Eventing
Eventing comprises of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. It has three main formats, the one day event (ODE), two day event and the three day event (3DE), which in reality now runs four days at some competitions. Also, a “combined test” is a spin off of eventing which encompasses dressage and show jumping, but leaves out the cross country phase.
Eventing gives Pony Club Members a competition which needs courage, determination and all-round riding ability combined with careful and systematic training of the horse.
Its aim is to encourage a higher standard of riding throughout the Pony Club and to give the young a greater interest in riding as both a sport and as a recreational activity.
The sport could be termed an “equestrian triathlon”. It involves working with your pony/horse both on the flat and over jumps. Today, the sport is most known for its cross-country phase where horse and rider gallop over an outside course of solid obstacles which the horse has never seen before.
Eventing is an Olympic discipline in which Great Britain has a long tradition amongst very competitive fields.
Eventing is split into three phases:
Dressage
Ideally it should look as if the horse is performing of its own accord, carrying its rider in complete harmony. The test is scored on each movement, rather like the scoring in figure skating, and the overall harmony and precision of the whole exercise is taken into consideration.
Show Jumping
The second phase takes place in the show jumping arena over coloured knock-down fences.
Cross Country
Finally, the cross country phase is designed to test the horse and rider’s ability over a variety of fixed fences and undulating ground, it should also demonstrate the rider’s knowledge of pace and the use of his horse across country.
Scoring
At the end of the competition, scores for all the competitors are totalled. Each test is scored individually and the penalties accrued are added together for the final results. The lowest score is the winning score.
In the case of a team competition, the individual scores of each of the four team members are added together. If all four team members have completed the competition the best three scores count and the team with the lowest team total is pronounced the winner.
Tack Safety Checks
Competitors are required to present themselves for a tack safety check before each phase.
