Think of Eventing as the triathlon of the horse world – testing every skill a horse and rider have, across three phases:
✨ Dressage (DR): Requiring precision, obedience, suppleness, showing off elegance and harmony in the arena.
🌳 Cross-Country (XC): This is the adrenaline phase! Galloping over natural terrain, tackling ditches, banks, water jumps and solid obstacles. It’s all about courage, stamina and trust.
🦄 Showjumping (SJ): The final test of accuracy, agility and focus after the demands of cross-country. One rail down can change everything!
The winner? 🏆 The horse-and-rider team with the lowest combined penalty score across all three phases.
Eventing started in the military, where cavalry horses had to be parade-ready, brave in battle, and tough enough to cover long distances at speed. Today, it’s one of the most complete tests of horsemanship in equestrian sport.
🇿🇦 In South Africa, Eventing is overseen by Eventing South Africa (ESA) under the SAEF.
💬 Which phase do you think you’d find the most challenging – the elegance of dressage, the thrill of cross-country, or the precision of showjumping?
