Eventing is a competitive equestrian sport that dates back to the 19th century. It mixes cross-country riding and jumping with rules and regulations specific to each discipline. In general, these rules are designed to create a fair playing field while maintaining the authenticity of the sport. In eventing, competitors try to score points in both the cross-country and jumping phases of the event, with the goal being to finish ahead of other pairs at the end of the day. The rules are specific to each level of the sport, but here we outline the basics of eventing rules for the beginner who wants to know what to expect at their first event.
What is eventing?
Eventing is a competitive equestrian sport that dates back to the 19th century. It mixes cross-country riding and jumping with rules and regulations specific to each discipline. In general, these rules are designed to create a fair playing field while maintaining the authenticity of the sport.In eventing, competitors try to score points in both the cross-country and jumping phases of the event, with the goal being to finish ahead of other pairs at the end of the day. The rules are specific to each level of the sport, but here we outline the basics of eventing rules for the beginner who wants to know what to expect at their first event.
Cross-country phase
This is the first phase of the event, where each rider rides in a single-file line on a course that measures about 12 miles in length. The rider in the lead is expected to maintain a steady pace for the duration of the course. The other rider’s role is to follow as closely as possible, without ever falling too far behind. Both riders must keep an eye out for hazards like fences, mud holes, streams, and other obstacles. If a rider falls behind the pace, that rider must quickly try to catch up with the rest of the group. If a rider falls too far behind, they may be disqualified from the event.The rider who finishes first in the cross-country phase is awarded 100 points. If the rider who finished first also wins the jumping phase, that rider wins the event. If the rider finishing first also places second in the jumping phase, they win the event if the second-place finisher finishes no higher than third.
Jumping phase
In the jumping phase, each rider rides a single horse in a series of timed and untimed jumps. The rider tries to score as many points as possible in the jumping phase. The rider who finishes first in the jumping phase earns 200 points. The rider who finishes second in the jumping phase earns 150 points, and the rider who finishes third in the jumping phase earns 100 points.If the rider who finishes first in the jumping phase also finishes first in the cross-country phase, that rider wins the event. If the rider who finishes first in the jumping phase finishes second in the cross-country phase, they win the event if the rider who finishes second in the cross-country phase finishes no higher than third.
Final results
After both the cross-country and jumping phases have been completed, the score from each phase is added together for the final score. The rider who finishes first in the cross-country phase receives 200 points, while the rider who finishes first in the jumping phase receives 400 points. The rider who finishes second in the cross-country phase receives 200 points, while the rider who finishes second in the jumping phase receives 100 points.The rider who finishes third in the cross-country phase receives 100 points, while the rider who finishes third in the jumping phase receives 0 points. This means that the rider in third place in the cross-country phase has a chance to win the event if the rider in first place in the jumping phase finishes third.
Final thoughts
As you can see, eventing rules are fairly complex. The rules are designed to create a fair playing field while also remaining authentic to the sport. For new eventing participants, reading the rules can help them understand what’s expected of them at their first event. It can also give them insight into what to look out for in future events.