Eventing, also called three-day eventing or horse trials, can be considered a 'horse triathlon.' Horses and riders are tested in three phases: dressage, cross-country/endurance, and showjumping. Final scores are calculated by combining faults from all three phases, not by scoring each phase separately and averaging the scores. Scoring will be discussed more fully later on.
This is always the first phase in an event. Dressage (pronounced dreh-sahj) is a series of movements on the flat, performed by each horse and rider alone in an arena in front of the judge. The arena has letters around the rail, so that the rider may carry out each movement at precisely the correct time. Movements range from simple transitions to flying lead changes, lateral movements, and extensions. The goal of the dressage phase is for the horse and rider to establish and demonstrate good communication and obedience before moving on to the jumping phases.
Scoring: Each movement has ten possible points, with ten signifying a perfect movement. The judge scores each individual movement, then adds these scores together. That number is then divided by the total possible points for the test to get the rider's percentage. The percentage is then subtracted from 100, for the purpose of adding faults from the cross-country and stadium jumping phases. The competitor with the lowest score is placed highest after dressage.
This phase is considered to be the most exciting of the three. In a long format/CCI event, this phase is called 'endurance.' The endurance phase consists of four parts: (A) Roads & Tracks, where competitors walk or trot a set course within a time limit; (B) Steeplechase, where competitors gallop a straightforward course of jumps also within a time limit; (C) another Roads & Tracks phase; and (D) Cross-country, the 'main' part of the endurance phase. The ABCD format is only used in CCI events. At horse trials or short format/CIC events, phase two consists solely of cross-country (Phase D).
Cross-country is a long course of jumps in a 'natural' setting, such as a trail or field. Riders typically gallop (except in the lower levels, where this phase can be completed at a trot or canter), as they must finish inside a certain time limit in order to avoid penalties. However, finishing too quickly will also earn penalties, so careful monitoring of speed is very important. Obstacles in cross-country are solid (not made of poles like in stadium) and may include ditches, water, and banks in addition to walls, logs, etc. Cross-country tests the endurance and courage of horse and rider. Horses must be fit and bold, as refusals earn penalties.
Cross-country is unique from dressage and stadium jumping in the respect that it is the only phase that you cannot compete in outside of an event. There is no such thing as a 'cross-country competition'. However, cross-country is somewhat comparable to foxhunting and similar classes are often found at hunter trials, although these classes are not timed and are judged similarly to traditional hunter classes -- based on the horse's form and performance. Hunter paces are also comparable to the cross-country phase of an event, but are usually offered 'just for fun' at hunter trials and do not follow eventing's formal level system or speed guidelines.
Scoring: Competitors who finish outside of the buffer zone (30 second faster or slower than the optimum time) will be penalized 0.4 penalties for each second too slow, or 1 penalty for each second too fast. The first refusal or run-out at an obstacle recieves 20 penalties. The second refusal or run-out at the same obstacle recieves 40 penalties. The third refusal or run-out at the same obstacle means that the competitor is eliminated from the competition. The fifth refusal on the entire course is also penalized by elimination. The first fall of the rider earns 65 penalties, and the second means elimination. If the horse falls (defined by the shoulder or hindquarter touching the ground), the competitor is forced to retire from the course (leave without finishing), in the interest of the horse's health. These penalties are added to the rider's dressage score.
This is typically the last phase of eventing (cross-country and stadium jumping phases are occasionally switched at the event organizer's discretion). Stadium jumping is a more condensed course of jumps set in an enclosed arena. Courses may include liverpools and combinations at most levels. A stadium jumping course is usually more technical than a hunter course, incorporating tighter turns and trickier lines. However, the stadium course is not comparable to a showjumping course like those seen at open hunter/jumper shows. Stadium courses at events are far less technical than showjumping courses and are less difficult. Jumps in this phase are made from rails or panels that will fall if hit by the horse, and this phase is timed.
The purpose of the stadium jumping phase is to test the horses fitness and obedience. After completing the difficult cross country test, the horses must still be able to jump carefully without knocking down rails, and to stay within the time limit.
Scoring: Knocking down a rail earns four penalties per jump (if two rails fall at the same jump, it's still only four penalties). The first refusal or run-out recieves four penalties, and the second refusal or run-out on the entire course recieves eight penalties. The third refusal or run-out on the course means elimination for the competitor. The first fall of the rider is eight penalties, and the second is elimination. The first fall of the horse (defined by the horse's shoulder or hindquarter touching the ground) means mandatory retirement, in the interest of the horse's health. Penalties acquired in the stadium jumping phase are added to the competitor's cumulative score from dressage and cross-county. This is the rider's final score. The competitor with the lowest score after all three phases is the winner.
There are two types of eventing competition: horse trials and three-day events. In a horse trial, the competition typically lasts one or two days and consists of dressage, cross-country, and eventing; the format most people are familiar with. Horse trials are smaller than three-day events. A three-day event has one phase on each day, and, to make it even more confusing, there are two types of three-day events: CCI and CIC. A CCI event is an international competition following the long format, with phase two being 'endurance' instead of just 'cross-country' (read the cross-country section for more information). CICs are typically national competitions, and follow the same format as a horse trial, just spread over three days.
The levels of eventing for horse trials are as follows. These levels are in accordance with the United States Eventing Association and Eventing Canada, so keep in mind that levels in other countries may be slightly different.
View dressage tests here.
Pre Entry (only offered in Canada)
Cross Country
• Distance: Approx. 1200-1500 meters
• Speed: Approx. 250 meters per minute (mpm)
• Efforts (jumps): Approx. 8-12
• Maximum height: 2'3"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: Approx. 300m
• Speed: Approx. 250 mpm
• Efforts: Approx. 8-10
• Maximum height: 2'3"
Beginner Novice (Entry)
Cross-Country
• Distance: 1400-2000 meters
• Speed: 300-350 (mpm)
• Efforts: 14-18
• Maximum height: 2'7" (brush 3')
• Maximum drop: 3'3"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 350-450 m
• Speed: 300 mpm
• Efforts: 9-11
• Maximum height: 2'7"
Novice (Pre Training)
Cross-Country
• Distance: 1600-2000 m
• Speed: 350-400 mpm
• Efforts: 16-20
• Maximum height: 2'11" (brush 3'7")
• Maximum drop: 3'11"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 350-450 m
• Speed: 320 mpm
• Efforts: 9-11
• Maximum height: 2'11"
Training
Cross-Country
• Distance: 2000-2400 m
• Speed: 420-470 mpm
• Efforts: 20-24
• Maximum height: 3'3" (brush 3'11")
• Maximum drop: 4'7"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 350-450 m
• Speed: 325 mpm
• Efforts: 10-12
• Maximum height: 3'3"
Preliminary
Cross-Country
• Distance: 2200-3200 m
• Speed: 520 mpm
• Efforts: 24-32
• Maximum height: 3'3" (brush 4'3")
• Maximum drop: 5'3"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 350-450 m
• Speed: 350 mpm
• Efforts: 11-13
• Maximum height: 3'7"
Intermediate
Cross-Country
• Distance: 2600-3600 m
• Speed: 550 mpm
• Efforts: 28-36
• Maximum height: 3'9" (brush 4'5")
• Maximum drop: 5'11"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 400-500 m
• Speed: 350 mpm
• Efforts: 12-14
• Maximum height: 3'11"
Advanced
Cross-Country
• Distance: 3000-4000 m
• Speed: 570 mpm
• Efforts: 32-40
• Maximum height: 3'11" (brush 4'7")
• Maximum drop: 6'7"
Stadium Jumping
• Distance: 450-550 m
• Speed: 373 mpm
• Efforts: 13-15
• Maximum height: 4'1"
Some events offer lower levels to cater to young children or small ponies. These are not governed by official rules, and are set up at the event manager's discretion. Examples of this are the 'Smurf', 'Amoeba', or 'Green As Grass' divisions.
It's important to understand that the CCI/CIC levels are not higher levels than an advanced horse trials. A horse who is doing well in advanced horse trials does not progress to CCI* or CIC*. These competitions are nearly equivalent to levels of horse trials, as follows:
CCI*/CIC* - Preliminary
CCI**/CIC** - Intermediate
CCI***/CIC*** - Advanced
CCI****/CIC**** - Advanced
So a horse who is doing well in preliminary horse trials may compete in CCI* or CIC* competitions. Also note, however, that a horse typically does not compete in more than one or two CCI/CIC event per month.
What kind of horse makes an eventer? In the Entry, Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels, you'll see just about any breed, from Quarter Horses to ponies. Nearly any horse who is physically fit and capable can be trained for dressage, cross-country, and stadium.
In the upper levels, horses are typically Thoroughbreds or Warmbloods. Thoroughbreds are popular because of their endurance and stamina, which has traditionally helped them in the long format events. Warmbloods are becoming more and more popular with the arrival of the short format event, as the dressage phase is becoming more important. Though Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods are most common, there are other breeds at the top. Olympian Karen O'Connor successfully competed her 14.1 3/4-hand Thoroughbred sportpony, Theodore O'Connor, at the four-star level!
Event horses tend to be very specialized, and there are certain disciplines that never mix with eventing. For example, it is unrealistic to expect a horse to compete successfully in eventing and hunters. Horses with a slower hunter pace often have trouble opening up and making the time in eventing courses, and are often not scopey enough to clear the obstacles at the higher levels. Also, horses competing above training level rarely compete in anything but eventing. This also means that horses competing above training level don't usually compete in seperate dressage or showjumping shows.
For more information on eventing, check out these links:
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