently assess the fact that pony #4 correctly did their pattern. Scoring 1 in Validation.
- The ponies started in sync, but due to severe corner cutting and some ponies getting lost, synchronicity was quickly lost. Furthermore, the ponies who failed to finish their pattern did not rejoin the center to curtsy in a timely manner, earning 2 in Synchronicity.
- Half the ponies were cutting corners, the others were doing well at following lines. The stops at the end were accurate, earning 2.5 in Accuracy.
- The team prepared matching outfits for 2 ponies and the trainer, but the remaining ponies were wearing their usual tacks. The team earned a 3 in Attire.
- Their final score is (2 + 1 + 2 + 2.5 + 3) * 2.0 = 21.0 pts
¶ Other Notes & Advice
- Lag happens: Inaccuracies due to observable lag will be disregarded or, in extreme cases, a new pattern may be given. The decision on how to handle lag is at the discretion of the judges.
- Keep moving: Ponies are encouraged to continue their pattern to the best of their ability, even if they experience lag or make mistakes.
- Be realistic: You should aim to be as elegant as possible. A low-risk routine can yield much better results than a botched high-risk routine.
- Pioritize Elegance: If a desync occurs, prioritize line accuracy over cutting corners.
- Need clarifications? Reach out to Trish (trishace) in-world for questions. (Or Axelle Beorn, who will then redirect you to Trish.)
- Please note that the field used for the competition will include the full inner lines (they extend all the way to the small circles).
¶ Participants
¶ Judges
- Trish (trishace)
- Rhea Mercury
- TBA
¶ Registered Teams
-
Team 1: TBA
- Trainer: TBA
- Ponies: Fleur de Lune (axelle01), TBA
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Team 2: TBA
- Trainer: Onyx Darkthorne (Onyx Starling)
- Ponies: Fireflower (xaikaan), Livie Doll, Carolyn (Talisa Goat), TBA
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Team 3: TBA
- Trainer: Livie Doll
- Ponies: Wisteria (Kenna Fluffington), Nibbles (Skyler Pancake), TBA
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Team 4: Corporate Drones
- Trainer: Amanda Vera (amandavera)
- Ponies: Sunshine (audreynovak), Acorn (kelnira)