The Olympic sport of Eventing combines
dressage and show jumping with an
additional phase to make it unique. This
phase, generally called cross country,
separates eventing from any other horse
sport worldwide. Events were historically
designed to test and prepare horses for
use in the cavalry. Today, eventing forms
a horse and human triathlon consisting of
three phases which horse and rider must complete together. At the end of the three phases, the pair with the least number of cumulative penalty points wins the competition. The sport is easy to understand and thrilling to watch. Spectators are always welcome at events, please see my competition Calendar page to locate when I’ll be competing near you!
Dressage is the first phase performed by the horse and rider combination at an event. Often times dressage is compared to a kind of ballet on horseback. A specific test divided into objective sections is memorized and performed by every competitor. Judges assign each movement within the test a score anywhere from zero to ten. The movements in the test require the horse and rider to think and act as one. In a good dressage test, it appears as though the rider isn't riding at all.
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The second phase of eventing is referred to as cross country. Cross country takes place over several miles of varried terrain. While negotiating jumps, water, ditches, and other fixed, natural obstacles, horses mustprove speed, courage, fitness, strength, and jumping ability. Furthermore, the horses are not allowed (under penalty of elimination) to see the course before they compete. A pair is penalized for any disobedience (horse refusing to jump
an element, for example) and for taking longer than a
Show jumping occurs inside an arena over a course of highly decorated, portable jumps. These jumps are composed of wooden rails and planks that are set in cups at certain heights and widths. These cups are designed to release the rails when they are hit, resulting in penalty points. The horse and rider are also penalized for taking too long to finish their show jumping round. Show jumping tests a rider's ability to focus and handle pressure...penalty points resulting from knocking down just one rail usually separates the top five competitors.