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Eventing Phases

Phase One - Dressage

Dressage is a French word meaning training. Precision, smoothness, suppleness and complete obedience show off the horse's gymnastic development.

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.

Phase Two - Show Jumping

The second phase takes place in the show jumping arena over coloured fences.

Phase Three - 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 totaled. 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.