| ing is the equestrian version of a human triathlon, but | | | | error on course, skipping an obstacle, jumping it in the |
| instead of biking, swimming and running, it features | | | | wrong order, jumping from the wrong direction, |
| dressage, show-jumping, and cross-country. Eventing | | | | re-jumping a jump, five on-course refusals, a third |
| began as a cavalry test to show the prowess of both | | | | refusal of the same fence, or two falls of the rider. |
| the horse and rider. It can be a one day event or a | | | | There are also various penalties. A refusal of a fence |
| three day. It used to be known as The Military, Horse | | | | results in twenty penalties, an additional refusal of the |
| Trials, and Combined Training. Eventing requires an | | | | same fence incurs forty more penalties. The first time |
| athletic rider, but an especially talented horse. | | | | a rider falls, there are 65 penalties. If the horse falls, |
| The Dressage phase comes first. This usually takes | | | | then they must stop competing. Endurance and power |
| place in an enclosed ring of 20x40 meters. The test is | | | | are emphasized in the second phase of an Eventing |
| judged on balance, rhythm, suppleness, obedience, and | | | | competition. |
| harmony between horse and rider. This is to prove | | | | After the cross-country phase and before the third, |
| that the horse can be swift and powerful in the | | | | show-jumping, horses competing are subject to a |
| jumping phases, but fluid and intelligent as well. Judges | | | | veterinary check. This is often a nerve-wracking time |
| may ask for moves such as half pass, shoulder in, | | | | for riders, as it determines if their horse is okay enough |
| haunches in, collected, medium, and extended strides, | | | | to enter the show-jumping round. Riders dress up and |
| flying changes, and counter-canters. Each movement | | | | groom and train their horses. After horses are |
| is judged on a scale of 0-100, 100 being that it was | | | | accepted or denied, the third and final phase begins. |
| perfect, and 0 that it was not performed. Since the | | | | The final phase, the show-jumping, showcases the |
| average is found of all the scores, even if a move is | | | | jumping skills of the horse and rider, depending a great |
| made a mess of, a high total score is still possible. | | | | deal on the horse's suppleness, obedience and fitness. |
| Errors result in minus points or elimination. Elimination is | | | | This is set up in an indoor or outdoor ring, consisting of |
| the result of the horse resisting its rider for more than | | | | 12-20 bright colored pole jumps, the crossbars set in |
| 20 seconds, or having all four feet of the horse leave | | | | shallow cups. The poles are very easy to knock down. |
| the arena. Other errors are progressive in their | | | | Like the cross-country phase, the show-jumping is also |
| damage. The first error subtracts two marks, the | | | | timed. A knocked obstacle produces four penalties, so |
| second four, and the third six. If there is a fourth error, | | | | does a first refusal. The first fall of the rider, or second |
| the rider is eliminated. Dressage is the first part of the | | | | refusal, results in eight penalties. If there is a third |
| Eventing competition, and shows the obedient, agile | | | | refusal, or a second rider fall, they are eliminated. They |
| part of the horses. | | | | also must stop if they jump an obstacle in the wrong |
| The next phase in an Eventing competition is the | | | | order or don't fix an error. If the horse falls, they must |
| cross-country portion. This course often comprises of | | | | stop. For every second over the time limit, there is one |
| 12-20 lower level jumps, 30-40 higher level fences, and | | | | penalty. After this round of jumping, the prizes are |
| many obstacles such as ponds, streams, ditches, | | | | awarded. |
| drops and rises. This takes place on a several mile | | | | The horse and rider with the fewest penalties at the |
| long outdoor course. Riders must finish the course | | | | end of all three events is the winner. Ribbons and |
| within a certain time frame, with 0.4 penalties for every | | | | prizes are distributed while the winners are mounted, |
| second above the set time. If you exceed twice the | | | | so they can take a lap of honor. |
| time frame, you are disqualified. Several other things | | | | Remember to stay tuned next issue for more in-depth |
| also result in elimination. These are: competing with | | | | discipline studies! |
| improper tack, jumping without a helmet, not fixing an | | | | |