Eventing Explained

Dressage

In the dressage test a series of movements are executed. Each movement is marked by the judges. Marks are also given to the general performance of the test. During the test, the judge looks for the horse that is moving eagerly forward whilst remaining responsive to the riders direction. Dressage tests are ridden in 60m x 20m arena. The rider must execute the test from memory. Penalty points accumulated in dressage are carried forward to the cross country and showjumping phases.

Cross Country

Wandin Park International Horse Event has seven seperate cross country courses originally designed by Captain Mark Phillips and Mike Etherington-Smith (Sydney 2000 Olympic course designer). In the CCI4*-S there are 35 efforts over 21 jumping combinations. CCI4*-S height 1.20m Speed 570 m/min.
Penalties:
1st Refusal, run out or circle of horse at jump - 20 pts
2nd Refusal, run out or circle of horse same jump - 40 pts
3rd Refusal, run out or circle of horse same jump - Elimination
3rd Refusal over whole course - Elimination (CCI4*-S-CCI2*-S) 
4th Refusal over whole course - Elimination (EvA105-65cm)
Fall of horse or rider - Elimination
Error of course not rectified - Elimination
Omission of obstacle- Elimination
Jumping outside flags & not rectified - 50 pts
Jumping obstacles in wrong order - Elimination
Retaking of an obstacle already jumped - Elimination 
More than 20 seconds under time 0.4pts /per second (EvA105-65cm)
Exceeding the time limit - Elimination
Breaking of an approved safety device on cross country - 11pts

Showjumping

Showjumping consists of one round.
Maximum heights for CCI4*-S is 1.25m Speed 375.
Penalties:
First disobedience - 4pts
Second disobedience - Elimination (CCI4*-S- CCI2*-S)
Second disobedience - 8pts (EvA105 - 65cm)
Third disobedience - Elimination (EvA105 - 65cm)
Knocking down an obstacle - 4pts
Fall of horse or rider - Elimination
Error of course not rectified - Elimination
Retaking an obstacle already jumped - Elimination
Jumping obstacle in wrong order - Elimination
For every second over allowed time - 1pt