Editing Eventing (section)

===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.