The FEI is the international federation of equestrian organizations. It hosts and oversees many disciplines related to horse sports, including dressage, show jumping, eventing, and hunt seat. These different events are referred to as the “FEI Events.” There are currently over 150,000 registered participants in FEI-recognized events worldwide. FEI eventing competitions are held on both Olympic-style and non-Olympic-style formats, with the most common being 3-event and 5-event.
What is eventing?
Eventing is a sport within equestrianism in which teams of horse and rider work together to complete a set of challenges. It is one of three “equestrian disciplines” recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). The other two are dressage and show jumping. The eventing discipline requires the horse and rider to complete a set of three challenges: (1) an “equitation” test (i.e., an extended dressage test); (2) a cross-country phase; and (3) an “endurance test” (i.e., a stadium jumping phase). The competition consists of series of events, referred to as “heat,” where the horse-and-rider team attempts to score the highest number of points possible based on their performance in each challenge.
Show Jumping
Show jumping is the most common of the three equestrian disciplines recognized by the FEI. It consists of two phases: (1) a dressage test; and (2) a jumping test. Depending on the level of competition, the jumping test can be as short as 100 meters or as long as 1,000 meters. The goal of the rider is to score as high as possible, based on the horse’s speed and accuracy.
Dressage
Dressage is a type of performance art that involves training a horse or riding animal to perform specific movements in a way that enhances the rider’s performance. It is often called “equestrian ballet” because, like ballet, it is a stylized type of performance art. It is not a competition, but rather a skill that each rider is expected to master and perform at a high level of proficiency.
Endurance
Endurance is a timed test that consists of a ridden or driven course through natural or constructed terrain, such as a cross-country course. The goal is to cover as much ground as quickly as possible while minimizing the risk of falling off the horse. The horse must also be able to remain calm and collected while being led back and forth between the start line and the finish line. Endurance tests are commonly held during the cross-country phase of eventing.
Conclusion
The eventing event is a very challenging and exciting sport that requires a high level of skill from both the horse and rider. It is one of the FEI’s recognized disciplines and is commonly referred to as “equestrian triathlon.”