Eventing

Eventing is not a very well known sport within horseback riding.  It involves three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross country.  The horse and rider with the lowest score at the end of the three phases is the winner.  The sport was originally introduced into the olympics in 1912 but was only open to male military officers.

The first phase of the day is dressage.  This is held in an enclosed space and the horse and rider must complete a pattern of circles, changes in pace and gait, and other moves.  This is to judge the obedience and harmony of the horse and rider pair.  Each movement is marked out of 10 by a judge and then converted to a number of penalty points. This score in can increase in the next two phases but never lower.

Mark Todd - Dressage

 

 

The second phase is show jumping, which is probably the most commonly known phase.  It is a course of about 10 jumps in a ring.  The jumps are made up of poles that will fall down if the horse touches them.  Four points will be added to your original score if the horse knocks down a pole or if they refuse to jump an obstacle.  After the third refusal to jump or if the rider falls off the pair are eliminated from the remainder of the competition.

 

 

Phillip Dutton - Show Jumping

 

The last phase is the exciting and also the most dangerous of the three, cross country.  It is a longer course set at a higher speed over solid, more natural obstacles such as longs, stone walls and ditches.  The horses and riders must complete the course within a set time limit, penalties will be given if they are too fast or too slow.  If the horses refuse to jump an obstacle, 20 points will be added on to the original score.







Lucinda Green - Cross Country

Day One

Just a few weeks after college had begun on September 24, 2011, I was on my way to pick up my new horse.  I was told repeatedly what a bad idea it was and that I wouldn't have the time to put in the effort I needed to attain my goals between classes, working and the horse my family already owned.  I would have to find time to be at the farm 5-6 days a week for a few hours a day.  This would mean a lot of early morning and late evenings but I was prepared to do it.

She stepped off the trailer skinny and out of shape but with plenty of potential.  She was an ex racehorse who was not fast enough to make it on the racetrack.  She was purchased and moved to Canada to be trained as a riding horse.  It was clear she loved her new job, she would just need some more time and attention to succeed.