Eventing

Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. This event has its roots as a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding. It has two main formats, the one day event (1DE) and the three day event (3DE). It has previously been known as The Military and Horse Trials.

Governing bodies

The International governing body of the sport is the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) [1]. Individual countries have their own national governing bodies, including:

The United States Equestrian Association (USEA, formerly the USCTA)
British Eventing [2] (BE, formerly BHTA, the British Horse Trials Association)
The Equestrian Federation of Australia [3]

The phases

Eventing is commonly seen as an equestrian triathlon, in that it combines different disciplines in one competition.

The dressage phase (held first) comprises an exact sequence of movements ridden in an arena. The test is judged by one or more judges who are looking for balance, rhythm and suppleness and most importantly, obedience of the horse and its harmony with the rider. The challenge is to demonstrate that a supremely fit horse, capable of completing the cross country phase on time, also has the training to perform in a relaxed and precise manner.

The next phase, cross-country, requires both horse and rider to be in excellent shape and to be brave and trusting of each other. This phase consists of approximately 12-20 fences (lower levels), 30-40 at the higher levels, placed on a long outdoor circuit. These fences consist of very solidly built natural objects (telephone poles, stone walls, etc.) as well as various obstacles such as ponds and streams, ditches, drops and banks - based on objects that would commonly occur in the countryside. The course is usually several miles long. This phase is timed, with the rider required to cross the finish line within a certain time frame. Crossing the finish line after the allowed time results in a penalty. Penalties are also incurred if the horse refuses to jump a fence or if the rider falls off. Fitness is required as the time allowed will require a strong canter at the lower levels, to a steady gallop at the higher events.

Unlike 1-day events, 3-day events also include Phases A, B, and C along with Cross Country (Phase D). Phases A and C, Roads and Tracks, are several miles long and usually ridden at a trot to make the time. Phase B, Steeplechase, is a very fast gallop over several Steeplechase-like fences. All four phases together require an extremely fit horse at the top level of the sport. Before embarking on Phase D horses must be presented before a vet who checks that they are sound and their heart rate has recovered sufficiently whilst in the "ten-minute box".

To see a cross-country round online, see [4] (Under 2003 Rolex Kentucky CCI****: Joker's Wild - Cross Country).

Also see: Cross-country equestrianism.

Before the last phase, showjumping, horses are inspected by a vet to ensure that they have not incurred any injuries as a result of their exertions on the previous day.

The last phase, showjumping, tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, as well as their fitness. In this phase, 12-20 fences are set up in a ring. These fences are brightly colored and consist of poles set in shallow cups. If the horse and rider are not in adequate shape or do not have the technical skill, then they will knock down the poles, incurring penalties. This phase is also timed, with penalties being given for every second over the required time. In addition to normal jumping skills, eventing showjumping tests the fitness of the horse and rider, generally being held after the cross country phase so the horse and rider will both be tired.

The winner is the horse and rider with the fewest penalties. Ribbons and prizes are usually presented while mounted, before the placegetters take a lap of honour around the arena.

To see a round of stadium jumping online, see [5] (Under 2003 Rolex Kentucky CCI****: Upstage - Stadium Jumping).

Short vs. classic format

Recently, the phases A,B, and C have been excluded on cross-country day from 3-day events. This is mainly due to the fact that the Olympic Committee was considering dropping the sport of eventing from the Olympics, due to the cost and large area required for the speed and endurance phase with a steeplechase course and several miles of roads-and-tracks. To save the sport, the "short format" was developed by the FEI, which excluded the phases A, B, and C on endurance day, while retaining phase D. The last Olympic Games that included the long, or "classic," 3-day format was the Summer Games in Sydney.

The change in format has brought about controversy. Many wanted the continuation of the classic format, believing it was the "true test of horse and rider." Others believed the classic format was superior because it taught horsemanship, due to the extra preparation needed to condition the horse and the care required after the several miles of endurance day. However, many upper-level riders prefer the short format, as it saves wear-and-tear on their horses and allows the horse not only to compete in more 3-days each season, but decreases the chance of injury to the horse.

In the United States, one- and two-star level events usually will offer "with steeplechase" (the classic format). However, three-star events will now only offer the short format. The Rolex Kentucky Three Day, the only four-star in the United States, plans to alternate years between the short format and the classic format. In Britain, however, most plan to switch to the short format. This includes the 2 four-star 3-day events that are run in Britain, Badminton and Burghley, which will begin running the short format in 2006.

International Competition

International events have specific categories and levels of competition. CCI (Concours Complet International, or International Complete Contest) is one such category and defines a three-day event that is open to competitors from any foreign nation as well as the host nation.

CCI: International Three-day event (Concours Complet International)
CIC: International One-day event (Concours International Combiné)

The levels of international events are identified by the number of stars next to the category; there are four levels in total. A CCI* is for horses that are just being introduced to international competition. A CCI** is geared for horses that have some experience of international competition.

The very highest level of competition is the CCI****, and with only four such competitions in the world (Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky and Adelaide) it is the ultimate aim of many riders.

One, two and three star competitions are roughly comparable to the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels of domestic competition, respectively.

Domestic Competition

In the United States, 3-Day Eventing is broken down into the following levels:

Beginner or Pre-novice: X-C and Stadium fences 2 ft 7 in, ditch 4 ft, drops 3 ft 3 in, 300-350 m/min (meters per minute) on cross country.
Novice: X-C fences 2 ft 11 in, ditch 6 ft 7 in, drops 3 ft 11 in, 350 to 400 m/min; Stadium fences 2 ft 11 in
Training: X-C fences 3 ft 3 in, ditch 7 ft 11 in, drops 4 ft 7 in, 420 to 470 m/min; Stadium fences 3 ft 3 in
Preliminary: X-C fences 3 ft 7 in, ditch 9 ft 2 in, drops 5 ft 3 in, 520 m/min; Stadium fences 3 ft 7 in
Intermediate: X-C fences 3 ft 9 in, ditch 10 ft 6 in, drops 5 ft 11 in, 550 m/min; Stadium fences 3 ft 11 in
Advanced: X-C fences 3 ft 11 in, ditch drops 11 ft 10 in, 570 m/min; Stadium fences 4 ft 1 in

(Beginner Novice through Advanced is recognized by the USEA).

BE Levels of eventing:

Introductory: maximum fence height 0.90 m
Pre-Novice: max fence height 1.00 m
Novice (equatable to USEA Preliminary level): max fence height 1.10 m
Intermediate Novice: max fence height 1.10 X-C; 1.15 m Stadium
Intermediate: max fence height 1.15 m
Advanced Intermediate: max fence height 1.15 m X-C; 1.20 Stadium
Advanced: max fence height 1.20 m

In Australia, the levels are as follows:

Introductory: XC: fences maximum height 0.80 m ditch 1.40 m drops 1.0 m 400 m/min; Stadium fences: 0.8m
Preliminary: XC: fences maximum height 0.95 m ditch 2.00 m drops 1.2 m 450 m/min; Stadium fences: 0.95 m
Pre Novice: XC: fences maximum height 1.05 m ditch 2.40 m drops 1.4, 500 m/min; Stadium fences: 1.05 m
Novice: XC: fences maximum height 1.10 m ditch 2.80 m drops 1.6 m 520 m/min; Stadium fences: 1.15 m
Intermediate: XC: fences maximum height 1.15 m ditch 3.20 m drops 1.8 m 550 m/min; Stadium fences: 1.20 m
Advanced: XC: fences maximum height 1.20 m ditch 3.60 m drops 2.0 m 570 m/min; Stadium fences: 1.25 m

The Canadian Levels are as follows:

Pre-Green
Green
Pre-Training: XC: fences maximum height 0.91 m ditch 1.50 m drops 1.10 m; Stadium fences: 0.96m
Training: XC: fences maximum height 1.00 m ditch 1.80 m drops 1.40 m; Stadium fences: 1.05 m
Preliminary: XC: fences maximum height 1.10 m ditch 2.80 m drops 1.60 m; Stadium fences: 1.15 m
Intermediate: XC: fences maximum height 1.15 m ditch 3.20 m drops 1.80 m; Stadium fences: 1.20 m
Advanced: XC: fences maximum height 1.20 m ditch 3.60 m drops 2.00 m; Stadium fences: 1.25 m

The horse required

Thoroughbreds and part-thoroughbreds usually dominate the sport because of their stamina and athletic ability, although many warmbloods and warmblood-thoroughbred crosses excel. In the UK, Irish sport horses, have been popular for many years. In the lower levels, it is possible for any breed, if well-trained and conditioned, to do well.

The horse should be calm and submissive for the dressage phase, with good training on the flat. For cross-country, the horse must be brave, athletic, and (especially at the higher levels) fast with a good galloping stride and great stamina. An event horse must be very rideable to succeed, as a horse that will not listen to a rider on the cross-country phase may end up taking a fall at a jump. The horse does not have to possess perfect jumping form, but should be safe over fences and have good scope. The best event horses are careful over jumps, as those who are not tend to have stadium rails knocked on the last day.

International Horses

Three day events

External links