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Olympic disciplines
Eventing combines three tests on the same horse: dressage, cross-country and show jumping. It checks the pair's obedience, stamina and courage.
| Group | Olympic disciplines |
|---|---|
| Also called | three-day eventing, horse trials, combined training |
| Olympic | yes |
| Governing body | FEI |
| Where it is popular | Eventing is held worldwide and is especially popular in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. |
The pair first rides a dressage test, then a long cross-country course over solid natural fences, ditches and water, and finally a show jumping round. All results are turned into penalty points, and the lowest total wins. Cross-country carries the most weight. International events are graded from one to five stars and run over several days. Olympic teams have three riders, and all three scores count.
Thoroughbreds and part-Thoroughbreds dominate the top level thanks to their speed and stamina. Warmbloods and Irish Sport Horses also compete.
On cross-country riders must wear a helmet with a harness, a body protector and a medical armband; many also wear an air vest. Some fences are fitted with frangible pins that release on a hard impact.
The best-known events are the five-star Badminton Horse Trials (England, May), Burghley (England) and Kentucky (USA), plus the Olympic eventing competition.
Russian riding schools accept children from age 7, but riders move to eventing once they can ride and jump confidently. They start with small training events over low fences, always in a helmet and body protector.
Eventing grew out of military horse testing. It first appeared at the 1912 Olympics; civilians were admitted in 1924 and women in 1964.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, yourhorse.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org