Phases & Scoring

CROSS-COUNTRY

Dressage

The first phase, dressage, takes place on the first and second day of the event, and is the only phase that doesn’t include fences. It is a test of balance, rhythm, suppleness, obedience and cooperation between the horse and rider. This is held in a 20 x 60 metre enclosed arena where the pair demonstrates their abilities in front of the Ground Jury, of which there are 3 members at CCI4*-L level, who are positioned around the arena, so they each see a different angle. Competitors must remember and ride the same set series of movements in the same order, known as the ‘dressage test’, between markers. There are different tests, varying in difficulty, for the different levels of competition.

In addition to a mark out of ten for each movement in the test, there are collective marks for overall paces, impulsion, submission, and the effect of the rider’s aids. Combinations which present as the most harmonious, working together in an effortless partnership, will get the top marks. The marks are added together, any penalties deducted and the average of the judges’ marks is shown as a percentage ‘good mark’, before being converted to a penalty score. See the Dressage Tests for Blair at the start of each star-rated section, starting on page 38.

Show Jumping

The second phase, cross-country, is unique to three-day eventing. It challenges the horse and rider’s physical fitness, bravery, problem-solving, and trust, and can prove to be extremely influential with some riders experiencing unplanned dismounts! The cross-country course consists of approximately 12–20 fences at lower levels, or 30–40 fences at higher levels; the longest course at Blair is around 6km long. An ‘optimum time’ is set for the course, calculated by measuring the course distance and working out the time based on speeds varying from 450m - 570m per minute, depending on the level of competition.

The course at Blair is particularly challenging owing to the number of gruelling climbs up the Scottish hills, meaning that both horse and rider must be at peak fitness to complete the course and avoid running out of energy before they reach the finish line. Each fence provides a different test, whether it is the boldness and scope required to clear the maximum dimension trakehner or the agility and accuracy necessary for combination fences. Routes of the cross-country courses at Blair can be found at the start of each star-rated section, starting page 38.

There are also a number of reasons a competitor may be eliminated, which concern the safety of riders, horses and spectators.

Usually the last phase, show jumping takes place in an arena, and tests the skills of both the horse and rider, including suppleness, fitness, and precision. Show jumping courses are a maximum of 12 – 15 jumping efforts, and must be completed within a time-limit. CCI4*-L level fences reach a maximum height of 1.25m, whilst this is much lower than for ‘pure’ show jumping, it is important to remember that event horses, trained to gallop over fixed timber, may have little respect for knock-down poles and, combined with their tiredness from the crosscountry phase the day before, it can make show jumping the most challenging and daunting phase for many event riders. Jumping takes place in reverse order of merit, meaning the rider in first place after the crosscountry phase must hold their nerve and jump the final round of the competition to reveal the final standings!