Eventing
Eventing combines dressage, cross-country and show jumping into one competition over one or three days, testing an all-round horse.
At a glance
| Governing body | Federation Equestrian International (FEI) internationally. |
|---|---|
| Olympic status | An Olympic equestrian discipline, contested individually and as a team. |
| Phases | Dressage, then cross-country over solid fixed obstacles, then show jumping. |
| Top level | Five-star, the grade of events such as Badminton and Burghley. |
Eventing began as a cavalry test of the complete military horse and keeps that shape: a dressage test for obedience, a cross-country course over solid natural obstacles for boldness and stamina, and a show-jumping round to prove the horse is still supple and sound afterwards.
The cross-country phase is the heart of the sport. Horses gallop a route marked with numbered fences, ditches and water, incurring time and jumping penalties that are added to the dressage score, with show jumping settling close finishes.
Because this discipline works horses over hard or abrasive ground, hoof protection can matter. The HoofBootFit sizing tool matches a fresh-trim length and width to the hoof boots that fit.
Sources: Federation Equestrian International (FEI) ยท British Equestrian