What is Eventing?
“Eventing could be termed an “equestrian triathlon.” It involves working with a horse both on the flat and over fences.” www.useventing.com
Eventing is about three separate phases, scored together. The first of the phases is called Dressage, the second endurance or cross country, and the third is show jumping or stadium. Eventing is an exciting sport throughout the world.
There is a variety of levels with a variety of competitors. Eventing is most commonly known for the cross country phase because eventing is the only equestrian sport that has a cross country course. Dressage is its own competition in the Olympics, along with Show Jumping, but Cross Country is just one of the three parts of eventing.
“Eventing is the ultimate in team sport, a horse and rider working together for years to hone feats of grace, daring, agility and speed.” www.useventing.com
Dressage is horse ballet. The horse and rider are required to be in sync with each other, and move flawlessly. The rider’s aids are supposed to be “unseen” by spectators making it look easy. Dressage is used to test the horses gaits, impulsion and submission. A dressage test consists of different movements according to the level. The movements vary from Beginner Novice to Advanced from basic circles and serpentines to flying lead changes and half passes. All movements are schooled for years before and worked daily to be perfected in the show ring.
“Precision, smoothness, suppleness and complete obedience show off the horse’s gymnastic development.” www.useventing.com
The test is scored accordingly with each movement made. The movement scores are added up along with collective marks of, gaits, impulsion, submission and rider to create a total of penalties.
Dressage schooling is used in event horses to help tune horses up in preparation for jumping. If the horse listens and responds well to the rider in the dressage, the more likely they are to do better in the jumping phases. Dressage helps condition the horse’s muscles to help with their endurance over the cross country phase of eventing. Long distance hacks in a long and low frame help to create strong, fit and elastic muscles creating the ability to lengthen and shorten the gallop.
Dressage is always the first phase of eventing. Meaning the horse, who is fit to run a full cross country course is fully fueled and ready to go. Accomplishing a good dressage score reflects good training.
The second phase, cross country or the endurance phase, is the most commonly known. The courses range from 2/3rds of a mile to four miles long at the highest level. Cross country horses need to be fit on all different levels, mentally and physically. Horses need to be bold, smart, quickly and trusting of their rider. This phase tests the horses stamina.
At the highest level of eventing, as in the Olympics or World Championships, the horses may run courses up to five miles long, over a maximum of 45 obstacles which can be 4 feet high and 10 feet wide at the bottom. The horse’s peak at speeds almost reaching 20 miles per hour.
The third test, almost always held on the last day, sometimes before cross country, depending on the show schedule is show jumping or stadium jumping, held in an arena. Show jumping is a twisting, turning course consisting of colorful poles, flower boxes, liver pools and a variety of fancy looking fences all in an enclosed ring. The final phase tests the stamina and the recovery of the horse which proves if the horse is fit enough to continue working.
In the words of the F.E.I.* rule book: "The test on the third day is not an ordinary show jumping competition...Its sole object is to demonstrate that, on the day after a severe test of endurance, the horses have retained the suppleness, energy and obedience necessary for them to continue in service."
“The show jumping courses are designed to test the horse's and the rider's ability to negotiate a variety of fences of differing heights, widths, and technicality. This requires the horse to be balanced and supple for tight turns and short distances between fences. He must be able to lengthen or shorten his stride in an instant. Therefore, the rider must know exactly where he is on the approach to a fence, and have an obedient horse that will respond to his commands. For the spectator, this sport is both exciting and breathtaking to watch, as just one single rail knocked down can change the standings dramatically. “ www.useventing.com
At the end of all the phases, scores (which are the total amount of penalties) from each phase are totaled. The lowest score means the least amount of penalties, resulting in the winner.
“This is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates, and one of the few where men and women compete on equal terms.” www.useventing.com
