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The cross-country phase
The cross-country phase

Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test and is one of the three phases of the sport of Eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right known Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes This event has its roots as a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding. It has three main formats, the one day event (ODE), two day event and the three day event (3DE). It can also be called Militaire, Horse Trials, and Combined Training.


Contents

Governing bodies

The International governing body of the sport is the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) [1]. Individual countries have their own national governing bodies, including:

The phases

Eventing is an equestrian triathlon, in that it combines three different disciplines in one competition. A triathlon is an endurance sports event consisting of Swimming, cycling and Running over various distances

Dressage

The dressage phase at a 3-day.
The dressage phase at a 3-day.

The dressage phase (held first) comprises an exact sequence of movements ridden in an enclosed arena (20x60m for International 3DE but usually 20x40 for ODE). Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training The test is judged by one or more judges who are looking for balance, rhythm and suppleness and most importantly, obedience of the horse and its harmony with the rider. The challenge is to demonstrate that a supremely fit horse, capable of completing the cross country phase on time, also has the training to perform in a relaxed and precise manner.

At the highest level of competition, the dressage test may ask for half-pass, shoulder-in, travers, collected, medium and extended gaits, flying changes, and counter-canter. The half-pass is a Lateral movement seen in Dressage, in which the horse moves forward and sideways at the same time The shoulder-in is a Dressage movement used to supple and balance the horse and encourage use of its hindquarters Haunches-in (also called "travers" is a Lateral movement used in training of the horse A lead change refers to an animal moving in a Canter or gallop, changing from one lead to the other In the context of a Quadruped that is Cantering The tests may not ask for Grand Prix movements such as piaffe or passage. Grand Prix is the highest level of Dressage. Movements included in Grand Prix dressage tests are; Piaffe: A calm composed elevated trot in place The piaffe is a Dressage movement where the Horse is in a highly collected and cadenced Trot, in place or nearly in place The passage is a movement seen in upper-level Dressage, in which the horse performs a highly-elevated and extremely powerful trot.

Each movement in the test is scored on a scale from 0 to 10, with a score of "10" being the highest possible mark and with the total maximum score for the test varying depending on the level of competition and the number of movements. Therefore, if one movement is executed terribly, it is still possible for a rider to get a good score if he reorganizes and does well in the following movements. The good marks are added together and any errors of course deducted - to convert this score to penalty points the average marks of all judges is converted to a percentage of the maximum possible score, multiplied by a co-efficient decided by the governing body then subtracted from 100.

Cross-country

Rider dropping into water on cross-country.
Rider dropping into water on cross-country.

The next phase, cross-country, requires both horse and rider to be in excellent physical shape and to be brave and trusting of each other. Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test and is one of the three phases of the sport of Eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right known This phase consists of approximately 12-20 fences (lower levels), 30-40 at the higher levels, placed on a long outdoor circuit. These fences consist of very solidly built natural objects (telephone poles, stone walls, etc. ) as well as various obstacles such as ponds and streams, ditches, drops and banks, and combinations including several jumping efforts based on objects that would commonly occur in the countryside. Water is often used in equestrian events as an obstacle for jumping most notably in the cross-country phase of Eventing, as well as in Show jumping. Various obstacles are found in the cross-country phase of the Equestrian discipline of Eventing. A combination, when referring to an obstacle jumped by horses is when two or more fences are placed within 1-3 strides of each other Sometimes, particularly at higher levels, fences are designed that wouldn't normally occur in nature. However, these are still just as solid as other jumps. Safety regulations mean that many jumps have a frangible pin system, allowing part or all of the jump to collapse if hit with enough impact. Speed is a factor, with the rider required to cross the finish line within a certain time frame (optimum time). Crossing the finish line after the optimum time results in penalties for each second over. At lower levels, there is a speed fault time, incurring penalties for horse and rider pairs completing the course too quickly. Penalties are also incurred if the horse refuses to jump a fence or if the rider falls off. The penalties for disobediences on cross country are weighted severely relative to the other phases of competition to emphasize the importance of courage, endurance and athleticism. Fitness is required as the time allowed will require a strong canter at the lower levels, all the way to a strong gallop at the higher events.

Horse trials, which may be held over one or two days, have only one phase of cross country. If the trial is held over the course of two days, dressage and show jumping are usually held the first day, with cross country on the second.

Recent years has seen the controversy of short and long format three day events. Traditionally, three day events had dressage, endurance and show jumping. Endurance day consisted of 4 Phases, A, B, C and D. Phase A and C were roads and tracks, with A being a medium paced warm up to prepare the horse and rider for Phase B, a steeplechase format at an extremely fast pace over steeplechase-style fences. Phase C was a slow-paced cool down coming off of Phase B, in preparation for the toughest and most demanding phase, D, or Cross Country. Before embarking on Phase D, in the "ten-minute box," horses had to be approved to continue by a vet, who monitored their temperature and heart rate, ensuring that the horse was sound and fit. The circulatory system of the horse consists of the heart the blood vessels and the blood

Three day events are now offered in traditional format, with endurance day, or short-format, with no Steeplechasing (phase B)or roads and tracks (phases A & C). The 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece chose the short format, due to lack of facilities, time and financing, which sparked a large debate in the eventing community whether to keep Steeplechase or just offer Cross Country. Today, most events are run short-format, except for a few one-star competitions.

Due to the major injuries at Red Hills and Rolex in 2008, the rules have been changed drastically. Now if you fall off anywhere during the cross country phase you are eliminated. Even if you are just galloping through a field not approaching a jump, or in the middle of a combination. Also the new rule especially for younger eventers is a $250 fine if you ride cross country without a medical arm band.

Scoring:

Other faults:

Types of Obstacles:

See: Cross-country equestrianism and Indoor cross-country. Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test and is one of the three phases of the sport of Eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right known Indoor cross country is a relatively new test of equestrian skills

Veterinary inspection, or "Jog"/ "Trot Up"/ "Horse Inspection"

Before the beginning of a three day event, and also before the last phase, horses are inspected by a vet to ensure that they are fit to compete further. It is usually a very formal affair, with well-groomed and braided horses, and nicely dressed riders. It is also a very nerve-racking time, as the "pass" or "fail" determines whether the horse may continue with the competition. A vet can request that a horse is sent to the holding box, when it will then be re assesed before being allowed to continue.

In lower levels of competition the horse's movement may be analysed as they finish the cross-country, where they will be asked to trot briefly after crossing the finishing line to satisfy the vet of their soundness.

Show jumping

Show jumping phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day.
Show jumping phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day.

Show jumping tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, including suppleness, obedience, fitness and athleticism. In this phase, 12-20 fences are set up in a ring. These fences are typically brightly colored and consist of elements that can be knocked down, unlike cross country obstacles. This phase is also timed, with penalties being given for every second over the required time. In addition to normal jumping skills, eventing show jumping tests the fitness and stamina of the horse and rider, generally being held after the cross-country phase in higher level and international events.

Scoring:

An obstacle is defined as having been knocked down if any part of it has had its height lowered. A refusal is a term used in horse riding, when the horse does not jump a fence to which he was presented It is therefore possible to knock out a pole below the top pole and receive no penalties.

The winner is the horse and rider with the fewest penalties. Ribbons and prizes are usually presented while mounted, before the placegetters take a lap of honour around the arena.


The Olympic beginning

Eventing competition that resembles the current three-day were first held in 1902, but were not introduced into the Olympic Games until 1912. Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France Dressage originally demonstrated the horse's ability to perform on the parade ground, where elegance and obedience were key. Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training Cross-country began as a test of stamina, courage, and bravery over difficult terrain, important for a charger on long marches or if the horse was asked to carry a dispatch across country. Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test and is one of the three phases of the sport of Eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right known The stadium jumping phase sought to prove the horse's continuing soundness and fitness after the difficult cross-country day. Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes

The Olympic eventing competition was originally open only to male military officers in active duty, mounted only on military charges. In 1924, the event was open to male civilians, although non-commissioned Army officers could not participate in the Olympics until 1956. Women were first allowed to take part in 1964, and equestrian sports are one of the only Olympic sports in which men and women compete against one another.

Format

The original format, used in the 1912 Olympics, was spread over several days:

The Paris Games in 1924 introduced a format very similar to the one of today: with Day 1 Dressage, Day 2 the Endurance Test, and Day 3 the Jumping Test. The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in The Endurance Test has changed the most since that time. Originally, bonus points could be earned for a fast ride cross-country (less than the optimum time). This helped competitors make up for a poor dressage ride, with a clean, fast cross-country ride. This system, however, was dropped in 1971. The format for the endurace test occurred as below:

(Note: Phase E was abolished in 1967. )

In 1963, the 10 minute halt was introduced, to occur after the completion of phases A, B, and C. It took place in a marked out area (the 10-minute box), where the horse was checked by two judges and one veterinary official who would make sure the horse was fit to continue onto phase D. If the horse was unfit, the panel would pull it from the competition.

The format of the sport underwent major changes in 2004 and 2005, with the creation of the "short" or "modified format," which excluded phases A, B, and C from endurance day. The primary reason for excluding these phases was that the Olympic Committee was considering dropping the sport of eventing from the Olympics because of the cost and large area required for the speed and endurance phase with a steeplechase course and several miles of roads-and-tracks. To prevent the elimination of the sport from the Olympics program, the "short format" was developed by the FEI. The last Olympic Games that included the long, or "classic", 3-day format was the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, while Rolex Kentucky, the Badminton Horse Trials, and Burghley Horse Trials ran their last long format three-day in 2005. The Rolex Kentucky Three Day is an Eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky. The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual four star CCI****, events as classified by the FEI. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford Lincolnshire, England. The short format is now the standard for international competition, such as the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for Equestrianism, considered by many horsemen to be more important than the Olympics and administered

The change in format has brought about controversy. Many want the continuation of the classic format, believing it is the "true test of horse and rider". Others believe the classic format is superior because it teaches horsemanship, due to the extra preparation needed to condition the horse and the care required after the several miles of endurance day. However, some upper-level riders claim to prefer the short format, as they believe it saves wear-and-tear on their horses and allows the horse not only to compete in more three-day events each season, but decreases the chance of injury to the horse. This claim has not held true in several recent studies that compared injuries sustained in classic and in short format competitions over equivalent courses. Further, some research indicates that horses are more stressed by the short format than by the careful warmup inherent in the classic format. Regardless, many upper-level riders prepare their horses for the short format using the same conditioning and training as for the long format. The short format has also been widely urged by breeders of heavier, warmblood type horses. The long format has remained very, very popular at the Preliminary, or one star, level in the United States, and with riders who feel it maximizes horsemanship.

Penalty point system

In 1971, the penalty point system was first introduced into eventing. This system converts the dressage score and all jump penalties on cross-country and show jumping into penalty points, with the horse and rider with the fewest number of points winning the event. Different weight is given for each phase, with the cross-country — the heart of eventing — being the most important, followed by the dressage, and then the show jumping. The intended ratio of cross-country:dressage:show jumping is theoretically 12:3:1. Therefore, an error in cross-country counts heavily. This prevents horses that are simply good in dressage (for example) from winning the event with a poor cross-country test.

In 1971, the following penalty system was instituted:

In 1977, the dressage scoring was changed, with each movement marked out of ten rather than out of six. This increased the maximum number of dressage marks from 144 to 240. This number later increased to 250 marks in 1998, after additional movements were added. To keep the correct weight, a formula is used to convert good marks in dressage to penalty points. First, the marks of the judges (if there is more than one) are averaged. Then the raw mark is subtracted from the maximum points possible. This number is then multiplied by 0. 6 to calculate the final penalty score.

Show jumping rules were also changed in 1977, with a knock-down or a foot in the water awarded only 5 penalties rather than ten. This prevented the show jumping phase from carrying too much weight, again, to keep the ratio between the phases correct.

Non-Olympic competition

In its early days, the sport was most popular in Britain, and the British gave the competition a new name, the "Three-Day Event," due to the three day time span of the competition. In America, the sport was also called "combined training," due to the three different disciplines and types of training methods needed for the horse. In the United Kingdom, "combined training" competition includes only the dressage and show jumping phases. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

The first annual, Olympic-level event developed was the Badminton Horse Trials, held each year in England. The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual four star CCI****, events as classified by the FEI. First held in 1949, the Badminton event was created after a poor performance by the British Eventing Team at the 1948 Olympic Games, with the purpose of being a high-class preparation event, and as extra exposure for the military horses, who very rarely had the chance to compete. Initially, only British riders were allowed to compete (although women were allowed, despite being banned from riding in the Olympics), but the competition is now open to all. To this day, Badminton is one of the most prestigious events to win in the world. Nowadays, the Olympic event is consider a CCI***, a rank lower than Badminton which is a CCI****.

The second three-day competition to be held at Olympic level each year was the Burghley Horse Trials, first held in 1961. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford Lincolnshire, England. Burghley is longest running international event.

The first CCI held outside of Britain on an annual basis was the Rolex Kentucky Three Day, held each year in Lexington since 1978. The Rolex Kentucky Three Day is an Eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky.

Importance of dressage training

In the early years, the dressage phase was fairly inconsequential in determining the final standings. It was quite possible for a horse to have a terrible dressage test, then run a clean cross-country and stadium, and still finish near the top of the standings. Since then, correct dressage training has become increasingly important should a horse and rider wish to finish in the ribbons. After the 2000 Olympic Games, the FEI hired British eventer and dressage rider, Christopher Bartle to write new dressage tests for the upper level events, which would include a greater deal of collection. Christopher Bartle is a British equestrian who has had great success in both Dressage and Eventing. This has since raised the bar even further in the dressage phase.

Additionally, the cross-country phase has become more technical, asking the horse to be adjustable and supple through combinations. A combination, when referring to an obstacle jumped by horses is when two or more fences are placed within 1-3 strides of each other A horse can no longer just be brave and athletic, but must have a good deal of dressage training should his rider wish to successfully negotiate odd distances or bending lines at a gallop.

Safety

Leg protection: show jumping boots on the left legs, more protective galloping boots for cross-country on the right legs.
Leg protection: show jumping boots on the left legs, more protective galloping boots for cross-country on the right legs.

Over time, course design has become increasingly more focused on the safety of the horse and rider. Fences are built more solidly than in the earlier days, encouraging a bold jump from the horse, which actually helps prevent falls. The layout of the course and the build of the obstacles encourage the horse to have a successful run. This includes a greater use of precision fences, such as corners and skinny jumps, that are very good tests of the rider's ability and the horse's training, but allow the horse to simply run around the jump if the rider misjudges it. Various obstacles are found in the cross-country phase of the Equestrian discipline of Eventing. Safety measures such as filling in the area between corner-shaped jumps on cross-country or rails of a fence help prevent the entrapment of the legs of the horse decrease the number of serious falls or injuries.

The newest improvement in cross-country safety is the frangible fence, which uses a pin to hold the log of an obstacle up. Should a horse hit the obstacle, the pin breaks and the obstacle falls to the ground. This technique helps to prevent the most dangerous situation on cross-country: when the horse hits a solid fence between the forearm and chest, and somersaults over, sometimes falling on the rider. This type of fall has caused the death of several riders, as well as horses.

Leg protection for horses has also improved. Very little was used in the early days, even on cross-country. However, it is now seen on every horse at almost every level. Boots have increased in technology, and include materials that either help absorb shock or are very hard and strong to prevent a serious injury.

Rules protecting riders have improved as well. Riders are now required to wear a safety vest (body protector) during cross-country, as well as an ASTM/SEI or ISO approved equestrian helmet with fastened harness when jumping. ASTM International ( ASTM) originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials is an international Standards organization that develops and publishes An Equestrian helmet is worn when riding Horses. This type of Helmet is specially designed to protect the rider's head if a person falls off Eventing was one of the first sports to require the use of a helmet with harness when jumping.

Despite these measures, Eventing remains a very dangerous sport, in which Horse and Rider fatalities occur regularly.

Other notes

From the beginning, event horses had to carry a minimum weight of 165 lb (75 kg) (including rider and saddle) during the endurance test. This rule was dropped in 1997.

International competition

Burghley is one of the most prestigious international events.
Burghley is one of the most prestigious international events.

International events have specific categories and levels of competition and are conducted under the rules of the FEI. CCI (Concours Complet International, or International Complete Contest) is one such category and defines a three-day event that is open to competitors from any foreign nation as well as the host nation. The Concours Complet International (CCI and the Concours International Combiné (CIC are ratings for the equestrian sport of Eventing, given by the international

The levels of inteational events are identified by the number of stars next to the category; there are four levels in total. The Eventing World Championship, or the eventing competition in the World Equestrian Games (WEG began in 1966 A CCI* is for horses that are just being introduced to international competition. A CCI** is geared for horses that have some experience of international competition. CCI*** is the advanced level of competition.

The very highest level of competition is the CCI****, and with only six such competitions in the world (Badminton, Burghley, Rolex Kentucky, Adelaide, Luhmuhlen Horse Trials, and the Pau Three Day Event) it is the ultimate aim of many riders. The Badminton Horse Trials is a three-day event, one of only six annual four star CCI****, events as classified by the FEI. The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is an annual three day event held at Burghley House near Stamford Lincolnshire, England. The Rolex Kentucky Three Day is an Eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky. The Australian International Three Day Event is an annual three-day event held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. The Luhmühlen Horse Trials are an annual equestrian Eventing competition held in Luhmühlen, Germany. The World Championships are also considered CCI****. The Eventing World Championship, or the eventing competition in the World Equestrian Games (WEG began in 1966 Rolex offer a financial prize for any rider who can win three of the biggest competitions in succession. These are Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky. So far, Pippa Funnell is the only rider to do this, although Andrew Hoy did come close.

One, two and three star competitions are roughly comparable to the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels of British domestic competition, respectively, and to the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of American domestic competition, respectively.

Domestic competition

Eventing rules and the recognized levels in various nations are similar, but not always identical. While rules usually follow the FEI to some degree, history and tradition of various nations has also influenced competition rules within a given country.

In addition to recognized events that prepare the best riders for international competition, many nations also offer eventing for beginner, youth, and amateur riders through organizations such as Pony Club, 4-H or other riding clubs, where most riders begin their competitive careers. Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and horseback riding 4-H in the United States is a Youth organization administered by the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES of the United States At the most elementary levels, fence heights begin at around 2ft, and generally do not exceed 3f, 6 inches.

USA

In the United States, Eventing is broken down into the following levels, all which are recognized by the USEA and are run in accordance to their rules:

UK

British Eventing (BE) levels of eventing are as follows:

Australia

In Australia, where the Equestrian Federation of Australia governs eventing competition the levels are as follows:

Ireland

The Irish levels, governed by Eventing Ireland are as follows:

Canada

The Canadian levels, under the rules of Canadian Eventing, are as follows:

The horse

In the lower levels, it is possible for any breed of horse, if it has the talent for it, to do well in eventing. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not Thoroughbreds and part-thoroughbreds currently dominate the sport at the top levels because of their stamina and athletic ability, although many warmbloods and warmblood-thoroughbred crosses also do well. The Thoroughbred is a horse breed Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds primarily originating in Europe, registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook In the UK, Irish sport horses have been popular for many years. The Irish Sport Horse (ISH (US Irish Draught Sports Horse also known as the Irish Hunter is mainly the result of a cross between the Irish Draught and the Thoroughbred

Because larger horses are favoured, animals with some draft horse breeding are also seen, notably the Irish Draught and Clydesdale crossbreds. A draft horse, draught horse or dray horse (from the Anglo-Saxon dragan meaning to draw or haul is a large Horse bred for hard heavy tasks However, smaller horses can also excel; for example, in the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three Day CCI competition, the third place competitor was a 14. The Rolex Kentucky Three Day is an Eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky. 1 hand gelding that was a cross of Thoroughbred, Arabian and Shetland pony breeding. See also Hand A hand (or handbreadth) is a unit of length Measurement, originally based on the breadth of a Male Human hand The Arabian horse is a breed of Horse with a reputation for Intelligence, spirit and stamina The Shetland pony is a breed of Pony originating in the Shetland Isles. [1]

An event horse must be very rideable to succeed, as a horse that will not listen to a rider on the cross-country phase may end up taking a fall at a jump. The horse should be calm and submissive for the dressage phase, with good training on the flat. For cross-country, the horse must be brave, athletic, and (especially at the higher levels) fast with a good galloping stride and great stamina. The horse does not have to possess perfect jumping form, but should be safe over fences and have good scope. The best event horses are careful over jumps, as those who are not tend to have stadium rails knocked down on the last day. The horse also needs to have sound conformation and good feet. Equine conformation refers to the correctness of a horse's bone structure musculature and its body proportions in relation to each other A horse hoof is a structure surrounding the distal phalanx of the 3rd digit (digit III of the basic Pentadactyl limb of Vertebrates evolved into a single

Riding attire

Riding attire varies between all three phases. Dressage and show jumping require very conservative attire, following the traditional turnout for each of those disciplines. Cross-country is much less formal, with many riders wearing clothing of personalized colors.

Dressage

For the intermediate and advanced levels, dressage attire is similar to that of Grand Prix Dressage. Grand Prix is the highest level of Dressage. Movements included in Grand Prix dressage tests are; Piaffe: A calm composed elevated trot in place The rider must wear a dark coat (usually black or navy), with a shirt, stock tie, and pin. A stock-tie, or stock is a white tie worn around the neck of a competitor riding in an equestrian event If the rider is riding at FEI level, only then can they wear a shadbellyand a top hat. A Shadbelly is a type of riding coat worn in certain situations by Foxhunting Members Dressage riders eventers (in the dressage phase of the higher For the item of clothing see Top hat. For the fictional TUGS character see Top Hat (TUGS. Riding breeches are usually white, although any light color is permitted. Breeches (pronounced) are an item of male Clothing covering the body from the Waist down with separate coverings for each Leg, usually stopping just below

Gloves (usually white, although other colors are permitted) and spurs are required. Riding boots are usually black, dress-style. Riding boots are Boots made to be used for horseback riding. The classic boot comes high enough up the leg to prevent the leathers of the Saddle from

The lower levels have less restrictive rules on dress. Though navy and black coats are preferred, riders may wear any conservatively colored dark or tweed hunt coat (shadbelly coats are not permitted) with a white shirt and choker or (preferably) stock tie with pin. If a rider wishes to stay within norms for higher-level competition, breeches should be white, but beige or another conservative light color is permissible. A black or navy hunt cap or derby may be worn, although many riders use an equestrian helmet. Derby (pronounced "dar-bee" /dˈɑːbɪ/ is a city in the East Midlands of England. An Equestrian helmet is worn when riding Horses. This type of Helmet is specially designed to protect the rider's head if a person falls off Boots may be field or dress style, black or brown in color. Gloves and spurs give a polished, professional appearance, but are not required at this level.

Cross-country

Cross-country attire is less formal, and many riders choose "colors," to which they match some of their horse's tack.
Cross-country attire is less formal, and many riders choose "colors," to which they match some of their horse's tack.

The rider is required to wear a protective vest, as well as a ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet, properly fastened at all times when jumping (and may be eliminated if this is not done). ASTM International ( ASTM) originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials is an international Standards organization that develops and publishes An Equestrian helmet is worn when riding Horses. This type of Helmet is specially designed to protect the rider's head if a person falls off A medical armband, containing the rider's medicinal history, is required. This is for safety purposes, allowing access to the information should the rider fall, be knocked unconscious, and require medical treatment.

Breeches may be any color, with some riders coordinating it with their shirt or vest color. All shirts must have sleeves, and light-weight polo shirts are most commonly worn, usually without a stock tie. Black or brown boots may be worn. Riding coats are not worn.

Lastly, most riders also wear a watch, to track their time as they go cross-country so that they may adjust their speed as needed to come under the optimum time.

Show jumping

Show jumping attire is similar to that of dressage. However, a protective equestrian helmet with harness is required, and riders always wear a hunt coat, rather than a shadbelly and top hat. An Equestrian helmet is worn when riding Horses. This type of Helmet is specially designed to protect the rider's head if a person falls off If helmet covers are used, they are required to be black or dark blue.

As in cross-country, riders wear a medical armband.

Turn-out of the horse and tack

Turn-out and grooming

Event horses are turned out similarly to dressage horses, with the legs and face (muzzle, jaw, sides of ears, bridle path) neatly clipped. For the horse part see Bridle path (horse. For the neighbourhood see Bridle Path Toronto. The tail is usually banged (cut straight across), usually to a length between the fetlock joint and lower hock. Additionally, most event riders clip the sides of their mount's tails, to give them a finer appearance. The braiding of tails is fairly uncommon, probably because the tail can not be braided if the hairs along the sides of the dock are clipped.

The mane is pulled to about 4 inches in length and is usually braided for dressage as well as the show jumping phase. The mane is the hair that grows from the top of the neck of a Horse or other Equine, reaching from the poll to the Withers, and includes However, most riders prefer to leave it loose for cross-country in case they need to grab it for security. Some riders also place quarter marks (decorative stenciling) on the hindquarters, although it is not particularly common as of 2007.

Tack

A horse on cross-country, showing the "eventer's grease" on his legs to help him slide over obstacles.
A horse on cross-country, showing the "eventer's grease" on his legs to help him slide over obstacles.

Most event riders have a jumping saddle as well as a dressage saddle, since each places them in a position better-suited for its purpose. At the lower levels, however, a rider can ride all three phases without difficulty in a well-fitted jumping saddle. At the upper levels, riders usually have a saddle specifically designed for cross-country, giving them more freedom for such fences as banks and drops. Various obstacles are found in the cross-country phase of the Equestrian discipline of Eventing.

Dressage tack is usually black in color, with a white square pad, giving a formal look. Except for the upper levels, where a double bridle is permitted, horses may only be ridden in snaffle bits. A double bridle, also called a full bridle or Weymouth bridle, is a Bridle used with two bits and four Reins. A snaffle bit is the most common type of bit used while riding Horses. There are strict guidelines as to what type of snaffle may be used, and the more severe types (such as any twisted bit) are prohibited. If a double bridle is used, a plain cavesson or crank noseband must be worn. A noseband is the part of a horse's Bridle that encircles the nose and jaw of the Horse. With a snaffle bridle, the rider is also free to use the drop, flash, or figure-eight noseband, with the flash and plain cavesson being the most common. Breastplates are also fairly common in dressage at an event, despite the fact that they are not seen at regular dressage shows. A breastplate (used interchangeably with breastgirth and breastcollar) is a piece of riding equipment used on horses Other forms of equipment, such as martingales, protective boots, gadgets/training devices, bit guards, polo wraps, or tail wraps are not allowed during the test. Polo wraps are bandage materials usually made of fleece for a horse's legs

Horse and rider well turned-out for the stadium jumping phase. Note the rider wears a medical armband.
Horse and rider well turned-out for the stadium jumping phase. Note the rider wears a medical armband.

In show jumping, the rider uses a jumping saddle, usually with a square or fitted white pad. Rules on tack are less-stringent, and most forms of bridling and bitting are allowed, including the use of gag bits, hackamores, and any type of noseband. The gag bit is a type of bit for a Horse. With two sets of reins the gag bit gives a rider the ability to use either a standard direct action or a gag action A hackamore is a type of headgear for a Horse which does not have a bit. Breastplates and protective boots are usually worn. Running martingales are also allowed, but must be used with rein stops. Standing and Irish martingales are not allowed.

For the cross-country phase, the rider usually uses similar tack as for the show jumping. However, protective boots are taped for extra security, to help prevent them from slipping as the horse jumps into water. Most horses that wear shoes are also fitted with horse shoe studs, to prevent slipping. Studs or Screw-in Calks are traction devices screwed into the bottom of a horse shoe. At the upper levels, riders may also apply a grease to the front of the horse's legs, to help the horse slide over fences if they hang a leg. Riders also tend to color-coordinate their cross-country tack to their colors. For example, using the same color saddle pad and tape for their boots, to match their shirt and protective vest.

International horses

A type of safety vest worn by eventers on the cross-country phase.
A type of safety vest worn by eventers on the cross-country phase.

A list of horses who are at the top of the sport and compete at the international level:

Three day events

Australia

France

Germany

Great Britain

Hungary

The Netherlands

Sweden

USA

Some famous "three-day eventers"

References

  1. ^ "Karen O'Connor and 'The Pony' Theodore O'Connor Wow The Crowd, Finishing Third" Accessed June 21, 2007 at http://www.horsesdaily.com/news/eventing/2007/07rolex/04-29-oconnor.html

External links

Torrance Watkins is an American event rider who has successfully competed internationally Megan Jones (b 6 November 1976 owns Kirby Park Stud in Hahndorf in the Adelaide hills Lucinda Fredericks (born Lucinda Murray, 28 September 1967 is a champion equestrian sportswoman competing at the highest levels of equestrian eventing
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