Equestrian Eventing

Both team and individual competitions. Riders and horses (combinations) compete across the three disciplines – dressage, cross-country and jumping – to decide the medals.

Riders compete on the same horse in all three disciplines with their scores counting for both the individual and team competitions.

In the team competition each team has four combinations, with the best three scores to count.

The top 20 individuals then jump (in the final showjumping phase) again to decide the individual medals. Jump-offs may be held if necessary.

Eventing (covering three disciplines of dressage, cross-country and jumping) – riders compete on the same horse in all three disciplines, with their scores counting for both the individual and team competitions. Combinations must complete each stage to move on to the next.

Dressage is the first discipline tested. Combinations then complete the cross-country phase, which is generally regarded as the toughest of the three. Horses are inspected the following day (at a ‘trot-up’), to ensure they are healthy and fit to further compete, before they can start in the final phase – the jumping.

Judging of the dressage is done in exactly the same way as pure dressage. A dressage percentage is converted to penalty points for certain movements conducted in the walk, trot and canter.

Cross-country – the riders must complete the 6840 metre (approx.) course consisting of between 40-45 obstacles, including logs, water jumps, fences ascents and banks within an optimum time. Refusals incur 20 penalty points, and combinations can also pick up time faults, both of which are added to their dressage score.

Show-Jumping - In the last phase, show-jumping, combinations are again required to complete 9-12 obstacles inside the time allowed. Rails dropped, refusals or time faults incur penalties.

A combined score from the three phases determines the final scores. In the team event there are four members in each team, with only the best three scores counting towards the final score for the team medals. The top 20 individual scores after the first showjumping round compete in a second and final round to determine individual medals, with only three riders from any one team entitled to make it through to that round.

The only significant change for the Rio Olympics is in eventing, where each team will have four combinations, with the best three to count. London 2012 saw teams of five, with top three scores counted.

NZ Success Equestrian (Eventing)

The first New Zealand Eventing riders competed at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games: Andrew Bennie OLY#404, Mary Darby OLY#443, Andrew Nicholson OLY#481 and Sir Mark Todd OLY#514

The New Zealand eventers are well regarded and recognised as some of the most accomplished and successful in the world, particularly Sir Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson, both of whom have been based in the UK for many years.

The first eventing medal was won by Sir Mark Todd OLY#514 at the Los Angeles 1984 taking Gold in the individual event.

New Zealand has had 23 Eventing riders (14 male, 9 female) compete at the Olympic Games. 11 of these athletes have competed in two or more Olympic Games.

TERMINOLOGY

Combination - A rider and horse.

Run out - When a horse ducks out from the fence at the last minute.

Stop, refusal or balk - When a horse stops at a fence.

Frangible pins - A breakable pin installed in some cross-country jumps which releases the top part of the fence when hit to safeguard against major injury to horse and rider.

Corner fence - Triangular-shaped jumps with the horse generally jumping one corner of it.

Optimum time - The time allowed in which to complete the cross-country course, with those over the time receiving penalties.

Oxer - A jump with front and back elements.

Palisade - A fence which leans towards the direction the horse is jumping in.

Roll Top - A jump that has a rounded half-barrel look on the top.

Skinny - A narrow fence.

General

Fault - Penalty points gathered by knocking a rail off the cups or exceeding the time allowed on a course.

Walk, trot, canter and gallop - The pace of the horse from slowest to fastest.

Riders in the dressage competition need to be 16 years old, with horses 8 years old or over.