Editing Eventing (section)

==History==
===Olympic beginning===
{{See also|Equestrian events at the Summer Olympics}}
Eventing competition that resembles the current three-day were first held in 1902, at the [[Championnat du Cheval d'Armes]] in [[France]], and was introduced into the [[Equestrian at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] starting [[Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics|1912]] in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]]. [[Dressage]] originally demonstrated the horse's ability to perform on the parade ground, where elegance and obedience were key. [[Cross-country equestrianism|Cross-country]] began as a test of stamina, courage, and bravery over difficult terrain, important for a [[wikt:charger#Noun|charger]] on long marches or if the horse was asked to carry a dispatch across country. The [[show jumping]] phase sought to prove the horse's continuing soundness and fitness after the difficult cross-country day.

The Olympic eventing competition was originally open only to male military officers in active duty, mounted only on military charges. In 1924, the event was open to male civilians, although [[Non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned Army officers]] could not participate in the Olympics until 1956. Women were first allowed to take part in 1964; equestrian sports are one of the few Olympic sports in which men and women compete against one another.

===Format===
The original format, used in the [[Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Individual eventing|1912 Olympics]], was spread over several days:
*'''Day 1''': Endurance test comprising {{convert|55|km|mi|abbr=on}} (with a time allowed of 4 hours, giving a speed of approx. 230 meters per minute) immediately followed by {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} of a flagged cross-country course at a speed of 333 meters per minute. Time penalties were given for exceeding the time allowed, but no bonus points were given for being fast.
*'''Day 2''': Rest day
*'''Day 3''': [[steeplechase (horse racing)|Steeplechase]] test of {{convert|3.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} with 10 plain obstacles, at a speed of 600 mpm, with time penalties but no time bonus points
*'''Day 4''': Jumping test ("prize jumping"), which was considered easy by most of the spectators
*'''Day 5''': Dressage test ("prize riding")

The [[1924 Summer Olympics|Paris Games]] in 1924 introduced a format very similar to the one of today: with day 1 dressage, day 2 the endurance test, and day 3 the jumping test. The endurance test has changed the most since that time. Originally, bonus points could be earned for a fast ride cross-country (less than the optimum time). This helped competitors make up for a poor dressage ride, with a clean, fast cross-country ride. This system, however, was dropped in 1971. The format for the endurance test occurred as below:

*'''Phase A''': Short roads and tracks (with five penalties per 5 seconds over time)
*'''Phase B''': Steeplechase, decreased in speed from 600 mpm to 550 mpm (with 10 penalties added per 5 seconds over the time, 3 bonus points per 5 seconds under time)
*'''Phase C''': Long roads and tracks (with 5 penalties per 5 seconds over time)
*'''Compulsory Halt''' (now the 10-minute halt)
*'''Phase D''': Cross-country (with 10 penalties added per 5 seconds over the time, 3 bonus points per 10 seconds under time)
*'''Phase E''': 1.25 mile run on the flat (with 5 penalties per 5 seconds over time).

(Note: Phase E was abolished in 1967.)

In 1963, the 10-minute halt was introduced, to occur after the completion of phases A, B, and C. It took place in a marked out area (the 10-minute box), where the horse was checked by two judges and one veterinary official who would make sure the horse was fit to continue onto phase D. If the horse was unfit, the panel would pull it from the competition.

The format of the sport underwent major changes in 2004 and 2005, with the creation of the "short" or "modified format", which excluded phases A, B, and C from endurance day. The primary reason for excluding these phases was that the Olympic Committee was considering dropping the sport of eventing from the Olympics because of the cost and large area required for the speed and endurance phase with a steeplechase course and several miles of roads-and-tracks. To prevent the elimination of the sport from the Olympics program, the "short format" was developed by the FEI. The last Olympic Games that included the long, or "classic", three-day format was the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, while [[Rolex Kentucky Three Day|Rolex Kentucky]], the [[Badminton Horse Trials]], and [[Burghley Horse Trials]] ran their last long format three-day in 2005. The short format is now the standard for international competition, such as the Olympics and [[World Equestrian Games]].

The change in format has brought about controversy. Some riders support the continuation of the classic format, believing it is the "true test of horse and rider". Others believe the classic format is superior because it teaches horsemanship, due to the extra preparation needed to condition the horse and the care required after the several miles of endurance day. However, others prefer the short format, as they believe it saves wear-and-tear on their horses and allows the horse not only to compete in more three-day events each season, but decreases the chance of injury to the horse. However, this claim has not held true in several recent studies that compared injuries sustained in classic and in short format competitions over equivalent courses.  Further, some research indicates that horses are more stressed by the short format than by the careful warm-up inherent in the classic format.  Regardless, many upper-level riders prepare their horses for the short format using the same conditioning and training as for the long format. The short format has also been widely urged by breeders of heavier, warmblood-type horses. The long format has remained popular at the Novice and Training levels in the United States, and with riders who feel it maximizes horsemanship.

===Veterinary inspection, or "trot up"/"horse inspection"===
Before the beginning of a three-day event, and also before the last phase, horses are inspected by a vet to ensure that they are fit to compete further. It is usually a formal affair, with well-groomed and braided horses, and nicely dressed riders. It is also a very nerve-wracking time, as the "pass" or "fail" determines whether the horse may continue with the competition. A vet can request that a horse be sent to the holding box, where it will then be re-assessed before being allowed to continue.  In upper level FEI classes, a second veterinarian (often called the Associate FEI Veterinarian) may inspect horses sent to the hold box and make the decision to pass or fail a horse.  This practice is in place so that no one veterinarian has complete power to eliminate a horse and allows for a large number of horses to be evaluated in a timely manner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/FINALVeterinary%20Regulations%20proposed%20changes%20for%202012_6_.pdf |title=Proposed 2012 changes |access-date=2013-11-20 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429093745/http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/FINALVeterinary%20Regulations%20proposed%20changes%20for%202012_6_.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-29 }}</ref>

In lower levels of competition, the horse's movement may be analyzed as they finish the cross-country, where they will be asked to trot briefly after crossing the finishing line to satisfy the vet of their soundness.

===Penalty point system===
In 1971, the penalty point system was first introduced into eventing. This system converts the dressage score and all jump penalties on cross-country and show jumping into penalty points, with the horse and rider with the fewest points winning the event. Different weight is given for each phase, with the cross-country — the heart of eventing — being the most important, followed by the dressage and then the show jumping. The intended ratio of cross-country:dressage:show jumping is theoretically 12:3:1. Therefore, an error in cross-country counts heavily. This prevents horses that are simply good in dressage (for example) from winning the event with a poor cross-country test.

In 1971, the following penalty system was instituted:
*'''Phase A and C''': 1 penalty per second over the optimum time
*'''Phase B''': 0.8 penalties per second over
*'''Phase D''': 0.4 penalties per second over

In 1977, the dressage scoring was changed, with each movement marked out of ten rather than out of six. This increased the maximum number of dressage marks from 144 to 240. This number later increased to 250 marks in 1998, after additional movements were added. To keep the correct weight, a formula is used to convert good marks in dressage to penalty points. First, the marks of the judges (if there is more than one) are averaged. Then the raw mark is subtracted from the maximum points possible. This number is then multiplied by 0.6 to calculate the final penalty score.

Show jumping rules were also changed in 1977, with a knock-down or a foot in the water awarded only 5 penalties rather than 10. This prevented the show jumping phase from carrying too much weight, again, to keep the ratio between the phases correct.

====Current scoring====
The dressage score is converted to a percentage and the penalty points calculated by subtracting the percentage from 100. This is rounded to 1 decimal digit.<ref>{{cite book |title=Eventing Rules 25th Edition effective 1st January 2019 |date=3 December 2018 |publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale |location=Switzerland |pages=62–63}}</ref>

In cross country, penalty points are awarded for jumping errors and for time.<ref>{{cite book |title=Eventing Rules 25th Edition effective 1st January 2019 |date=3 December 2018 |publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale |location=Switzerland |page=69}}</ref> In the jumping, 20 penalty points are awarded for a first refusal at an obstacle and 40 penalty points for a second refusal (the rider is eliminated on their third refusal). Two refusals at different obstacles each attract 20 penalty points. If a horse jumps an obstacle, but the body of the horse does not pass completely between the flags, 15 penalty points are awarded, only if the horse would have cleared the obstacle's height had it been better positioned. If a horse activates an obstacle's [[frangible device]], 11 penalty points are awarded.

Time penalties<ref>{{cite book |title=Eventing Rules 25th Edition effective 1st January 2019 |date=3 December 2018 |publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale |location=Switzerland |page=69}}</ref> are awarded for being too slow over the optimum time at a rate of 0.4 penalty points per second over this time up to the time limit (twice the optimum time) at which point the competitor is eliminated. Some national bodies implement a fastest time allowed for lower grades where more inexperienced riders compete. The fastest time allowed can range from 20 seconds to 45 seconds faster than the optimum time. Typically, penalty points are awarded at a rate of 1 per second faster than this time.

In the show jumping test,<ref>{{cite book |title=Eventing Rules 25th Edition effective 1st January 2019 |date=3 December 2018 |publisher=Fédération Equestre Internationale |location=Switzerland |pages=72–73}}</ref> either knocking down of the obstacle or refusing to jump the obstacle attracts 4 penalty points. In the case of a knock, riders are permitted to continue to the next obstacle. However, if the obstacle was refused, it must be reattempted. A second refusal at the same obstacle results in elimination. Similarly to the cross country, time penalty points are awarded at a rate of 0.4 penalty points per second commenced over the optimum time.

===Non-Olympic competition===
In its early days, the sport was most popular in Britain, and the British gave the competition a new name, the "Three-Day Event", due to the three-day time span of the competition. In America, the sport was also called "combined training", due to the three different disciplines and types of training methods needed for the horse.  In the [[United Kingdom]], "combined training" competition includes only the dressage and show jumping phases.

In between a 'combined training' and a 'horse trial', there are also 'short courses'. Short courses consist of a dressage phase and a jumping phase. The jumping phase usually starts in the stadium ring with a fence leading out to a smaller field with some cross-country fences (not as many as in a horse trial's cross-country phase). The rider will then jump back into the stadium ring to finish his or her course.

The first annual, Olympic-level event developed was the [[Badminton Horse Trials]], held each year in England. First held in 1949, the Badminton event was created after a poor performance by the British Eventing Team at the 1948 Olympic Games, with the purpose of being a high-class preparation event, and as extra exposure for the military horses, who very rarely had the chance to compete. Initially, only British riders were allowed to compete (although women were allowed, despite being banned from riding in the Olympics), but the competition is now an international open to all riders from around the world who have qualified for this level of competition.  Along with Burghley and Kentucky, Badminton is one of the most prestigious events to win in the world.  Currently, the Olympic event is considered a CCI****, a rank lower than Badminton which is a CCI*****.

The second three-day competition to be held at Olympic level each year was the [[Burghley Horse Trials]], first held in 1961. Burghley is the longest running international event.

The first CCI held outside of Britain on an annual basis is the [[Rolex Kentucky Three Day]], held each year in Lexington since 1978.

===Importance of dressage training===
In the early years, the dressage phase was fairly inconsequential in determining the final standings. It was quite possible for a horse to have a terrible dressage test, then run a clean cross-country and show jumping, and still finish near the top of the standings. Since then, correct dressage training has become increasingly important should a horse and rider wish to be placed (complete all sections and finish in the top 12). This can be traced back to [[Sheila Willcox]], who took a particular interest in dressage, becoming abundantly clear when she won Badminton three years running in the 1950s. She had a strong influence on [[Mary King (equestrian)|Mary King]] and [[Lucinda Green]] amongst others.

After the 2000 Olympic Games, the [[International Federation for Equestrian Sports|FEI]] hired British eventer and dressage rider [[Christopher Bartle]] to write new dressage tests for the upper-level events, which would include a greater deal of collection. This has since raised the standard even further in the dressage phase.

Additionally, the cross-country phase has become more technical, asking the horse to be adjustable and supple through [[Combination (jump)|combinations]]. A horse can no longer just be brave and athletic but must have a good deal of dressage training should his rider wish to successfully negotiate odd distances or bending lines at a gallop.  Also, in show jumping, a horse is asked to move with impulsion and engagement; this makes the jump more fluent, brings the horse to [[Bascule (horse)|bascule]] more correctly, and is less jarring for both horse and rider.

===Safety===
Between 1997 and December 2008, at least 37 eventing riders died as a result of injuries incurred while competing in the cross-country phase of eventing at national or international level or at Pony Club. Of these, 18 riders died in the period 2006–2008. These 37 fatal falls have been at all levels of the sport, from domestic one-day events up to regional championships level, and they have occurred in most of the recognized eventing countries around the world, with concentrations in the United Kingdom (14) and the United States (8). At least 25 of these 37 deaths have resulted from a somersaulting (rotational) fall of the horse, with 11 of the 16 deaths in 2007 and 2008 being reported as having resulted from [[rotational falls]].&nbsp;<ref name=Horsetalk081219>Horsetalk – [http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/saferide/131-eventingincrisis.shtml Eventing in crisis?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220214742/http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/saferide/131-eventingincrisis.shtml |date=2008-12-20 }} 19 December 2008</ref> The FEI reports that horse falls happen at a rate of 1 per every 63 starters on cross country, with rotating falls happening once in every 572 starters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Autry |first=Jenni |date=2018-08-01 |title=Eventing's Quest for a Safer Sport |url=https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/training/eventings-quest-for-a-safer-sport/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Practical Horseman |language=en-US}}</ref>

Information about horse fatalities is difficult to locate, but at least 19 eventing horses, many of them top-level performers, died in 2007 and 2008.&nbsp;<ref name=Horsetalk081219 />

Over time, course design has become increasingly more focused on the safety of the horse and rider. The layout of the course and the build of the obstacles encourage the horse to have a successful run. This includes greater use of precision fences, such as [[corner (fence)|corner]]s and "skinny jumps", that are very good tests of the rider's ability and the horse's training but allow the horse to simply run around the jump if the rider misjudges it. Safety measures such as filling in the area between corner-shaped jumps on cross-country or rails of a fence help prevent the entrapment of the legs of the horse decrease the number of serious falls or injuries.

The newest improvement in cross-country safety is the ''frangible'' fence, which uses a pin and other techniques which allow the fence to "break or fall" in a controlled manner to minimize the risk of injury to horse and rider. This can help to prevent the most dangerous situation on cross-country, when the horse hits a solid fence between the forearm and chest, and somersaults over ([[Rotational falls|rotational fall]]), sometimes falling on the rider. This type of fall has caused the deaths of several riders and horses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eventingsafety.wordpress.com/|title=Eventing Safety and Risk Management|website=Eventing Safety and Risk Management|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>

Rules protecting riders have improved as well. Riders are now required to wear a safety vest ([[Body protector (equestrian)|body protector]]) during cross-country, as well as an [[ASTM]]/[[Safety Equipment Institute|SEI]] or [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] approved [[equestrian helmet]] equipped with a retention harness,<ref>[http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/english/safety100703/ Barakat, Christine. "Riding Helmet Safety Standards Explained" ''Equisearch''. Web page accessed September 23, 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107085527/http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/english/safety100703/ |date=January 7, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.instruction.ponyclub.org/PDFs/Helmet%20Fitting%20Info.PDF Pony club educational materials, referring to helmet retention system as a "harness"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307134524/http://instruction.ponyclub.org/PDFs/Helmet%20Fitting%20Info.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307134524/http://instruction.ponyclub.org/PDFs/Helmet%20Fitting%20Info.PDF |archive-date=2010-03-07 |url-status=live |date=2010-03-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Dublin_Onyx_Web_Harness_Helmet_sizes_53-55cm-(82).aspx|title=UK Site calling the helmet attachment a "Harness"|website=thesaddleryshop.co.uk|access-date=26 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409054459/http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/p/dublin_onyx_web_harness_helmet_sizes_53-55cm-(82).aspx|archive-date=2016-04-09|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thornhillusa.com/helmets.html|title=USA site using term "retention harness"|website=thornhillusa.com|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> which must be fastened while on the horse. Eventing was one of the first sports to require the use of a helmet with harness when jumping. As of 2010, more riders were wearing [[air bag vest]]s, which automatically inflate if a rider falls off the horse.<ref>Thomas, Katie. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/sports/24airbag.html "Added Safety in the Saddle"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 23, 2010. Accessed August 25, 2010.</ref>

===Weight rule===
From the beginning, event horses had to carry a minimum weight of {{convert|165|lb|abbr=on}} (including rider and saddle) during the endurance test, since military horses were expected to be able to carry such weight. Lead weights were carried on the saddle, and the competitor had to be weighed-in with tack immediately following cross-country. The weight was reduced to {{convert|154|lb|abbr=on}} for the 1996 Olympic Games, after a study demonstrated that both the horse's arc over a fence became shallower and the leading leg took a great deal of extra force on landing when the horse was carrying dead weight than when free from the burden. The rule was eventually abolished January 1, 1998. By removing this rule, the stress on the joints and soft-tissue, as well as the chance of a fall, were decreased.<ref>Bryant, Jennifer O. ''Olympic Equestrian, A Century of International Horse Sport''. Lexington, KY: Blood-Horse Publications, 2008.{{page needed|date=July 2019}}</ref>