Horse Competitions
Eventing

From: Horse Competitions • Cross Country Riding Video

Eventing
This is a very competitive sport, in which horse and rider have to complete three disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross country. These three disciplines are held over one, two or three days depending on the level and type of event.

For a one day event (ODE) the dressage takes place first, then the show jumping, and then the cross country whereas, for more experienced classes such as a three day event the dressage takes place on the first day, followed by the cross country on the second day, and the show jumping last to test the accuracy of the horse and rider even more.

Eventing requires excellence in all three disciplines, as well as the rider being able to judge the pace that they are traveling at and the fitness levels of the horse and speed required to cover many miles without distress to the horse, all in all it makes for an excellent and highly rewarding challenge.

History
Eventing as we know it today originally began as a means of testing the military horses for their endurance, courage and stamina as well as for their obedience, elegance and control. These attributes were necessary for the parade grounds but more importantly for the battle grounds and for the ability to cover many miles and relay messages.

In 1912 Even ting was introduced to the Olympic games at Stockholm, Sweden. At the time it was called 'Militaire' as only military horses with officers on active duty were allowed to compete.

In the Paris Olympics of 1924 civilians were allowed to compete and the three day format that we know today of dressage, cross country and show jumping began.

Women competitors were allowed to compete from 1964 onwards.

Eventing Levels

Eventing has a number of classes which start off with BE80 and become more challenging as horse and rider progress with Advanced classes being the most technical and challenging. Competitors who finish in the top ten are awarded points for placing and the more points that are gained the higher up the levels they can go. This way of qualifying ensures that both horse and rider are ready to move up the levels which increases in difficulty the higher up they go.

BE80 which has a maximum jump height of 0.85m.
BE90 has a maximum jump height of 0.95m
BE100 has a maximum jump height of 1.05 m.
BE100 Plus has a maximum jump height of 1.10m.
Novice, Open Novice, Junior Novice and Pony Trials have a maximum height of 1.15m.
Intermediate Novice Classes have a maximum height of 1.20m.
Intermediate and Open Intermediate have a maximum height of 1.25m.
Advanced and Advanced Intermediate have a maximum height of 1.30m.

Scoring
The scores for each movement in the dressage test are added up to give a total, which is converted into the final score for dressage. From this score any penalty points gained during the show jumping and cross country phase are added to give the riders total score at the end of the day, which ideally should be as low as possible.

Penalties

Knockdown - 4 penalties
First Disobedience - 4 Penalties.
Second Disobedience - 8 Penalties.
Third Disobedience - Elimination.
First fall of competitor - 8 penalties.
Second rider fall - Elimination.
Horse Fall - Elimination.
Error of course - Elimination.
Jumping fences in the incorrect order - Elimination.
Every second that exceeds the time allowed - 1 Penalty.
Exceeding the time limit - Elimination.

The Event Horse
Needs to be attentive and disciplined with elegance, suppleness and style in order to ride a Dressage test, a careful show jumper who is agile, energetic and quick thinking, and for the cross country, your horse will need to be bold and quick thinking, accurate, obedient, agile and fit for the level they are competing at.

The Three Phases
There are three distinct phases to an event, each testing a specific set of skills of horse and rider.

Dressage
Dressage skills required increase as you progress through the tests. To start off with, simple changes of rein and transitions are required in paces such walk, trot and canter. For more advanced classes, movements such as shoulder in, half pass, flying changes, counter canter and a variety of transitions such as canter to walk, and halt to canter will be expected as well as transitions within a pace, for example from working trot to extended trot. The tests should be ridden in a relaxed manor and with ease, and the horse should have free flowing paces and execute the movements with precision, elegance and obedience. The more accurate each separate movement is, the higher the score out of ten will be.
Show Jumping
Show jumping courses consist of eight to twelve show jumps which have to be jumped in an enclosed arena. In eventing there is no 'jump off' so the pressure is on to go for a clear round which is one with all the fences left up and without time penalties. Courses increase in height and technicality the higher up the levels you go, so for an advanced track you will find a double, treble and a related distance to test the horse and rider, with lower levels being slightly less demanding. Penalties are given for any fences knocked down, going over the time limit or for a refusal, and competitors can be eliminated for taking the wrong course, going before the bell, not going through the start or finish markers, exceeding the time limit, inappropriate or dangerous riding, and amongst other things, wearing incorrect tack.
Cross Country
Cross country courses are a series of solid fences to be ridden around an outdoor track which can be anything from two miles for an intro course to four miles for an advanced course. Intro level fences are small and inviting and are designed not to be too challenging, and for higher levels, fences require more accuracy, agility and precision from the horse and rider with an increase in height and width of the fence, and the speed the course needs to be completed in. Penalties are given for refusing an obstacle and exceeding the time limit set. Elimination occurs if there is a horse fall, the wrong course is ridden, for incorrect tack and inappropriate or dangerous riding.

Cross Country Fences
Fences are solidly built and unlike show jumps are designed not to move or fall down. The one exception to this rule is when a 'post and rail' fence has to be jumped as these are designed with metal pins in which cause the top rail to collapse if significant pressure (the weight of a horse) is applied. The reason for this is to help prevent rotation falls, and elimination occurs to any horse who causes a pin to break in such an incident.

Fences are jumped with the red flag on the right and the white flag on the left and can include fences such as palisades, coffin fences, bounce jumps, steps up and down, trakehenars, drop fences, styles, banks, streams, ponds, walls, tree logs, corner fences, hay carts and at top level the odd vehicle, such as a pick up truck may also have to be jumped.

International Competitions

CCI Concours Complet International (International Complete Contest)
CIC Concours Complet International (International One Day Event)
CCIO Concours Complet International Official (International Team Competitions)

The Federation Equestre Internationals (FEI) main competitions are:

Olympic Games
which take place every four years
FEI World Equestrian Games
held every four years
FEI World Cup Eventing
Continental and Regional Championships

Horse Competitions Eventing

Horse Competitions
Eventing