Other Disciplines

Eventing

About Eventing

Eventing is the most complete combined competition discipline recognised by the FEI where men and women compete as equals in both individual and team events.

What is Eventing?

Eventing demands of the competitor considerable experience in all branches of equitation and a precise knowledge of the horse’s ability and of the horse a degree of competence resulting from intelligent and rational training. It covers all round riding ability and horsemanship: the harmony between horse and rider that characterise Dressage; the contact with nature, precise knowledge of the horses ability and extensive experience essential for the Cross Country; the precision, agility and technique involved in Jumping.

Eventing is one of the three disciplines in competition at the Olympic Games, the other two being Jumping and Dressage.Modern competitions consist of three distinct tests:

1. Dressage;
2. Cross-Country; and
3. Jumping.

They take place on separate consecutive days during which a competitor rides the same horse throughout.

1. Dressage Test

After an opening Horse Inspection, a Dressage test is performed, the object of which is the harmonious development of the physique and ability of the horse. The test consists of a series of compulsory movements at walk, trot and canter gaits, within a rectangular arena 60m long and 20m wide. To perform a good Dressage test, the horse needs to be flexible and fluid. To keep the strong Eventing horses under the firm control required by the exacting Dressage movements involves great knowledge and understanding. A good Dressage test lays the foundation for the rest of the competition and horses that are found wanting in this phase face an uphill struggle to get up amongst the prize-winners.

2. Cross-Country Test

The focus of the entire event is on the Cross-Country test, the objective of which is to test the ability of athletes and horses to adapt to different and variable conditions (weather, terrain, obstacles, footing etc…) and jumping ability of the horse, while at the same time demonstrating the rider’s knowledge of pace and the use of their horse. Exceeding the time allowed and refusals result in penalties. All penalties are added together and recorded for inclusion in the final classification. Fall of a horse and/or of a rider entails immediate elimination.

3. Jumping Test

The Jumping test takes place on the last day after a second Horse Inspection. Riders may voluntarily retire their horses if they seem unfit to continue. This test is run in reverse order of merit and its main objective is to prove that the horses have retained their suppleness, energy and obedience in order to jump a course of 11 to 15 obstacles.The winning individual is the competitor with the lowest total of penalty points. The winning team is the one with the lowest total of penalty points, after adding together the final scores of the three highest placed competitors in the team.

The Premier Eventing Competitions are:

• Olympic Games
• FEI World Equestrian Games
• HSBC FEI Classics™
• HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing
• Continental Championships

Driving

About Driving

Horses were driven long before they were ridden. As vehicles have eliminated the need for horses as a primary form of transportation, Driving has turned into a fast-growing sports discipline.

What is Driving?

Driving, which became an FEI discipline in 1970, is the oldest competitive equestrian sport. It is a discipline without riders; instead drivers sit on a vehicle drawn by a single horse or pony, a pair or a team of four. Modern Driving competitions consist of three phases:

1. Dressage:
   A sequence of compulsory figures performed within a 100m x 40m rectangle. The smoothness of the manoeuvres, the obedience of the horse, impulsion and positioning are assessed.
2. Marathon:
   A truly spectacular trial, the marathon is a course over a maximum of 18km, which includes natural hazards such as sharp turns, water and steep hills as well as constructed obstacles.
3. Obstacle Driving / “Cones”:
   This tests the fitness and suppleness of the horses after the marathon. To successfully negotiate the cones course, drivers must weave cleanly through a narrow track outlined by cones with balls balanced on top.

Main competitions:

• FEI World Equestrian Games
• FEI World and Continental Championships
• FEI World CupTM Driving Series

Para Equestrian

About Para Equestrian Dressage

Para-Equestrian Dressage is the only equestrian discipline that is included in the Paralympic Games, where it has been a regular fixture since 1996. With the idea of creating opportunities for all people with disabilities to compete and achieve their goals in equestrian sport, athletes are classified according to the level of their disability/impairment so as to provide for meaningful competition. In 2006, the Para-Equestrian sport joined the ranks of the other 7 disciplines regulated by the FEI, with national and international competitions for Dressage and Driving for individuals with a disability. This led to the FEI becoming the first, and still the only, International Federation to govern and regulate a sport for both the able bodied and disabled athletes.

Competition Venue and Testing

All rules and regulations with regards to competition venues and testing are governed by the same principles as other disciplines. The formula for the shows is the same as for standard Dressage shows with Freestyle tests and also tests where the athletes follow a set programme.

Classification

The competitor’s mobility, strength and coordination are assessed in order to establish their Classification Profile. People with similar functional ability Profiles are grouped into competition Grades. The Grades range from for the most severely impaired to the least impaired. The competition within each Grade can therefore be judged on the skill of the individual competitor on their horse, regardless of the competitor’s disability.

Equipment

Competitors must wear the appropriate equipment as stipulated in the classification manual, and are only permitted the use of special equipment when this has been formally documented and approved.The major event for Paralympic Dressage is the Paralympic Games. The Games are the second largest sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games. The Paralympics are contested immediately after the Olympics in the same city and venue.