Unlike in Tokyo, eventing will take place first, running over three days now that the dressage phase has been condensed into a single day. A total of 65 athlete/horse combinations will compete in the Games, including 16 teams. Teams will comprise of three combinations, plus one travelling reserve combination who can be substituted in during the competition if medical or veterinary grounds rule out one of the original team members. All combinations will ride a dressage test on day one, tackle the cross-country course on day two, and showjump on day three, collecting penalties as they go.
Unlike in other major championships, two rounds of showjumping will take place on the final day – one to decide the team medals, then the top 25-placed combinations will jump again to contest the individual medals.
Eventing is a three-phase competition that's often likened to a triathlon. It's run over a period of three days during an Olympic Games and tests a combination's athleticism, bravery and harmony. The first two phases of team and individual competition are run concurrently, with separate rounds of the final phase being run for each competition.
Teams are made up of three horse and rider combinations, plus one reserve combination who can be substituted in during the competition provided certain criteria is met. All three scores count towards the team medals, and horses and riders must complete the competition together as a pairing.
DRESSAGE (DAY ONE AND TWO)
All combinations complete a predetermined test of movements in front of three judges. The judges award marks out of 10 for each movement and, after combining the scores to give an overall percentage score, the score is then converted into penalty points (the higher the percentage, the lower the penalty score). For example, a percentage score of 70% becomes a penalty score of 30.00
CROSS-COUNTRY (DAY THREE)
Competitors tackle a course of around 40 solid obstacles, which can include logs, ditches, water, drops and corners. Penalties are incurred during this phase for a refusal, a run-out (at a fence) or for exceeding the time allowed, and these are added to the combination’s dressage score. Falls of horse or rider results in elimination.
SHOWJUMPING (DAY FOUR)
Following a vet inspection to ensure that all horses are still fit to compete, combinations take on a short course of colourful fences. Penalties are added to their score for knocking down an obstacle, refusal at a fence or exceeding the optimum time. Riders can be eliminated for a second refusal or a fall.
The first showjumping round on the final day will decide the team medals, with the winning team being the one with the lowest combined three scores from all three phases.
A second showjumping round is run later on the same day to decide the individual medals. It is open to the top 25 combinations at the conclusion of the team showjumping round. Combinations must have completed all three of the previous phases, rather than coming in part-way through as a substitution. Scores are carried over from the previous rounds, and the combination with the lowest total score will win.
The individual winner is the combination with the lowest number of penalty points accrued across the competition. In the team event, the scores of the three best-placed riders are added together to calculate the overall result.
Three combinations and a travelling reserve will be selected to represent Team GB in Paris – all three combinations will contest the team and individual medals.
A list of 12 nominated combinations, including three reserve combinations, will be announced in late May. From this list, the final squad of three plus the travelling reserve will be chosen in June.