What Is Eventing?

Eventing is best described as an equestrian triathlon. The sport originated as a cavalry test and is comprised of three phases: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Eventing tests horse and rider pairs more completely than any other.

The first phase - dressage - shows the graceful partnership of horse and rider through a sequence of movements on the flat. The next phase - cross-country – challenges the pair’s bravery, fitness, and determination as combinations navigate a series of solid obstacles and varied terrain. In the final phase - show jumping - pairs must again prove their precision as they clear a course of delicate fences. Competitors accumulate penalty points in each phase, and at the end of the event, the pair with the lowest score takes home top honors.

Held over one, two, or three days, eventing is one of the few Olympic sports where men and women compete alongside one another as equals.

Keep scrolling to learn more. 

The First Phase

Dressage is the first of three phases in eventing competition. From the French word meaning "training," dressage was originally created to show the horse's submission and ability to perform intricate movements required for cavalry exercises. Today's dressage still consists of an exact sequence of movements, but now they are ridden in an enclosed arena and scored by a judge or judges. The goal remains very similar, that horse should demonstrate balance, rhythm, suppleness, and most importantly obedience based on the riders cues or "aids."

Dressage is the fundamental training of the sport on which the other two phases are built as it develops the strength and balance for the rigors of cross-country and the preciseness of show jumping. Dressage showcases the ultimate partnership as the rider uses his or her seat, legs, and hands, which are known as the "aids" to communicate silently, making the test look like a seamless performance.

The dressage phase can prove challenging for an event horse as they are supremely fit. The most tactful riders can harness and direct that energy into a polished and powerful performance.

Each movement is scored on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the best. The sum of these scores are combined with the overall collective marks, gaits, impulsion, submission, and rider, for a total score. That score is then subtracted by the number of total possible points, multiplied by 100 and then finally subtracted by 100. The resulting score are penalty points, or the points that the pair were not able to earn in the dressage phase. Penalty points carry onto the next round, and remember, lowest score wins! 

The Second phase

The cross-country phase typically takes place on the second day of competition, but always after the dressage phase. Cross-country is the cornerstone of eventing and proves the speed, endurance, and jumping ability of the horse over varied terrain and solid obstacles. Carrying forward their penalty points from the dressage phase as their score, riders want to finish with the fewest penalties possible by jumping every fence on the first effort and finishing the course within the prescribed time limit, which is known as optimum time.

Cross-country features solid fences (15-25 for lower levels and 30-40 for upper levels) as well as natural obstacles such as water, ditches, drops, and banks. The phase is ridden at a gallop with exact speed requirements varied depending on the level of competition.

Horses and riders must be at peak physical condition to successfully complete the cross-country phase. Riders condition their equine partners for months in order to reach the fitness required for this ultimate test. Horses must be bold and brave, while riders must carefully control pace in order to not only finish the course in time, but also without expending too much of the horse's energy.

Mistakes on cross-country are costly to a rider's final score. If a horse stops at a fence, known as a refusal, or runs past a jump, known as a run-out, the pair earns 20 penalty points. A second refusal or run-out at the same obstacle is an additional 40 points, and a third results in elimination. Penalty points are also earned for every additional second over optimum time.

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. 

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is the national organization dedicated to the education and development of horses and riders in the sport of eventing.

Formerly the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA), the USEA has over 13,000 members in all 50 states as well as over 250 national recognized competitions nearly year round.

The USEA is an affiliate discipline of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), which creates and enforces rules for national competition.

The USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation run by a 20-member Board of Governors as well as a small full time staff at the headquarters in Leesburg, Virginia.

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