Perhaps you’ve seen the ads on social media, or maybe your barn is planning a field trip, or you are local to Morven Park and are looking for an adventure. However you’ve heard about it, the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final has generated excitement among horse enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
The US Equestrian Open Eventing Final will bring top athlete-and-horse combinations from not only across the country but around the world, to Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., for the ultimate showdown in eventing sport.
But what exactly is eventing?
It’s one of the world’s most exciting equestrian disciplines to watch, thanks largely to the fast- paced, high-stakes nature of cross-country. Often described as an equestrian triathlon, eventing tests a horse and athlete’s ability across three very different phases over several days of competition.
Whether you’re attending in person or watching online, here’s what you need to know about the sport of eventing.
What’s the Deal with the Stars?
You may have noticed a series of letters and numbers attached to international eventing competitions. These are part of the FEI eventing star system, which helps distinguish the different levels of each event. The FEI is the international governing body for horse sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The system ranges from one-star, up to the prestigious and most challenging five-star level.
Several factors determine whether an event is classified as a CCI3* or a CCI5*, including dressage technicality, fence height, course length, and the predetermined speed at which competitors must travel in order to finish within the time allowed. CCI stands for “Concours Complet International,” which stands for International Complete Competition. This is a rating that is given to a competition by the FEI, and means it is conducted under and expected to follow all rules and regulations set by the FEI.
The US Equestrian Open Eventing Final is designated as a CCI4*-L. This means combinations will tackle a cross-country track featuring demanding terrain, technical questions, and challenging obstacles throughout the competition. Many of the sport's premier championships, including the Olympic Games, Nations Cups, and World Championships, are contested at the four-star level.
Three Phases, Lowest Score Wins
If you've ever watched dressage, as a singular phase competition, or most other sports for that matter, you’re usually hoping competitors earn the highest score possible.
In eventing, it’s the exact opposite. The points gained over the multi-day competition are penalty points. Therefore, the athlete and horse with the lowest score at the end of the weekend are crowned champions.
Dressage
An eventing competition begins with dressage. Combinations will perform a four- to four-and-a-half- minute dressage test, often in the same arena where they’ll return for show jumping later in the week.
A dressage test is a predetermined sequence of movements designed to showcase the horse’s movement and relaxation along with athlete’s accuracy. A panel of two to three judges evaluates every movement throughout the test. Some elements include precise 10- and 20-meter circles, transitions between gaits, and flying changes where the horse switches its leading leg during the canter.
View the FEI four-star eventing tests here.
Judges score each movement on a scale of 0-10, with 10 representing perfection. Half points may also be awarded when appropriate. Those marks are averaged to determine the pair’s dressage score.
The average is then subtracted from 100 to create the athlete’s penalty score heading into the two jumping phases.
As unusual as it sounds, athletes want to start on the lowest score possible because each phase presents opportunities to add penalties.
Cross-Country
Speed, fitness, and bravery all come into play during cross-country.
The objective is simple: complete the course clear of jumping penalties and within the optimum time. Optimum time is determined by dividing the total distance of the course by the designated speed for the level. A fault-free round adds no penalties to a competitor’s score. Penalties can result from a refusal, run out, or time accumulated over the optimum mark. A fall of a horse, athlete, or both results in elimination, and they will not be allowed to continue competing.
Cross-country courses vary from competition to competition. Each course has a course designer who must work within the specifications of the level. At the CCI4*-L level, competitors can expect fences up to 1.20 meters in height, roughly 35-40 jumping efforts, and a course length ranging from 5,700-6,270 meters.
The fences themselves are among the sport’s most iconic features. Spectators can expect to see imposing tables, drops, ditches, banks, and water complexes that challenge both horses and athletes.
View last year’s US Equestrian Open Eventing Final cross-country course here.
Show Jumping
The final phase, show jumping, tests a partnership’s accuracy and agility after the demands of cross-country the day before. Combinations compete over a series of 11 to 12 obstacles, including wide double or triple pole jumps called oxers, and technical combinations, a series of jumps close together, that require precision and quick reactions. The goal of this phase is to complete the jump course inside the time and leave all the rails in the cups.
Each rail that falls, or a refusal, adds four penalties to a competitor’s score. Athletes also incur penalties for exceeding the time allowed.
When the final horse leaves the ring, the combination with the lowest score wins. In a perfect scenario, that means finishing on their dressage score without adding penalties in either jumping phase.
How to Make the Most of Your Experience
One of the best things about the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final is that no two spectator experiences look the same. With competition spread across several days, there’s plenty of flexibility to tailor your weekend.
Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind.
Use the First Two Days Wisely: Dressage takes place over two days, giving spectators plenty of time to explore the venue, check out local treasures, and familiarize themselves with the event grounds while still enjoying plenty of dressage action. Use this time to identify your favorite horses and athletes, ask questions, and get recommendations on where to watch cross-country.
Don’t Stay in One Place During Cross-Country: The water complexes are some of the most popular viewing spots on course, and for good reason. But don’t stay there the whole time! Venture around the course and explore all the fences. Less crowded locations often provide some of the closest views of the action.
Stick Around for Awards: After the excitement of watching the final round of show jumping, it can be tempting to head home early, but the awards ceremony is worth staying for. It's a great way to cheer for your favorite horses and athletes on their well-deserved achievements and soak in the atmosphere one more time. You may even get to interact with the athletes at the end.
Trust us, it's the perfect way to close out an unforgettable weekend of eventing.
Phrases Heard Around the Event
Between the live announcers, broadcast commentators, and social media coverage, you’re likely to hear plenty of eventing terminology throughout the weekend.
Here are some common phrases to know before you arrive:
“Clear and inside the time” - Competitors have successfully completed the cross-country course under the optimum time allowed with no penalties added. They'll head into the final phase of show jumping on the same score they earned in dressage.
“Looking for the flags” - On cross-country, horses often “lock on” or “look for the flags,” which mark the boundary of each obstacle. This is a positive sign that the horse is confidently focused on the next obstacle and reading the course ahead. Right flags on the right, white flags on the left.
“Walking the course” - Athletes, owners, and trainers will walk the cross country and show jumping courses many times before competition. They walk the entire course from start to finish on foot to determine their plan of action, count striding, and spot any potential sticky spots. The horses will see the course for the first time when they leave the start box.
“Let-up fence” - These fences are typically positioned after a long galloping stretch, giving the horses a brief mental and physical breather before the next technical challenge. Ironically, they can still be some of the biggest fences on course.
“Line” - A line refers to the route an athlete chooses to take on the way up to, over, and away from a fence. Course designers often incorporate tricky lines or multiple options into their courses, letting athletes decide which path best suits their horse.
“Inspection” - Eventing includes two inspections: one before the competition starts and another before the show jumping phase. During these inspections, athletes jog with their horses up and down a designated “jog strip” where two official veterinarians and a ground jury panel watch the horse and determine if it is in top condition to compete. Horses are accepted into the competition during the first trot up and are rechecked and “passed” onto the next phase during the second.