Eventing is the toughest of all the equestrian sports. It is tiring and challenging, but ultimately rewarding.

Eventing combines the elegance and control of DRESSAGE, the precision and athleticism of SHOW JUMPING and the stamina, braveness and boldness that comes with the CROSS COUNTRY phase. Eventing combines three different disciplines in one competition and is run on a cumulative penalty basis. The competitor with the least penalties at the end is the winner. Eventing is a true test of horsemanship.

Any progression through competing is ultimately down to the bond between horse and rider as it takes a specific and unique type of horse to take its rider safely and surely through all three phases. Eventing is the only sport where men and women compete on equal terms, and where the genuine amateur can compete against a World Champion.

Each of the three disciplines is designed to test the horse’s ability.

DRESSAGE on how trainable and responsive the horse is.
SHOW JUMPING on how accurate and athletic the horse is while jumping a course of coloured fences in an enclosed arena.
CROSS COUNTRY tests the horse’s stamina, speed, jumping and bravery over a set distance, over all types of terrain, while keeping within a designated time. A cross country course not only tests the fitness and courage of the rider, but pushes the unique bond and trust of this partnership to the limit.

The National British Eventing System. (Run under British Eventing Rules)

  • Intro
  • Pre-Novice
  • Novice
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced

All these Events are different levels of competing in England.

The International System – FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale)

  • CIC*
  • CCI*
  • CIC**
  • CCI**
  • CIC***
  • CCI***
  • CCI****

These events are held all over the World, including England and Europe. Also, in country’s such as Australia, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, USA, Austria, Russia, Rio de Janeiro, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Belarus, Denmark and Netherlands.

CIC

This means it is an International competition, used as a qualification for CCI and for moving up the grades.

* Equivalent to Novice but slightly bigger fences and longer distance.
** Equivalent to Intermediate, bigger fences and longer distance.
*** Equivalent to Advanced, bigger fences and longer distance.
**** This is the biggest course and the best in the World. It has the maximum height and distance.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIC AND CCI

CIC Cross Country is shorter and less demanding than CCI.
CIC Show Jumping is a more straight forward course than CCI.
CIC is held over 2 days.
CCI is held over 5 days.