Eventing 101
Eventing is a fun sport for any level of horse and rider combination. With three different phases (dressage, cross country and stadium jumping) it creates well-rounded riders and offers an interesting challenge to all competitors.
What is eventing?
Eventing (also known as Three Day Eventing or Horse Trials) is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combination compete against other combinations across three disciplines:
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Dressage
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Cross country
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Stadium jumping
This sport has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test which required mastery of several types of riding. All phases have the potential to add penalty points, and the horse and rider combination with the lowest combined score over all three phases is the winner.
Phase one: Dressage
Dressage is the figure skating of the equestrian world, where competitors perform a routine, known as a ‘dressage test’, in an enclosed arena and are judged on their balance, rhythm, suppleness, and, importantly, the cooperation between horse and rider.
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In the lower levels, the tests are relatively straightforward, asking for walk, trot, canter, large circles and halt. At the higher levels, competitors are required to perform and additional array of lateral and other more advanced movements.
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Each movement in a dressage test is marked out of ten, and the judge also applies overall impression scores. Scores are converted to penalty points and the horse and rider combination with the lowest number of penalty points will lead the event after dressage.
Phase two: Cross country
Most one-day events run the cross-country phase last, but it is traditionally the second and most challenging phase in the eventing program. It requires both horse and rider to be in excellent physical shape and to be brave and trusting of each other.
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This phase consists of approximately 10 to 25 fences which are solidly built natural objects (such as logs and stone walls) as well as various obstacles such as water features, ditches, drops and banks. These jumps are based on questions that might commonly arise when riding in the countryside.
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In this phase, penalty points are applied for run-outs and refusals, as well as being too fast, or too slow relative to a set optimum time.
Phase three: Stadium
Stadium, also known as show jumping, is the final phase of eventing competition and tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, including suppleness, obedience, fitness and athleticism.
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In this phase 10 to 20 fences are set up in a ring. The fences are typically brightly colored and consist of elements that can be knocked down, unlike cross country obstacles.
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In the stadium jumping phase, penalty points are accumulated for rails that are knocked down, run-outs and refusals, as well as being too slow relative to a set time allowed