Eventing

JUMPING

EVENTING

The Federation Euestre International (International Equestrian Federation), the controlling body of most equestrian sports, describes the three-day event as "the most complete combined competition, demanding of the rider considerable experience in all branches of equitation and precise knowledge of his horse's ability, and of the horse a degree of general competence, resulting from intelligent and rational training."

This description may sound daunting but it certainly does not deter today's young riders, this tough sport, which demands a high level of expertise in three different fields of equestrianism, has become one of the most keenly contested areas of all equestrian competition. The reasons for this lies in the satisfaction of training a horse and the thrill of competition of training a horse and the thrill of the competition itself, for the financial rewards in terms of prize money are small.

Modem eventing, known also as horse trials and, at one time, combined training, is one of the newest equestrian sports. Yet it originated when the great Greek soldier and horseman, Xenophon, was training horses and men to ride into battle. Xenophon realized that a horse had to possess seemingly endless resources of speed and stamina. In addition, the animal had to be supple - and agile, while he also had to be totally obedient. These are the self and same qualities needed in a top eventer today.

It was not until the beginning of this century, however, that eventing, as we know it, emerged as a competition and only over the last 30 years has it risen to its current popularity. Its immediate precursor was the long distance, military "endurance" ride, practiced from the late 17th century up to the beginning of the 1900s by the cavalry arms of the French, German, Swedish and American armies. These rides seem to have varied in distances from 30 kms to about 720 kms; although they did not involve jumping, many were conducted at an extremely fast pace. The emphasis was undoubtedly on endurance.

Gradually, however, horsemen became aware of the importance and desirability of other attributes and disciplines in their horses. The agility, suppleness and obedience necessary for dressage, together with jumping ability, were also sought. Thus eventing, which combines these skills with a test of speed arid endurance, began to emerge. The French were the first to stage a competition with the Championnat du Cheval d 'Armes held in 1902 as a military exercise. It was divided into four separate phases - a dressage test followed by a steeplechase, then a 50 km ride over roads and tracks, and finally a show-jumping competition.

From then on, eventing gained more and more recognition; it was included in the 1912 Olympics when ten nations took part. The sport was dominated by the army until after the Second World War, when two significant events led to its blossoming. The competition was extended to include civilians and the second was the interest taken in it by the Duke of Beaufort on Britain. In an exceptionally generous move, the Duke suggested that a three-day event should take place in the grounds of his home at Badminton in Gloucestershire. The original idea was to stage the event in 1949, 1950, and 1951-in order to find riders and horses for the 1952 Olympic Games. So popular was the competition, however, that it has been held annually ever since, and the name Badminton is now wholly synonymous with the world of eventing. To win Badminton, which is now classed as a championship international event, is to win one of the most coveted and prestigious equestrian trophies of all. Eventing is now a truly international sport and there are few nations that do not compete in it. This is especially the case in the USA, where the sport has gained great popularity over the last 10 to 15 years. American riders now rank among the best in the world, while the Ledyard three-day event, held annually in Boston, rates as one of the most important dates in the eventing calendar, comparable with Luhmuhlen in West Germany and Badminton and BurgWey in the United Kingdom.