Horse Show Eventing
Objective: To finish all three phases - dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping - with the lowest score.
Scoring is based on penalty points acquired in all three phases and added together for a total score. Penalty points are given for time faults or jump faults (refusals, knocking a rail, fall of rider, etc) in either stadium or cross-country. These are added to your dressage score, which takes your good marks from a judge or judges and converts them into penalty points. Together, this number is your final score.
The USEF and United States Eventing Association (USEA) recognize three types of eventing comptetitions: Tests (Individual or Combined), Horse Trials, and Events (either two or three day).
Tests - Tests consist of one or more dressage, cross-country or jumping competitions, usually held in one day. They are designed to introduce the discipline to new riders and get them ready for their first Horse Trials. Experienced riders often compete as well to introduce a young or green horse to the sport of simply enjoy a day of relatively relaxed fun. The cross-country and stadium jumping tests may be combined into one test.
Tests can be offered as a separate competition or in conjunction with a Horse Trials or Event.
Horse Trials - A Horse Trial consists of three separate tests, usually taking place on one or two days. The same rider is on the same horse throughout. Horse Trials are individiual competitions, but may also include teams or three or four competitors whose scores are combined for a team score. (Only the three lowest scores are counted.) The Dressage test is always ridden first, followed by the Cross-Country and Show Jumping Test in no particular order.
The Cross-Country should be the most influential of the tests, followed by the Dressage Test in only a slightly more important role than the Show Jumping.
Horse Trials are ridden at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced levels (lowest to highest).
Events: Two-Day - Two-Day Events consist of three distinct tests taking place over the course of two days. In general, all the rules of the Horse Trials apply.
Two-Day Events are only offered at Intermediate and Preliminary levels. They are usually offered in conjunction with a Horse Trials.
The Cross-Country Test of a traditional Two Day Event consists of four distinct and independent phases which are performed consecutively without interruption. They are Phase A - Roads and Tracks; Phase B - Steeplechase; Phase C: Roads and Tracks; and Phase D: Cross-Country jump course. All four phases must be completed in a certain time limit with the horse being pronounced fit enough to continue after Phase C. If the veterinarian does not feel the horse is fit enough to go on, he reports is findings to the Ground Jury, who may opt to eliminate the horse and rider from competition.
Events: Three-Day - The Three-Day Event comprises three distinct Tests, taking place on separate days. The Dressage test is spread over one or more consecutive days, directly followed on the next day by the Cross-Country Test. Traditionally, the Cross-Country Test consists of the same four phases as the Two-Day Event. The Show Jumping Test is on the final day. All U.S. Three-Day are denoted by their category and level.
Categories indicate the extent of foreign participation in a Three-Day Event. The four categories of Three-Day Events are National Three-Day Event (CCN); International Three-Day Event (CCI); Official International Three-Day Event; and the International Championship Three-Day Event (CH).
The Levels of Three-Day Events are indicated by stars. The Four Levels of Three-Day Events are:
- One Star (*) - An introduction to the Three-Day Event
- Two Star (**) - For competitors with some experience who are riding horses just beginning International competition.
- Three Star (***) - For competitors and horses with some international experience
- Four Star (****) - For experienced and successful International horse and rider combinations.
