Ashley's Equestrian Pin Fever

All About Riding

WHAT IS 3 DAY EVENTING?

It's an invitation to a serious heart attack if you are a parent watching your only child do this.

3 Day Eventing requires a horse/rider combination to perform Dressage, Show Jumping & Cross Country across a 3 day period (in smaller shows, it takes place across 2 days w/the Dressage & Show Jumping usually taking place on the same day). You can learn more about Dressage & Show Jumping by clicking on those links, I will mostly discuss the Cross Country (CC) portion here.

Cross Country is to equestrians what Evel Knievel is to motorcyclists...it's exciting & it's dangerous. Much has been done to reduce the danger of this sport but the plain fact is that you can run a greater risk of injury in this sport.

Cross Country takes place in an open field where the pair are required to gallop or canter distances between jumps. A cross between show jumping & steeplechase, the pair jump amazing obstacles built of logs, shrubs, water & negotiate banks & drops. Unlike show jumping, these jumps don't come down if a horse hits them.

Competitions are rated with CCI**** (referred to as a 4 Star) being at the top. There are only 4 of these competitions internationally each year. Rolex, in Lexington, Kentucky, is the only one of them held in the U.S. There are levels, Novice, Training, Preliminary & Advanced.

Scoring is the same for Dressage & Show Jumping. For Cross Country, the object is to complete the course in proper sequence w/o an refusals of a jump & in the allotted time. There is both a maximum time & an optimal time. The optimal time being the lower of the 2 & requires moving your horse along at a certain pace. You can also gain points for coming in BELOW the optimal time. The ojective is to get as close to the optimal time as possible w/o going below it.

There is no "jump off" in the show jumping portion. The combination w/the lowest combined scores in CC, Dressage & Show Jumping are the winners.

A little more tack & clothing are needed. You will need a dressage saddle/bridle & clothing for that portion. Often your jumping saddle will do double duty in the Show Jumping & CC portion, though you will want to add some equipment for the CC portion, like a breastplate to keep the saddle from slipping. The clothing in CC is very relaxed...here is where you can "show your colors". It's bright, flashy & almost anything goes!

Because of the dangerous nature of CC, there are new requirements...every rider MUST show in a kevlar type body vest meant to minimize any impacts. Helmets must meet all requirements & every rider MUST have a medical emergency card attached to their sleeve. THAT alone should re-emphasize the more dangerous nature of this sport.

But CC competitors say there is nothing to compare to the freedom of galloping across fields. The first time my daughter did it, she started out totally white faced but came back glowing. I, on the other hand, was still throwing up in the bushes!

Scared you witless? Click on the Dressage or Show Jumping Links to settle your stomach.