Providing the ultimate equestrian challenge.

Eventing (or sometimes referred to as Horse Trials) originally evolved from the training and selection of cavalry horses.

Eventing is the most rapidly developing equestrian discipline in Zimbabwe, catering for all ages and standards. Children must be over 10 years of age.

All horses need to build up their levels of skill and the sport has different levels of competition. Training levels start at EV60 where the height of the cross country obstacles is 60cm, and progress in 10cm increments through to FEI One star level (110cm) currently. Horses progress as they score points and gain experience.

 The Three Disciplines

Each of the three disciplines is designed to test the horse's ability - dressage shows how trainable the horse is and its basic paces in walk, trot and canter. The show jumping shows athleticism, control and accuracy while the cross country tests stamina, speed, jumping and bravery. The sport is rather like the pentathlon in that it combines different disciplines in one competition and is run on a cumulative penalty basis. The competitor with least penalties at the end is the winner.

Dressage

The first test is dressage, which comprises a set sequence of compulsory movements in an arena. The challenge is to demonstrate that a supremely fit horse, capable of completing the cross-country phase on time, also has the training to perform in a graceful, relaxed and precise manner.

The test is judged by one or more judges who are looking for balance, rhythm and suppleness and most importantly, obedience of the horse and its harmony with the rider.  Each movement is scored out of ten with the total being added up and converted to a penalty score (and percentage).
Show-Jumping

The show-jumping phase is one round of jumping with a maximum time allowed and the objective is to jump all the fences clear inside the time. The fences are not as high as top level show-jumping but are quite substantial for horses which are not specialists at show-jumping. Fences knocked down and refusals incur penalties as does exceeding the time allowed. Show jumping tests the technical jumping skills of the horse and rider, including suppleness, obedience, fitness and athleticism. In this phase fences are set up in an arena. These fences are typically brightly coloured and consist of elements that can be knocked down, unlike cross-country obstacles. This phase is also timed, with penalties being given for every second over the required time. In addition to normal jumping skills, Eventing show jumping tests the fitness and stamina of the horse and rider, generally being held after the cross-country phase in higher level and international events.

Cross-Country

The third phase is the Cross-country, which requires both horse and rider to be in excellent physical shape and to be brave and trusting of each other. These fences consist of solidly built natural objects (logs, stone walls, etc.) as well as various obstacles such as water, ditches, drops and banks, and combinations including several jumping efforts based on objects that would commonly occur in the countryside. Safety regulations mean that many jumps have a frangible pin system, allowing part or all of the jump to collapse if hit with enough impact. Speed is a factor, with the rider required to cross the finish line within a certain time frame (optimum time). Crossing the finish line after the optimum time results in penalties for each second over. At lower levels, there is a penalty for riding too fast - incurring penalties for horse and rider pairs completing the course too quickly. Penalties are also incurred if the horse refuses to jump a fence or has a run out. Should the horse or rider fall there is automatic elimination. Fitness is required as the time allowed will require a strong canter at the lower levels, all the way to a strong gallop at the higher events.

The winner is the horse and rider with the fewest penalties.